DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of DHL Group, has recently launched TRUCKAIR, a new cost-efficient multimodal service designed to support large-volume and bulky shipments moving between China and Europe.

This new service meets the growing demand for flexible and reliable logistics amid evolving global trade dynamics.

The TRUCKAIR solution integrates road and air freight to strike an optimal balance between cost and speed.

Following inland pickup in China, the goods are transported via truck to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where they are transferred via air freight for onward delivery to Istanbul, and thereafter onwards to other European destinations via various modes of transport.

 (Photo: DHL)

DHL said while cos may vary from shipment to shipment for this tailor-made solution, customers have reported six-digit figures in savings over the two months of adopting TRUCKAIR multimodal solution over airfreight solution.

Additionally, with the TRUCKAIR multimodal service, the total transit time from China to Türkiye is approximately 9 to 11 days, only 4 to 5 days longer than usual transit time of 4 to 7 days by only air freight, making this service a prime choice for companies seeking a reliable and cost-effective solution for high-volume shipments. 

Increased Asia-Europe demand

"Demand for agile and cost-efficient logistics solutions continues to rise, backed by sustained growth in China–Europe and broader Asia–Europe trade. DHL's latest market update points to tight capacity and rate increases into Chinese New Year, with a demand peak expected in early February 2026; TRUCKAIR helps customers avoid short term volatility while maintaining predictable lead times," said Aditi Rasquinha, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Greater China.

"China's total imports and exports of goods grew 3.6% in the first eleven months of 2025, signaling a steady recovery in trade momentum. The European Union was also China's second-largest trading partner in 2025, with bilateral trade up 5.4% year-on-year to RMB 5.37 trillion," she added.

"TRUCKAIR was developed to meet this growing demand for greater flexibility and predictability in cross-border shipments, enabling businesses to control costs without compromising speed," Rasquinha further said.

Aimed at high‑volume general cargo, TRUCKAIR provides a lower‑cost option to standard air freight while keeping transit times suitable for retail and other time‑sensitive sectors. The service can also be combined with DHL’s wider forwarding offerings for shippers that need tailored, end‑to‑end supply chain arrangements.