Kuehne+Nagel has established a network of cross-dock warehouses in support of the US healthcare market.

It said that with this solution, Kuehne+Nagel addresses the growing need of the healthcare market for more sustainable and cost-optimized supply chains, in an industry where precise temperature control and timely delivery are paramount.

"The cross-dock concept features the loading and unloading of sea freight temperature-controlled containers in a GxP-compliant warehouse near an ocean port, allowing for the prompt return of empty containers to the port," Kuehne+Nagel said in an announcement.

At the temperature-controlled warehouse, it added that the containers are sorted and optimized for road transportation to their final destination. This reduces the use of multiple containers and eliminates or lowers detention charges due to a fast turnaround of container management.  

Kuehne+Nagel's expanded network of cross-dock facilities now includes warehouses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Los Angeles, California. Four additional locations across the country will open in 2024.

It said that all of the facilities offer multiple temperature ranges and comply with Kuehne+Nagel's HealthChain certification, ensuring the highest global quality standards for transporting, handling, and storing healthcare products.

"Cross-docking optimizes the time that products spend in transit, streamlines the handling process, and reduces costs and CO2 emissions," said Jeff Garcia, Industry Champion Healthcare for Kuehne+Nagel.

"We began this concept as a pilot program with a large, global human and animal health customer for their animal health division at one warehouse, resulting in a double-digit savings of costs in the container inbound process and cutting CO2 emissions by nearly half," he added.

Kuehne+Nagel said that based on this, the company is able to expand this offering to the healthcare market across the United States.