Providing Support for Spanish Producers During Peak Season

The competition among road freight carriers for a load in Spain is intense. Almost as intense as the transit times for deliveries of perishable produce. Afterall, fruits and vegetables are expected to arrive to their final destination as if plucked from a field minutes ago. With seasonal fluctuations impacting the cargo balance and the limited shelf life of the goods, the ability to meet clients’ refrigerated transport capacity needs, adapt to a changing market situation and remain flexible is key for carriers working with producers in the region.

Spain is one of the largest economies in the European Union (EU) and the leading member state in terms of fruit and vegetable production. According to the latest statistical data by Fruit Logistica, in 2022, the country exported over 7 million tons of fruit and more than 5 million tons of vegetables, amounting to a total of €15,9 billion in exports of fruit and vegetables combined.

The vast amount of fresh produce that flows from the country to the rest of Europe requires plenty of capacity from road freight carriers. But there are other bumps in the road as well. While consumption remains stable throughout the year, the amount of export depends on the volume of harvest and the frequency of harvesting seasons, resulting in a large imbalance between capacity and demand.

Increasing severe weather conditions in this part of Europe have worsened the challenges of seasonal fluctuations, requiring more flexibility from road freight transportation companies. Regulations regarding drivers’ working hours also limit capabilities. Carriers (and producers) must anticipate and be able to adapt to possible changes in cargo volume, loading places and loading time.

Due to the limited shelf life of fresh produce, fruits and vegetables must be loaded and delivered strictly on time. Delays are not tolerated, as each additional day of delay forces sellers to lower prices. Trucks’ flow must be organized in a way that there are enough vehicles ready for loading in all parts of the country. And customer support must be available at all times, since the loadings are usually done towards the end of the week, during weekends, and well into the night.

This is where the true professionalism and flexibility of road freight carriers comes to light. With unmatched experience and know-how of cold chain management, as well as expert planning of resources and personalized customer support, Girteka can timely react to the market and the clients’ needs. The carrier is prepared to meet all special execution requirements of producers, offering:

• Short-notice deliveries by two-driver crews (24-48 hours)
• Annually calibrated refrigerator trailers with non-stop temperature monitoring
• Fully owned fleet of trucks and trailers guaranteeing capacity (including high seasons)
• Extensive route network across all of Europe
• Real-Time Visibility (RTV) and cargo tracking powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Certified quality and safety assurance
• Dedicated managers and pro-active customer support available 24/7
• Well-developed network of intermodal rail transportation

As the largest asset-based road freight company in Europe, Girteka can guarantee capacity for its contractual clients even during the high season, delivering in all segments, from fresh food to pharmaceuticals. It is all made possible through a strong distribution network supported by the company’s fully owned fleet, including 7,400 refrigerated trailers. The carrier maintains a strong presence in Spain’s main agricultural areas such as Andalusia, Valencia, Catalonia, and Murcia. Up to 1,000 trucks are dedicated to weekly full truck load (FTL) deliveries from Spain and Portugal.

In 2022, Girteka’s fresh produce share in total amount of carried shipments reached 23%. Overall, more than 50% of the company’s full truck load (FTL) deliveries are temperature-controlled cargo. With extensive expertise in cold chain logistics, the company has already established itself as one of the biggest box and refrigerated transport operators in Spain. It is also one of the rare operators that offers refrigerated trailers to be shipped to and from Spain via intermodal rail transport, providing quality sustainable services for clients looking to reduce their emissions.

Being an end-to-end logistics provider, Girteka handles the entire logistics process, prioritizing express deliveries by two-driver crews for cargo that has tight transits. With real-time Visibility tracking solutions powered by AI tools, as well as dedicated managers and customer care teams that are available non-stop, Girteka can ensure that perishable produce such as fruits and vegetables is transported without any disruptions and in perfect condition from Spain to any destination in Europe.