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DHL Express, the world's leading international express provider, further strengthened its delivery service capabilities in the state of Tasmania with the signing of an extended service partnership with pick-up and delivery agent, Road Runners.
The new partnership bolsters DHL's coverage in the major metropolitan areas of Hobart, Launceston and Devonport, extending it across regional areas in Tasmania, including Flinders Island and King Island.
Road Runners is a wholly Tasmanian-owned company with more than 25 years of experience in delivering to Tasmanian addresses.
Gary Edstein, CEO/ Senior Vice President, DHL Express Oceania, said the signing of this new Tasmanian agreement signifies both DHL's ongoing growth across the country and its commitment to grow service capabilities in regional areas.
"Road Runners has been our trusted partner in Tasmania for the past decade. This new agreement with Road Runners further solidifies DHL's commitment in delivering to Tasmanian customers, and reflects our ongoing growth in volumes in the country's southernmost state," Edstein commented.
DHL Express Australia has experienced a significant increase in the number of shipments addressed to Tasmanian recipients since deliveries began close to 10 years ago. In the last five years, DHL shipments to Tasmania have increased by 20%.
"In recent years, DHL Express has witnessed a marked increase in deliveries as a result of the e-commerce boom. Consumers are growing increasingly confident when it comes to making purchases online and Tasmanian consumers are no exception to this trend, with the vast majority of Tasmania-bound shipments delivered to a residential address," Edstein said.
As part of the agreement, Road Runners will operate four DHL branded vehicles on behalf of the company to help cater for the rapidly growing number of shipments destined for Tasmania's major cities. In Hobart, two dedicated vehicles have been deployed to cover the city's routes, alongside one in Launceston and another in Devonport.
DHL Express Australia's service expansion in Tasmania follows recent upgrades to DHL Express facilities in the country, including the AU$20 million Melbourne Gateway Facility upgrade in 2015 and the new AU$1.8 million Canberra Service Centre in 2016.
Earlier this year, DHL Express launched its new On Demand Delivery platform, offering receivers a flexible range of convenient delivery options to choose from via a mobile friendly website. Receivers can elect a place for a parcel to be left without signature, reschedule the time of delivery or opt to collect the shipment from a service point.