Night transport on Maasvlakte gains ground, but not profitable for all

The congestion at container terminals in Rotterdam, especially at the Maasvlakte, is increasing. Both trucks and barges are greatly inconvenienced by the increasing congestion and long waiting times. Terminals are trying to manage this with high spreading surcharges for those who want to pick up containers during the day, but despite this, it remains extremely busy at peak times.

This situation is causing some logistics companies to switch to night transport. At night, waiting times are shorter, there is more throughput, and drivers can drive faster. For companies with a strategic location and sufficient volume, working at night even proves to be cost-saving: less lost time and no spreading surcharges.

Yet night transport is not immediately a viable option for every logistics provider. In addition to finding drivers willing to drive at night, higher labor costs and limited storage capacity also play a role. Especially for companies that travel longer distances or handle less volume, the switch to nighttime is not always financially attractive.

Night work is also being considered within Neele-Vat, but not yet widely applied. Transport director Pim Steine states: "We work at night, but not yet on a large scale. The thinking model is interesting, only the capacity in terms of space and heavier operating costs do not always outweigh the benefits."

With that, he emphasizes that the trade-off between profitability and operational opportunities is complex. While the advantages of night trips are clear in theory, practice requires careful consideration on a situation-by-situation basis.