News

The GLS Group has become new owner of the regional next day parcel service Golden State Overnight Delivery Service Inc. (GSO), based in California.

With around 13.5 million deliveries per year, GSO is a leading provider of regional next day delivery services in California. The company also operates in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Focusing on next day delivery services, GSO also offers freight services, both primarily in the B2B segment.

Expanding in an attractive market

In the previous business year GSO generated revenue of approximately 114 million dollars. GLS acquired 100 per cent of the shares in GSO, paying a total consideration of about 80 million euros. With this targeted geographic expansion, GLS is now active in an attractive regional market, representing the world’s fifth largest economy.

GSO will be fully consolidated within GLS, but will be managed as a separate entity. The company was established in 1995, operates 36 facilities and employs a workforce of around 1,900.

Press Release (Dutch version)

From 19 July until 22 July shipments can be delayed due to the Four Days Marches in the Nijmegen region.

GLS apologises for any inconvenience.

Modern technology for easier, faster and safer processing: GLS equipped all its ParcelShops with tablet computers including a tailor-made app.

The new equipment makes parcel handling more comfortable – both for ParcelShop staff and their customers in over 620 GLS ParcelShops. Moreover, the new tool helps to reduce paper consumption.

ParcelShop staff can immediately find parcels with online ordered goods in the system. The recipient confirms the acceptance of the parcel with a signature on the tablet. If desired, it just needs a click and the proof is passed on to the addressee or trader.

GLS facilitates good service also in another way: Thanks to the new equipment the Track & Trace function is always ready at hand. So ParcelShop staff can easily keep their customers up-to-date about their real time shipment status. Also, if desired, it just needs a click and a proof of delivery is passed on to the addressee or the sender.

Service features made by GLS

The ParcelShop app was developed and programmed by GLS. It opens new opportunities to continuously improve the service in the ParcelShops. GLS is already planning further functionalities tailored to the specific demands of shop managers, private recipients and senders.

Become a ParcelShop owner

Strengthening its nationwide services: the Spanish national subsidiary of the GLS Group has acquired the express parcel delivery company ASM Transporte Urgente (ASM).

GLS Spain is growing. With the acquisition of ASM, GLS is strengthening both its network and services, particularly in the national express segment. ASM boasts Spain’s second-largest express parcel network, with 16 hubs and depots as well as more than 1 500 delivery journeys a day. With its strength in the B2C sector, ASM accounts for about 10 per cent of the national parcel market.

Strong figures that speak for themselves

Last year, ASM delivered 25 million parcels, generating revenue of approximately €78 million – highly promising growth.

The Belgian government has implemented a road toll scheme for freight vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tons, effective from 1 April 2016.

GLS Netherlands will pass on the road toll to customers by applying a fixed percentage surcharge for all freight shipments to or from Belgium or Luxembourg. A toll surcharge per unit will be calculated for shipments to France, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The road toll will be charged for all main roads and secondary E and N roads within the regions of Flanders and Wallonia. In the Brussels-Capital Region, all roads will be subject to a road toll.

The amount of the final road toll will depend on the following four factors:

1. The number of kilometres driven on certain designated roads
2. The region (Flanders, Wallonia or Brussels)
3. The Maximum Permissible Mass (MPM) of the vehicle
4. The European emissions class (Euronorm standard)

The Belgian Transport organisation FEBETRA has calculated the average impact of the road toll scheme's introduction in Belgium. It reached a predicted increase in costs of 8.02 to 12.14 per cent for the general cargo distribution sector.

Due to the high density of the GLS network, this will work out to a surcharge of ‘only’ 4.5 per cent.

In connection with transit through Belgium, there will be a toll surcharge of € 0.90 per unit (pallet/block, pallet, etc.) for each shipment of freight transported to France, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The rates, as announced by the Belgian government, can be found below. Please note that this does not reflect the surcharge passed on to customers, since shipments will be transported and delivered in combination with others.

*Urban area: all local and regional roads that are not major motorways.

For more information, please visit:

www.tln.nl

www.viapass.be

On Friday 6 May and Saturday 7 May GLS deliveries in the region Apeldoorn, Arnhem and Nijmegen will be limited due to the Giro d'Italia.

GLS apologises for any inconvenience and asks for understanding.

To ensure your parcels reach the recipient on time, GLS recommends that you take adapted transit times into account.

Companies with small parcel volumes and private individuals can send their parcels via one of the 600 GLS ParcelShops.

* Pick up only by appointment

Send parcels or pick up goods ordered online – day or night: GLS now operates automated parcel terminals in four countries.

GLS offers the innovative delivery and dispatch solution for private customers in Eastern Europe. The solution kicked off in Slovenia in October 2014, followed by Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. There are currently over 70 GLS ParcelLockers in operation, with more to follow. GLS Czech Republic is preparing the launch.

A real all-rounder – and easy to use

Parcel pickup: the boxes of the ParcelLockers open when you enter the access code, which the recipient receives by text message, email or notification card. Cash-on-delivery dispatches can also be paid for at the terminals – with EC debit or credit card.

Parcel dispatch: in just a few steps, private customers can prepare their dispatch online and place their parcels in a ParcelLocker nearby. GLS will then simply pick up the parcel.

Another service: ParcelLockers can be used as temporary storage room 24 hours a day.

Greater freedom of choice

The GLS FlexDeliveryService allows you to have a parcel delivered to a ParcelLocker – as one of several attractive options. Online shoppers can also pick up their parcels here if no one was at home to accept them – but of course only with their permission.

Since the start of the year, GLS has been working with A2B Express in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo.

Both companies feed international parcels into their partner’s network, with the respective partner then handling onward transport and delivery. GLS Croatia’s hub in Zagreb serves as an interface for cross-border parcels.

The strong presence of A2B Express with numerous hubs and depots in the countries complements the pan-European GLS network. Country-specific knowledge is especially valuable given the sometimes challenging political and economic conditions in the region.

By joining forces with GLS, A2B Express is expanding its portfolio and makes it easier for customers to tap in to new markets.

GLS and A2B Express work closely together to coordinate customs clearance. As the two companies have linked their IT systems, it is possible to seamlessly track parcels and smoothly process service queries.

Public celebrations affect GLS deliveries in provinces of Brabant and Limburg.

On Monday 8 February and Tuesday 9 February GLS deliveries in the provinces of Brabant and Limburg will be limited due to carnival celebrations.

GLS apologises for any inconvenience and asks for understanding.

In its report “ThinkGLS. ThinkResponsible.” GLS provides information about its numerous sustainability activities in all its national subsidiaries.

The GLS Group continued these activities in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years on an even wider basis. In focus: the agreement of economic, environmental and social issues.

Eco footprint: good progress

Thanks to environmental activities in all its divisions, GLS improved its eco footprint in numerous categories, even though the volume of parcels increased by nearly 15 per cent and GLS expanded its network by 21 new depots and about 1,000 vehicles.

• Consumption of heating energy: dropped by just under 9 per cent
• Water consumption: around 23 per cent less
• Transport vehicles with the Euro 4 standard and above: rose from around 77 to 84 per cent

Expansion of social activities

National subsidiaries of GLS support charitable local projects throughout Europe. The sustainability report provides a comprehensive overview of the Group’s social and fundraising activities.

GLS secures and increases the attractiveness of its workplaces, for instance through national training and professional development as well as through staff surveys. “Depot dialogues”, joint events and partnership programmes help to encourage a spirit of partnership when working with transport companies.

Fostering dialogue

The GLS sustainability report is oriented on the international standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). It is published every two years and contributes to dialogue between GLS, its dialogue groups and all stakeholders.

Go to the GLS sustainability report

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Extreme weather conditions (glazed frost) have led to traffic obstructions throughout the north of the Netherlands.

This might lead to delivery delays.

GLS Netherlands is working to minimise the delays and apologises for any inconvenience these may cause to our customers.