The name is very recognisable: De Vries transports mainly recycling products (such as aluminium, scrap metal, plastic and household waste) by road and rail. De Vries' fleet currently consists of 13 trucks and 23 trailers, including eight Kraker moving floor trailers. For rail transport, De Vries mainly uses 50m3 containers. That is about to change, however, as an order for 21 units of 92 m3 K-Force moving floor trailers in Huckepack design will significantly expand the options available to De Vries.
De Vries history
De Vries has been active in rail transport since the late 1980s. "Contacts with Kraker go back many years. It was probably in the late 1980s that I commissioned Jan de Kraker to build our first container-tipping chassis. Since then, we have always remained loyal to the Kraker brand." When asked why, he is very clear: "High-quality vehicles, good service and a good impression. We are very happy with Kraker products. The process leading up to the order and production of the series of Huckepack trailers also went smoothly. Our contact person is Patrick Wieland and I am very happy with him.
Transport by rail
Currently, rail transport is arranged as follows: freights are loaded with 28 tonnes of heavier products in 50m3 rail containers (at present, there are about 800 in circulation). These are then transported to a train terminal. There, the container is placed on a railway wagon, after which it is taken to an end terminal in Europe. From there, the cargo is transported by road to its final destination. This form of transport will soon expand significantly, following the delivery of the series of Huckepack moving floor trailers ordered. A Huckepack trailer is placed in its entirety on the railway wagon and is loaded with around 27.5 tonnes of lighter products with more volume (such as iron shavings).
Rail transport produces 70% less CO2 emissions and is therefore more environmentally friendly.
A green mindset is common thread at De Vries Road & Rail Logistics
"The green mindset" behind this form of transport greatly appeals to De Vries. "We are continuously working on environmentally conscious operations. This is also why rail transport will become increasingly important in the future," declares Johannes de Vries. The environmental aspect is also reflected in De Vries' modern, near-energy-neutral office in Heerenveen. The use of 79 solar panels and other measures provide an environmentally friendly office environment.
De Vries Road & Rail Logistics plans and manages all transport throughout Europe from that special office in Heerenveen. "We aim for our entire fleet to meet the highest environmental standards, such as the comprehensive tyre management system on each of our vehicles. The driver is not the only one who can read this, as we also continuously monitor tyre pressure from our office. Immediate action is taken where necessary. This ensures safe conditions on the road, reduced tyre wear and lower fuel consumption."
Löblein Transport Germany
In 2002, De Vries Road & Rail Logistics started collaborating with Löblein Transport GmbH, a large German transport company and a major player in rail transport. Löblein's head office is in Schillingsfürst and they have a branch office in Verona, Italy. There was a change in the collaboration in 2012, as Löblein Transport became a major shareholder in de Vries Road & Rail Logistics B.V.
This means that Löblein now has three major branches in Europe (Germany, Italy and the Netherlands). The name De Vries Road & Rail Logistics was deliberately retained.
For Johannes de Vries, it is a win-win situation to work with this major German partner. This step will now take on an added dimension as Löblein and De Vries decided to invest in the purchase of a large series of Huckepack moving floor trailers.
K-Force in Huckepack version
These trailers are built according to the K-Force principle. They all have standard dimensions and are suitable for fully loaded transport on a railway wagon. These Huckepack K-Forces are certified for this mode of transport. One trailer was delivered in early 2023 before the full series was built, and that trailer was tested through and through. The green light to put this particular K-Force to practical use was given based on all the results of the tests . The remaining 20 trailers have since been produced at the Axel plant.
The trailers are equipped with several options that are important to Löblein and De Vries, including a floor tarpaulin for transporting fine material, a Rollfix tarpaulin for sidewall protection during loading, Kraker's folding bumper and full-length wear plates. These options make the vehicles useful for nearly any product imaginable.
Johannes de Vries: "I see this as a very positive development and I expect to continue to expand Huckepack moving floor trailers as a result. A major advantage over the current containers and our 70m3 Huckepack tippers is the volume of the Kraker trailers. Special legislation offers another major advantage. If the terminal is within 150 km, the total permitted weight is 44 tonnes. That is about 4.5 tonnes of extra cargo per trailer. This extra 4.5 tonnes (in one trip) is clearly a huge benefit, both from a cost perspective and an environmental perspective. If this proves successful, and we certainly assume it will, there is a good chance that a second series of K-Forces for Huckepack will follow," Johannes de Vries concludes.