PostNord TPL establishes distribution network for pharmaceuticals
When the previous carrier ended the transport agreement with one of PostNord TPL’s largest customers, what initially seemed like a challenge turned out to be an unexpected opportunity. TPL decided to invest in building its own, entirely new transport and distribution network from scratch.
With the help of skilled regional partners, TPL tackled the complex challenge of ensuring safe and efficient pharmaceutical distribution to nearly 400 pharmacies across Sweden.
The result was the creation of their own haulage company, TPL Transport, as well as a transport and distribution network that covers all of Sweden, allowing PostNord TPL to design and influence it themselves. Christer Svensson, Head of Transport at PostNord TPL, shares more about the initiative and emphasizes the sustainability aspect and high degree of flexibility.
– Our driving force is a long-term and sustainable network that maintains high quality, and with the ambition to be completely fossil-free in the short term and emission-free in the long term.
Currently, TPL’s four vehicles handle distribution in Östergötland and parts of Södermanland. It is cost-effective, maintains high quality, and has high delivery precision.
Christer describes scheduled and temperature-controlled deliveries as some of the biggest challenges in pharmaceutical distribution.
– The pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated. A customer who places an order before 4 PM today should have their order delivered within 24 hours, regardless of where in Sweden they are located. It is an important societal function that places high demands on us as a carrier.
Instead of purchasing the service entirely from an established carrier, PostNord TPL's own haulage company and distribution network allow them to influence its design.
– Our size allows us to make investments of this magnitude. Buying a standard service is more limiting and doesn’t allow us to tailor it to neither our nor the customer's needs. Now, we design our own transport service, making our transport offering unique in its kind.
It has certainly been a major challenge to design both IT solutions and identify carriers and haulers that can build the backbone of the network in just one year.
– We have an incredibly strong team at TPL who, together with external regional partners, have led the work to plan and establish the transport and distribution network. It is thanks to them that we have come so far in such a short time; they have done a fantastic job.
– We have solved the transport setup for the customer and are well on our way to realizing the network, which is our short-term focus. I believe our ability to mobilize and dare to take the step distinguishes PostNord TPL as a comprehensive third-party logistics provider, concludes Christer.
Christer Svensson, Head of Transport at PostNord TPL