The Truck Shuttle activity for which time is money, is part of the Eurotunnel’s group core business and establishes the company as the world number-one in piggyback transport.

In 2008, Eurotunnel has transported 1,254,282 trucks on its Shuttles, i.e. the equivalent of 14.2 million tonnes of goods.

All-time records

Eurotunnel has set up 3 new records in 2008:

• On 13 March, 6,820 trucks carried in 24 hours on its Shuttles;
• In March, 135,085 trucks transported in one month;
• On 11 October, the 14 millionth truck was carried onboard a Eurotunnel Shuttle (since the start of this service in 1994)

Global rail-road transport leader

Between 6 May 1994 and 6 May 2009, i.e. 15 years of operations since the opening of the service, Eurotunnel has transported 14.5 million trucks on its Shuttles, which placed end-to-end would circle the Earth over 7 times.

Eurotunnel offers its freight customers unrivalled speed, frequency, flexibility and reliability for crossing the Channel. The Shuttles dedicated to HGVs can transport up to 30 trucks in semi-enclosed wagons. The drivers do not remain in their vehicles, but travel comfortably in an amenity Club car, which offers catering facilities. Trucks are able to cross the Straits in 90 minutes at the most, from the M20 motorway in the UK to the A16 motorway in France, including time for boarder controls, loading, crossing and unloading. This journey takes much longer with the ferries.

Truck Shuttles leave every 10, 12 or 15 minutes depending on traffic levels, and there is no need to book ahead: customers are served as soon as they arrive at the Terminal. The highly flexible timetables are adjusted to traffic levels every day.

Most truck drivers are now familiar with two of the innovative systems installed in 2006 which contribute to improve traffic flow from the time trucks arrive on the Terminals: one is the automatic truck check-in system and the other is the automatic number plate recognition system.

In 2008, the capacity of the truck parking area located just before check-in at the Coquelles Terminal (France) has doubled to 150 places.

Also the underground Fixed Link guarantees a level of reliability that is unaffected by weather conditions, whereas ferry services are interrupted for an average of around 10 days per year due to storms.

This unrivalled quality of service has made it possible to build a sales policy that gives priority to value over volume, offer a pricing schedule that reflects our service’s competitive advantages and maintain a priority focus on the customers who hold yearly contracts.

In order to highlight the service advantages, marketing teams have launched advertising campaigns in specialised trade magazines. To view one of the ads, click here.

Eurotunnel staff demonstrated their ability to adapt to unexpected circumstances was proved several times during the year, especially when the fire broke out in September.

Sales teams have also established a system for real-time communication with hauliers on the traffic’s status, which allow them to get in advance an accurate information on departure time for the next available Shuttle. And at the entrance to our Terminals, truck drivers now have access to display panels with reliable information on the departure times for the next available Shuttles.

Eurotunnel’s commitment to Speed, Ease and Reliability are a real added value for hauliers who increasingly have to deal with « just-in-time » scenarios. Eurotunnel will therefore continue to maintain a high quality of service. Investments launched to renovate its Shuttles will contribute to this level of service.