Dutch military seeks closer ties with cargo and lifting sector

The Dutch Ministry of Defence is expanding its use of civilian logistics providers, with new tenders for transport and lifting services to secure capacity for military operations and periods of heightened tension.

Three procurements covering general cargo and lifting services, full-truckload (FTL) and container transport, form part of the ministry’s Ecosysteem Logistiek (ESL), a strategic framework designed to strengthen cooperation between the armed forces and the private logistics sector.

Under the ESL, participating civilian companies can continue using their vehicles and personnel for normal commercial operations but, crucially, must make agreed capacity available when requested by the Dutch Defensie.

Transport en Logistiek Nederland, the national transport industry association, said that the arrangement is intended to provide companies with a continuous flow of orders through long-term framework agreements. Extra costs arising from large-scale deployment are also covered by the ministry.

This story was originally published by Project Cargo Journal. Read the full story at Project Cargo Journal →