Episode 21: The Catalyst Series | Girteka’s Approach to Fleet Innovation, Electrification and Collaboration

Episode 21: The Catalyst Series | Girteka’s Approach to Fleet Innovation, Electrification and Collaboration

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In this episode, Smart Freight Centre sat down with Mark Mulder, Former Chief Commercial Officer at Girteka, to discuss the company’s approach to responsible logistics, fleet transformation, and the future of sustainable long-haul transport in Europe.

Girteka, Europe’s largest asset-heavy transport company, operates over 6,500 trucks with a standardized temperature-controlled fleet designed for cross-border haulage – serving sectors like food and pharma. What sets the company apart is not only its scale but also its internal infrastructure: a dedicated driver department and an in-house leasing arm to manage fleet renewal and resale.

Mark highlighted how Girteka’s scale and structure support efficient long-haul operations across Europe. With a standardized fleet and in-house asset management, the company is able to maintain high levels of operational control, optimize driver deployment, and ensure consistent service quality across international routes.

The Road to Electrification: Opportunities and Barriers
While Girteka is closely following developments in alternative drivetrains, including battery-electric and hydrogen trucks, the shift to zero-emission vehicles for long-haul international transport remains constrained by infrastructure, vehicle range, and operational viability.
  • Battery-electric trucks are making strides in domestic distribution, particularly in Northern Europe, but fall short for long-haul due to range limitations and charging network gaps.
  • Hydrogen trucks are promising but face similar infrastructure challenges and high energy costs.
  • The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) remains uncertain, particularly due to unknown residual values of electric trucks—complicating investment decisions.
The Role of Collaboration
Girteka is actively participating in pilot projects, often in cooperation with customers and other stakeholders. However, scale is still limited. Mark emphasized the need for:
  • Coordinated shipper collaboration to consolidate volumes and reduce empty mileage
  • Depot charging infrastructure at shipper facilities
  • Longer-term contracts to justify investments in new technology
  • Policy alignment and support across EU member states, particularly subsidies during the transition phase
At the heart of Girteka’s strategy is a realistic, operational approach to fleet innovation – driven by data, efficiency, and a deep understanding of driver behavior and logistics flows.

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