Nippon Express Co., Ltd.
Nippon Express Co., Ltd. is expanding their unique intermodal transportation service in Japan called Sea & Rail (modal combination transportation service). This service combines ocean and rail transportation as a part of our efforts to pursue a modal shift. They offer nine domestic routes and two services for integrated transportation using containers from Hokkaido to Kyushu, with plans to continue building new routes in the future.
Containers for ocean and rail transportation are not interchangeable, despite the uniform container size of 5 ton 12 feet, due to the different styles of securing the containers during transportation. This difference results in the need to reload the cargo within such containers when switching transport modes. Their unique hybrid containers, Rail and Sea Ventilation (RSV) containers, are compatible with both securing methods in ocean and rail transportation. This feature allows for easy transfers between ocean and rail without having to reload cargo when changing modes of transportation, enabling integrated transportation.
The Policy Package for Logistics Innovation, announced by the Japanese government in June 2023, also addresses modal shifts as an urgent measure to be taken to improve working environments for truck drivers. Our Sea & Rail service is in line with this direction, including specific initiatives to support the widespread use of large containers for use on both ships and railroads to increase transportation capacity through modal shifts.
Modal shifts reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to sustainability management, two areas of growing interest among customers. We also expect such shifts to lead to BCP measures by diversifying transportation modes.
Nippon Express Co., Ltd. is committed to developing and strengthening sustainable solutions, an NX GROUP materiality, as a leader in modal shifts within the logistics industry.
