Field Notes from Asstra Automotive Logistics

The number of cars in the world is growing rapidly every year. Global industry sales amounted to 75 million vehicles in 2019. AsstrA formed a dedicated division, AsstrA Automotive Logistics, to provide  targeted solutions to the logistics challenges of companies producing cars, tires, and spare parts.

The unique aspect of such transportation is that the car transporter’s driver – not the sender or the recipient –  is responsible for loading, securing, unfastening, and unloading. The driver receives and accepts the cars lined up in a row and also drives each one onto the car transporter independently.

Alexandr Lanets

“Some auto transporters are open, and in the case of such transportation, the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road limits the carrier's liability. If cargo shipped via open transport was not packaged properly, the carrier has the right to deny compensation claims for chips or scratches that happened during transportation,” explains Alexandr Lanets, AsstrA Automotive Logistics Specialist.

“CMR insurance for such a shipment does not cover damage that occurs during loading or unloading. CMR insurance is limited to 8.33 SDR per 1 kg gross. It is insufficient for luxury cars, since the weight of the car is 1,200-2,500 kg, and the cost varies from 60 to 600 thousand euros. Therefore, it is important to take out “all risks” insurance for such transportation.”

The AsstrA team provides superior transportation services for cars from Western Europe to Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and vice versa. For such routes, clients typically choose transportation via large, open auto transporters that accommodate 5-8 cars or by small auto transporters that take 2-4 cars. The service option is suitable for both new and used vehicles.

Nikolaj Krokun

“The farthest route we have completed recently is 3,500 km from Spain to Belarus. The team did done some serious work to establish regular shipments of Iveco chasses. From 10 to 12 auto transporters a month take this route – sometimes twice if there is time to make a round trip. The client received favorable pricing conditions, the carrier’s vehicle returns efficiently to the available fleet, and AsstrA has regular orders,” shares Nikolaj Krokun, Head of AsstrA Automotive Logistics.

The team of experts also provides their own vehicles and experienced drivers for routes from Europe to the CIS. Clients shipping cargo from Europe to the CIS can also receive assistance in obtaining EU transit numbers. With AsstrA, clients can also organize CASCO insurance as well as OSARGO in case of projects within Russia.

The company's clients typically choose to deliver expensive cars from the CIS countries to the European market and back using covered auto transporters. Porsche, Bentley and Rolls-Royce dealers work with the AsstrA team to deliver cars from Germany to Belarus and Russia. AsstrA has successfully worked with clients shipping Fiat, Skoda, Tesla, Renault and Volvo cars between Europe and the CIS.