GAC XPRESS strengthens Middle East road transportation

GAC XPRESS is a 'Less than Trailer Load" trucking service that uses GAC's dedicated fleet of vehicles to offer its customers depot-to-depot or door-to-door delivery options. Initially catering for major cities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the next expansion phase will extend coverage to include Iraq, Iran and the Levant countries. GAC XPRESS is supported by a network covering the entire GCC area and the Levant. Operations are managed by offices in Bahrain and Dubai.

Viable alternative

Recent improvements to regional road networks and the simplification of customs procedures between GCC states have led to increasingly efficient road transit times and cost-effective transportation solutions. And as a result, more and more companies consider road haulage as a viable alternative for the transportation of goods across Gulf countries, compared to sea or air freight.

David Scott, General Manager for GAC XPRESS, says,

"This new service has been launched in direct response to meet the demand of customers, particularly those who require consistent transit and delivery time, but are not prepared to pay premium courier rates. The transit time offered by GAC XPRESS for Dubai-Bahrain / Kuwait / Saudi Arabia ranges between 3 to 5 days."

A key differentiating feature of the GAC XPRESS is that its fleet is equipped with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) tracking system. Controlled access is provided to selected customers and custom authorities.

Strong growth

"We anticipate strong long-term growth in ground transportation. It is quicker and more flexible than sea freight, yet more economical than air freight," he adds. "Already in 2005, we have seen volume growth of 50% for this sector in the region. That is a clear sign that businesses across the Middle East are waking up to the benefits of road haulage as the answer to their transportation needs.

"Another benefit is that GAC XPRESS offers customers full control of their shipment, coupled with the characteristic precision delivery service for which GAC is known throughout the world."