This initiative aims to revise the traditional logistics system that relied on truck transport and promote a modal shift in maritime shipping, targeting products such as apparel and miscellaneous goods. In the product sector, three trading companies that are competitors position "logistics as a collaborative domain," consolidating cargo imported from China bound for the Kanto region at Shimonoseki Port and implementing "joint transport" through trunk line transport to transit points in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
From the alliance's formation in March 2025 until February 2026, most of the trunk line transportation was handled by Tokyo Kyushu Ferry (Shin-Moji Port→ Yokosuka Port), part of the Kanko Logiji NEXT Group, as a multimodal integrated transport service. Thanks to the proven track record of trailer transport using this ferry, CO₂ emissions were reduced by 71% (reduction of 149.5 t-CO2) compared to long-distance land transport using conventional 10-ton trucks, and truck drivers' driving time was cut by 85.7%.
■ Evaluation Points for Awards
Upon receiving this award, the following points were highly evaluated as a "model case of collaboration between businesses."
● Three competing companies have recognized "logistics as a collaborative domain" and realized joint transportation through collaboration among businesses.
● Practical measures were made to enable stable trailer-based transport through cargo consolidation, taking advantage of Shimonoseki Port's compact characteristics.
● By designing the operation so that cargo cleared customs on the day can board the ferry from nearby Shin-Moji Port, the effectiveness of maritime modal shift was greatly enhanced without changing lead times, resulting in substantial reductions in CO2 emissions and operating hours.
■ Future Outlook
The success of "joint transportation" on trunk lines through this initiative is positioned as an important first step toward building sustainable logistics. Going forward, we aim for even greater efficiency by eliminating relay points and delivering directly to the final delivery destination through "joint delivery."
To that end, we are calling on shippers who support us to join this alliance, expand the circle of joint transportation, stabilize cargo volumes, deepen collaboration with retailers who are the delivery destinations, and pursue a logistics system that aims to reduce environmental impact more seamlessly by realizing relay-free delivery.
*1 Based on the calculation method of the "Guidelines for Calculation Methods for CO2 Emissions in the Logistics Sector" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, CO2 emissions per unit in the conventional ton-kilometer: 216 (g-CO2/t-km) for land transportation and 43 (g-CO2/t-km) for maritime transport.