events - DS Freight Forwarding

🚚 Bridging roads and realities: Iro Doumani on the future of road transport

DSFF — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:47:41 +0000

The world is moving fast and the road transport industry sits at the crossroads of major change. From green logistics and digital innovation to the growing pressure of driver shortages, freight transport is no longer just about moving goods. It expands in connecting economies, people, and sustainable practices. As Europe races to modernize its supply chains while reducing emissions and costs, the road ahead demands smarter infrastructure, collaboration across modes of transport, and a skilled, adaptive workforce.

These challenges/ opportunities were at the heart of a recent presentation at our event, delivered by Mrs. Iro Doumani, General Manager of the Hellenic Federation of Road Transport and President of the IRU Goods Transport Council. With her extensive experience and strategic outlook, Doumani shared a clear and compelling vision for how road freight can remain the backbone of European logistics in a changing world.

Paving the way with purpose

During her speech, Mrs. Doumani emphasized that road transport plays a key role in economic and social connectivity, particularly for countries like Greece. Her insights included:

The dominance of road freight in the European supply chain (74.6% of inland transport).
Greece’s untapped potential to become a regional logistics hub—especially through the Port of Piraeus.
The urgent need for intermodal synergy—where road, rail, and sea work together, not in competition.

Facing the triple challenge: Decarbonisation, Digitalisation, Drivers

Decarbonisation

The road freight sector is under pressure to cut emissions while demand continues to rise. Doumani explored the transition to Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) and the obstacles they face, from battery weight and range limitations to inadequate charging infrastructure. Her approach? Advocate for realistic, phased energy solutions, tailored by fleet type and geography.

Digitalisation

From fleet management systems to e-documents, digital transformation is non-negotiable. She presented the digital future of road transport as one of integration and adaptability—where operators who embrace change gain competitive advantage, efficiency, and transparency.

People

Perhaps most strikingly, Mrs. Iro didn’t shy away from one of the sector’s toughest realities: the driver shortage crisis. With over 230,000 unfilled driver positions in Europe and a growing need for tech-savvy, safety-conscious, and environmentally aware professionals, the road transport workforce is due for a makeover.

What this means for you

Whether you’re a logistics manager, supply chain partner, or fleet operator, Mrs. Iro’s message is clear: the road ahead requires investment in people, processes, and planet. This is not just about policy—it’s about competitive survival and sustainable growth.

Her insights leave us with:

A deeper understanding of the macro trends shaping European logistics.

Practical awareness of the challenges facing modern transport operators.

Strategic foresight on where to invest: technology, training, and collaboration.

Why DS Freight Forwarding supports voices like Mrs. Iro Doumani’s

We focus on moving forward along with moving goods. That’s why we proudly hosted Mrs. Iro Doumani as a speaker during our 2025 client event. Her vision aligns with our core values: innovation, responsibility, and partnership.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cold chain logistics, insights like hers help us and our partners stay ahead.

If you’d like to learn more about how we’re applying these principles in real-world freight operations, or how we support a smarter and greener transport future, we’d love to connect.

We can build tomorrow’s logistics—together.

This blog is based on the insightful presentation delivered by Mrs. Iro Doumani at our 2025 DS Freight Forwarding client event. We extend our sincere thanks for her expertise, forward-thinking vision, and the valuable perspectives she shared on the future of road transport. Her contribution offered clarity on today’s challenges and inspiration for building a more efficient and sustainable logistics landscape.

Connect with her on LinkedIn: profile here

The post 🚚 Bridging roads and realities: Iro Doumani on the future of road transport first appeared on DS Freight Forwarding.

The post 🚚 Bridging roads and realities: Iro Doumani on the future of road transport appeared first on DS Freight Forwarding.

How CO2Path and accurate data help pave the way to lower road transport emissions

DSFF — Wed, 14 May 2025 12:37:32 +0000

In a time when sustainability in logistics is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a regulatory and reputational necessity, the transport industry finds itself facing a unique challenge: it must move more goods, more efficiently, while cutting carbon emissions by as much as 90% by 2050.

A puzzle like this needs precision, clarity—and above all—data .

At our recent event in Athens, we were proud to host Dr. Dimitrios Kourtesis, PhD, whose work is shaping the future of logistics carbon accounting through the platform CO2Path. His presentation offered a deep dive into the emerging regulatory landscape and the tools carriers and logistics companies must now adopt to stay compliant, competitive, and truly sustainable.

Transport: Europe’s Biggest Climate Challenge

While Europe is reducing emissions in many sectors, transport has become the EU’s largest climate problem—with freight emissions up by 45% since 1990. By 2030, it’s expected to represent half of the EU’s total emissions. To respond to this, the EU has rolled out an ambitious framework including:

EU ETS 2: Emissions trading expanded to road transport (active from 2027)
CSRD: Mandatory ESG reporting with third-party assurance
CountEmissions EU: Standardized calculation & disclosure using ISO 14083

This regulatory wave is reshaping how logistics must function. Emissions are no longer a background concern—they are now a cost center, a reporting obligation, and a competitive differentiator.

The Power of CO2Path: Turning complexity into clarity

This is where Dr. Kourtesis’s platform, CO2Path, plays a transformative role. Built around ISO 14083, it offers an automated, auditable, and data-driven system for carbon accounting in freight logistics.

CO2Path connects directly to freight forwarders’ TMS or ERP systems via API, pulling real-time operational data and transforming it into:

Consignment-level emissions reports
Journey and shipment aggregations
Organization-wide emissions dashboards
Audit-ready records for compliance with EU laws

What sets CO2Path apart is its focus on primary data, validation, and transparency. Every data point is quality-checked, and the emission trail is traceable—making it easier for carriers and logistics providers to report and improve with confidence.

Beyond Reporting: Enabling Real Emission Reductions

Measurement is only the beginning. Once logistics professionals understand their carbon intensity (e.g., kg CO₂e per tone-kilometre), they can act:

Optimize routes and vehicle utilization
Shift modes where feasible (e.g., to sea or rail)
Choose greener fuel options via Book & Claim
Engage in verified emissions reporting, not estimations

Dr. Kourtesis reminds us of Lord Kelvin’s famous quote: “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.” That’s exactly the mission behind CO2Path.

How This Connects to DS Freight Forwarding and myDS

At DS Freight Forwarding, we recognize that meaningful sustainability in logistics starts with systems that speak the same language. That’s why our own platform, myDS, is now connected with CO2Path—bridging real-time transport data with high-accuracy carbon accounting.

This integration not only ensures that we stay ahead of EU regulations, but also gives our clients a transparent view of their logistics emissions, helping them meet their own sustainability goals with confidence and clarity.

Final Thoughts

Sustainability in logistics is no longer a guessing game. With leaders like Dr. Kourtesis paving the way in emissions tracking, and with platforms like CO2Path and myDS working together, the road to cleaner transport becomes less uncertain—and more actionable.

If you’re a carrier, shipper, or logistics stakeholder wondering where to begin, start by measuring. The rest will follow.

This blog post is based on the presentation by Mr. Dimitris Kourtesis who was one of our speakers at DS Freight Forwarding’s client event in Athens. We sincerely thank him for sharing his insights, inspiring perspectives, and for contributing to the collective effort to reduce carbon emissions.

Connect with him on LinkedIn: profile here

The post How CO2Path and accurate data help pave the way to lower road transport emissions first appeared on DS Freight Forwarding.

The post How CO2Path and accurate data help pave the way to lower road transport emissions appeared first on DS Freight Forwarding.

🌱 Shaping the Future of Sustainable Logistics

DSFF — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:11:07 +0000

Insights from Dr. Vasileios Zeimpekis

In a world where supply chains are becoming increasingly complex, the importance of sustainability in logistics has never been greater. During his speech at our recent logistics conference in Athens, Dr. Vasileios Zeimpekis, a distinguished logistics expert and sustainability advisor, shared critical insights on how Greece — and the world — can evolve toward greener, smarter logistics systems.

The current state of Greek logistics

Greece has made significant progress in recent years, securing the 19th position in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index for 2023.

However, as Dr. Zeimpekis highlighted, major challenges persist, particularly in:

The aging transport fleet — the average age of trucks remains at 22.7 years, far older than the European average.
Infrastructure limitations, especially in rail connectivity, which limits combined, lower-emission transport options.
Fragmented logistics operations, where opportunities for collaboration and efficiency gains are often missed.

Despite these challenges, the momentum for transformation is building rapidly.

The key pillars for sustainable growth

Dr. Zeimpekis outlined a clear vision for how Greek and European logistics can embrace sustainability and competitiveness simultaneously:

Modernization of transport fleets

Transitioning to newer, low-emission vehicles is essential. Investment in greener technologies, such as electric or LNG-powered trucks, is a strategic priority for companies aiming to remain competitive and compliant with tightening environmental regulations.

Embracing multimodal transport

The future belongs to combined transport models, leveraging road, rail, and maritime networks to optimize routes, reduce emissions, and lower costs. Strengthening rail freight options will be a critical factor for Greece’s logistics hubs.

Digitalization and smart logistics Hubs

New logistics parks, automated warehouses, and digital solutions like Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are pivotal. Digitalization not only improves efficiency but also directly supports sustainability by optimizing resource use.

Sustainable development as a competitive advantage

Companies that embed sustainability into their logistics strategies will not only reduce operational costs but also enhance brand value, attract new clients, and increase market valuation.

Sustainability is no longer optional — it’s a business imperative.

A National Strategy for the future

To support this transformation, Dr. Zeimpekis stressed the need for:

Modernized legislative frameworks for logistics activities.
Development of national logistics hubs like Thriasio and Gonou.
Creation of a National Logistics Observatory to monitor progress, competitiveness, and environmental impact.
Promoting Greek logistics abroad to attract international trade flows and partnerships.

A step forward together

At DS Freight Forwarding, we were proud to organize this event, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the future of logistics and sustainability.

Stay connected with DSFF for more updates, insights, and collaborations that move our industry — and the planet — forward.

This blog post is based on the presentation by Mr. Vasileios Zeimpekis who was the first speaker at DS Freight Forwarding’s client event in Athens. We sincerely thank him for sharing his insights, inspiring perspectives, and for contributing to a meaningful discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the logistics sector.

Connect with him on LinkedIn: profile here

The post 🌱 Shaping the Future of Sustainable Logistics first appeared on DS Freight Forwarding.

The post 🌱 Shaping the Future of Sustainable Logistics appeared first on DS Freight Forwarding.