The Logistics Industry’s 2024 Problem: A Shortage of Truck Drivers and Long Working Hours

Long working hours have become the norm for truck drivers due to business practices that require them to both drive long distances and help with incidental tasks such as loading and unloading at logistics facilities . The “2024 Problem” is a general term for the various issues that the shipping and logistics industries must now address as a result of the Work Style Reform Act of April 1, 2024, with the aim of improving working conditions by limiting driver overtime to 960 hours per year.

• Source：Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Basic Survey on Wage Structure

SULS：Next-generation Transportation and Delivery System

SULS is an acronym for S&U Logistics System. The “S” stands for speedy, sustainable, and solutions, and the “U” stands for utility, usability, and user experience. By synergizing the advantages of Nichirei Logistics Group, we will generate speedy, sustainable logistics solutions and provide utility, usability and superior user experience to our customers and society.

Using SULS to Build a New Transportation and Delivery Platform for Temperature-controlled Logistics

SULS is an acronym for S&U Logistics System. The “S” stands for speedy, sustainable, and solutions, and the “U” stands for utility, usability, and user experience. By synergizing the advantages of Nichirei Logistics Group, we will generate speedy, sustainable logistics solutions and provide utility, usability and superior user experience to our customers and society.

Expected Effect

The start of operation of Atsugi Gateway in April 2022 improved load factor by consolidating west-bound cargo. With the benefits of SULS switch centers and gateways, it is now possible to transport cargo between the Kanto and Kansai regions using one-day return trips.

SULS dramatically reduces driver operation time including dwell time, loading time, and unloading time, making transportation more efficient than with conventional logistics.

Current SULS Operations

In June 2023, the Kansai Gateway began operating and the SULS link between Kyushu and Kansai was opened through the use of the Hiroshima Switch Center, a relay hub. As a result, SULS now connects the Kanto region to Kyushu.

• *A facility with storage capabilities that connects trunk-line transportation and local delivery, enabling more frequent trunk-line transportation.

Initiatives in FY2025

• By the end of FY2025, we will increase the total number of trailers to 50, and expand operations in the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka regions, utilizing the trailers for deliveries within each region.
• With the opening of routes to Tohoku and Kyushu, the expansion of SULS will facilitate growth in the volume of cargo handled by trunk-line transportation from central distribution centers and the production facilities of manufacturers throughout Japan.
• Expanding collection of northbound cargo from western Japan