Gondolas in Venice
Delivering parcels by car or bicycle is hardly feasible in the old town of Venice. Instead of streets, Venice has a network of canals. DHL uses these to deliver parcels in the Italian city by waterway with gondolas. Although the gondolas are slightly wider than the narrow boats used to row tourists through the canals, they are an integral part of the water traffic on the Grand Canal. DHL also uses a delivery gondola in just one other city in the world: the canals (grachten) of Amsterdam.
Cable car to the highest post office in Germany
DHL Group operates the highest post office in Germany – on the Zugspitze, at an altitude of around 2,600 metres in the Alps. Post office employee Andreas Oberauer empties the letterbox on the mountain plateau and delivers letters and parcels to one of the most remote places in the country every day – by cable car. Whether the sun is shining or the weather is stormy, he reliably brings the post to the restaurants and viewing platform by cable car. ‘The fabulous view makes up for a lot, even when the weather is stormy,’ says Oberauer.
Boats on an African river
DHL uses two boats to deliver parcels in the West African city of Lagos in Nigeria. They travel between the mainland of Lagos and the southern district of Victoria Island every day. The crossing by water takes only about 18 minutes. Travelling by road, on the other hand, would take up to three hours due to the high and chaotic traffic during rush hour.
Snowshoes in Norway
The snowshoes used by delivery staff in regions with heavy snowfall in Norway to make their way to their customers are around 50cm long and 20cm wide. These special shoes are used in remote areas that cannot be reached by normal delivery vehicles. They are fastened with Velcro straps. The large, flat surface of the shoes stabilises the wearer’s footing and prevents them from sinking into the snow.
Solar-powered boat in Berlin
DHL delivery staff in Berlin also double as captains – of a solar-powered boat on the River Spree. ‘Our customers were very amused the first few times I crossed the river,’ says captain Dirk Braumann. “Everyone is friendly, and I have never had a package fall into the water!” Because the boat is powered by solar energy, it is not only practical but also environmentally friendly – an example of how DHL relies on sustainable and innovative logistics.
Translated with DeepL (www.deepl.com)
