Ulm, 30 October 2020, 11:00
Tighter restrictions in France:
A new nationwide lockdown came into effect in France at midnight on 30 October 2020.
Bars, restaurants, cultural and sports facilities, as well as most retail outlets, have been ordered to close, except for food retailers and pharmacies. Based on current information, industrial companies remain operational.
Schools and childcare facilities are open, so no significant staffing shortages are expected at customer or partner locations at present.
Please inform us if your consignees have introducted revised opening hours as a result of the lockdown.
Please note the following provisions for transport orders, bearing in mind the different goods receipt procedures at your recipients’ premises.
Only transport orders can be submitted:
- that are not subject to any regulatory restrictions.
- The recipient customers must be open for business and accessible.
- In the case of part-load and full-load consignments, transport arrangements must be coordinated with the relevant department at our branches.
If delivery cannot be completed, shipments will be returned to the sender, and additional charges may apply.
Please also note that transit times may be affected by the ongoing situation.
Ulm, 3 April 2020
Contactless delivery in France:
Following a decree issued by the French government on 19 March 2020, goods and documentation should be exchanged without physical contact wherever possible. Consignees in France may therefore not be asked to sign transport documents upon delivery. In collaboration with our French partners, Noerpel has introduced a dedicated proof-of-delivery process to ensure the continuity of transport services.
Ulm, 25 March 2020
In collaboration with IDS Logistik, the Noerpel Group will introduce contactless parcel deliveries on 25 March 2020. By doing so, we are supporting the German government's measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), particularly the recommendation to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 metres from other people in public spaces.
'Our local and long-distance drivers, as well as our warehouse staff, are doing everything they can to ensure that disinfectants, toilet paper, emergency generators, food and much more reach our customers as usual, even in these difficult times,' explains Michael Bargl, Managing Director of IDS Logistik GmbH. 'They are doing a fantastic job and keeping our supply chains running!'
In order to protect recipients, drivers and handling staff equally, the Noerpel Group has introduced contactless delivery in collaboration with IDS, initially until the end of April. To facilitate this, drivers will leave the goods at the recipient’s usual collection point. Instead of signing on the scanner, the recipient is asked to sign the parcel or address label. The driver sets the status to ‘Goods left’ on the scanner and is prompted by the scanner software to take a photo of the signed label and of the parcel that has been left. These can then be viewed in IDS Track & Trace.
To help you understand this new process, which was introduced at short notice, you can watch an explanatory video here.
Ulm, 24 March 2020
Almost all European countries have relaxed the driving and rest periods for lorry drivers, so they
This is to prevent them from encountering any problems due to the longer waiting times at borders. In some
Some countries have also lifted the ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays.
Current waiting times at borders can be viewed via the following link:
Tighter restrictions in Italy:
All businesses not essential to providing basic public services must remain closed with effect from today, as restrictions have been drastically tightened. This will significantly impact freight transport to and from Italy. Please refer to the list of companies that have been granted special authorisation.
What this means for you:
Only transport orders may be submitted:
- that are not subject to any official restrictions
- Where the recipient customers are open for business and can be accessed.
- For part and full loads, transport arrangements must be coordinated with the relevant department at our branches.
If a delivery cannot be made, consignments will be returned to the sender at their expense.
Please also bear in mind that delivery times may vary due to the current situation.
Ulm, 20 March 2020
Despite border closures, the free movement of goods within Europe remains unaffected. However, business closures and limited accessibility on the part of recipients must be taken into account.
Due to official measures, there are currently longer waiting times at many European border crossings. Current waiting times can be viewed via the following link:
Ulm, 17 March 2020
Germany:
From Wednesday 18 March 2020, the following retailers in the federal state of Bavaria will be closed for the time being and, in some cases, will no longer be able to receive deliveries:
- Furniture shops
- Electrical goods retailers
- Car dealerships
- Bicycle shops
- Clothing shops
- Catering/restaurants
Even today, some businesses in these sectors are refusing to accept deliveries.
We expect other federal states to follow suit with similar measures in the near future.
France, Spain, Austria, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Norway:
There are currently no disruptions to the networks. All goods accepted by the recipient are being delivered. However, deliveries cannot be made to shops, bars, restaurants or public facilities as governments have strictly prohibited them from opening. In some areas, there are isolated businesses (in industry, commerce and retail) that remain closed.
Delays are still being experienced due to strict border controls.
Ulm, 16 March 2020
France:
All educational establishments in France are to close with immediate effect for an indefinite period.
For the time being, shops and restaurants are not affected by the closures.
So far, freight transport has not been affected by the restrictions. There are delays at the borders as more checks are being carried out, and long traffic jams can be expected. Regarding distribution, our partners are not currently reporting any restrictions. However, this could change at any time due to the tightening of regulations. We will keep you informed as soon as possible.
Italy:
No new restrictions since 12 March 2020. Administrative staff are working from home, whilst production staff continue to go to work.
There are still significant delays due to strict border controls.
Freight transport remains unaffected by the restrictions. It is always necessary to check with customers whether recipients can be reached.
Czech Republic/Eastern Europe:
A state of emergency has been declared in the Czech Republic, as well as in Estonia and Bulgaria. As in these countries, freight transport is not affected by the restrictions. Deliveries and collections are continuing as normal. However, there are significant delays at the borders due to health checks.
In principle, all European countries are now affected, but freight transport has not yet been subject to any restrictions.
We will inform you immediately as soon as any changes are announced.
Ulm, 12 March 2020
The situation for freight transport to and from Italy is deteriorating rapidly. Northbound traffic at the Brenner Pass is facing a 50-mile tailback, with lorries carrying imports from Bolzano stuck in it. In light of this, we anticipate serious delivery delays.
Ulm, 11 March 2020
Despite the nationwide lockdown, freight transport to Italy can continue as normal. However, there may be delays.
According to the latest information, freight transport to Italy via Austrian border crossings should be permitted despite the ban on passenger travel. Based on this information, we anticipate that our scheduled services will depart as planned. However, the extent of any delays remains to be seen.
Given the rapidly changing situation, we are monitoring developments affecting international transport closely and reassessing any associated changes constantly. This enables us to adapt the measures we have already put in place as effectively and quickly as possible.
Ulm, 10 March 2020
Dear customers and partners,
Here at the Noerpel Group, we are monitoring the situation regarding the Coronavirus very closely. We have already implemented extensive precautions and developed measures to protect our sites, our staff, our customers and the wider community in the event of further spread.
In addition, our safety officers form a dedicated team that reassesses the situation daily and adjusts our measures accordingly.
We have raised hygiene standards across all our premises and regularly update our staff on the recommendations and preventive measures issued by the authorities and the WHO. Furthermore, we have reduced business travel to a minimum, replacing associated face-to-face meetings with virtual ones.
Anyone experiencing symptoms suggestive of the virus is instructed not to come to work. This way, we limit chains of infection in an emergency and proactively free up resources to maintain effective operations at our sites.
Our drivers are provided with hand sanitiser and instructed to sanitise their hands before and after every stop. Canteens and staff rooms are closed until further notice.
Furthermore, as exhibitors at various trade fairs, we have decided to cancel all major events to minimise the risk of the virus spreading. Out of respect for our colleagues, customers and fellow citizens, we are avoiding such events.
Although Noerpel’s sites are located outside the particularly affected areas of Europe and the restricted zones, there are restrictions due to some collection and delivery areas being inaccessible. You can find the latest information on these affected areas at any time at:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd
Thanks to our Europe-wide network and existing capacities, we are confident that we will be able to maintain our services and offer you alternative transport routes where necessary, even in the event of a further spread of the virus. We have also put organisational measures in place to ensure the long-term continuity of our operations, as well as additional contingency plans.