Dachser Peru recently announced the successful transportation of two 180-ton locomotives from the Port of Houston to the customer’s Lima facility, further supporting advancements in the region’s railroad infrastructure efforts. Amid the challenges presented by the heavy-lift cargo project, Dachser continues to demonstrate its methods of meticulous and successful planning to keeping customers satisfied while fostering economic growth across the globe. Global Trade had the opportunity to speak with Eduardo Rey, Managing Director at Dachser Peru, on this success and how Dachser is keeping operations going during a global pandemic through careful planning and the use of technology solutions.

Let’s talk about special measures that were taken to successfully transport the two 180-ton locomotives from Port of Houston to Lima, Peru. How did these measures differ from regular methods of transportation?

To move the two locomotives as we did was a special task, indeed. These special tasks require a very detailed plan if you want a successful story. What we did is we took not only one, but several measures in order to ensure success. First, it was the right selection of our service partners. That’s always a priority we require to perform our job well. We ensure to work with reliable companies that are not necessarily the cheapest one, but the ones who offer secure operations. For us, security, especially in these times, is most important.

Secondly, we executed a very detailed plan for the transport itself. We oversaw the big picture plan from the arrival of the locomotives into the port of Houston until the end delivery in a place in Lima, Peru. We were responsible for the whole service from start to finish. While executing this very detailed plan, we considered all the possible challenges that may occur in the process. We always have a plan B. For heavy cargos like this, logistics is not a paper issue. It requires in-depth involvement in the operations. Communication is key and coordination within the processes needs to be very well planned. That’s exactly what we did.

How about the role of technology in the transport of these locomotives? Do you see it changing future processes?

Well, technology in our times is something that needs to be on top of all our activities. Last generation’s equipment has been used for these transports, especially during the last phase of the loco transportation to the final destination in Callao in Peru. A last generation heavy hauler was used to move these units where they were directly discharged from the vessel into the units and transported through the streets of Callao.

There were a lot of air cables, electricity and phone cables by the streets that required us to take care of all the height concerns of the locomotives in order not to cross or to destroy it. Again, it was a very detailed plan. In the end, it arrived at the final destination and discharged over the railroad tracks using 400 cranes, last generation as well. Technology is always on top of our activities.

How is Dachser currently navigating logistics and limitations presented by the pandemic? Has anything really changed?

Dachser is one of the largest worldwide logistic providers. During the pandemic, we have been one of the most active companies around the world. Indeed, our own airfreight charters has been great support for several countries. In Peru, a clear demonstration has been the heavy cargos transport, of course. Despite the legal restrictions due to the pandemic and all the security and safety protocols we followed, we were able to proceed this way. Dachser is acting with full responsibility, following the security procedures and the country regulations in every country we operate in. We are in the logistics business and logistics never stops, even though most of us are working from home. Yes, there are indeed limitations, but nevertheless we are able to ensure a class A logistics service.

How is the company preparing to further support rail infrastructure projects in the future?

Well, having done this latest move demonstrates our full capabilities to organize logistics for appropriate cargoes. Dachser is ready for future opportunities, of course, not only in the rail industry, but for any other industry that supports the infrastructure development in Peru. In our country, we have an infrastructure deficit in roads, ports, airports, etc. Considering the worldwide Dachser network, we are fully prepared to support these developments. To give you an example, we got a call the other day from the ministry of health in Peru because they were trying to move some special equipment for oxygen production. There are so many hospitals that have a need for more oxygen. We are always alert for those kinds of requirements and opportunities.

Dachser is well known in the local market for the perishables export for all its logistics. For example, we have a very well-known and prepared staff of people giving 24/7 service for the exports of fruits and vegetables. In Peru, those products are the main non-traditional exports from the country. That means that our service portfolio is not only focused on one specific industry like projects or trains, but it is actively bringing the best quality for logistics services. Looking at what is most important for us which is our customers’ full satisfaction.

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Mr. Eduardo Rey was born in 1964 in Lima, Peru. He attended the University Ricardo Palma, where he studied architecture.

It was later, through his working experience, that he discovered his true vocation: the logistics industry.

He quickly understood that, in order to get a better sense of the work he was so passionate about, he needs to further his studies, so in 1987 he obtained a post-graduate degree in Foreign Trade and did other various courses related to air and cargo and in 1999 he completed an MBA.

Mr. Rey started his career within the industry as an Export Manager for a trading company that specialized in hydro-biological products. Ever since, he has been working in the forwarding business, for more than 27 years now and to today, he still feels as passionate about his work and the world of transportation, as he was when he started in this domain.

In 2003, he took on an offer to become the General Manager of a local Peruvian freight forwarder and soon was promoted to the role of Managing Director.

It was in 2016 when Mr. Rey was appointed as Managing Director for DACHSER Peru and he brought his extensive experience and deep knowledge of the industry both locally and globally to the company.

Mr. Rey appreciates his initial architectural studies and feels that they are helping him in his every day work and provide him with the organized mind of an architect, when dealing with the daily operations of the company and his team.