Logistics expertise in global transport

Overview

For over a decade, DSV has supported Change a Life by sponsoring a DSV executive to participate in the annual Change a Life Cycle Tour, contributing to fundraising efforts while also donating essential logistics services. The high-profile cycling event invites senior executives to raise funds for crime prevention and youth development initiatives that help create sustainable futures for young South Africans and their communities.

This year’s tour, held in the breathtaking landscape of Croatia, marked another chapter in DSV’s partnership with the organisation. As the official logistics sponsor, DSV was entrusted with the complex task of transporting essential equipment from South Africa to remote terrains in Croatia—a task requiring global coordination, meticulous planning, collaboration, and flexibility to navigate challenges.

The task: transporting essential equipment from South Africa to Croatia

In support of the Change a Life Cycle Tour, DSV donated transport and logistics services for essential equipment, bicycles, spare parts, furniture, and marketing material, from South Africa to Croatia. This included time-sensitive logistics using a combination of international ocean freight and road transportation. Essential equipment included the mechanic’s toolbox and spares, critical for bicycle assembly at the destination, and with the tour’s success depending on the timely and intact delivery of this essential equipment, DSV’s logistics planning, and expertise became crucial in the months leading up to the event.

The journey

Planning and preparation

The journey began at the end of May, with DSV’s South African team working closely with the Change a Life Cycle Tour organisers to understand their event specific needs. Once the location for the tour was confirmed, DSV engaged its Croatian office to assess its ability to handle an ATA carnet (a customs document for the temporary import or export of goods) and to store equipment. Given the complexity of international shipping, the teams collaborated to carefully plan a precise logistics schedule for the goods to arrive in Croatia on time. This proactive coordination enabled DSV to leverage its global team and network to ensure efficient operations across borders.

Coordinating international ocean freight

With the preparation complete, the DSV team in South Africa collaborated with a preferred shipping carrier to arrange the transportation of the goods via ocean freight. The initial plan involved shipping from the Port of Durban in South Africa to the Port of Las Palmas in Spain, then on to the Port of Gioia Tauro in Italy, before reaching Croatia. However, due to port congestion in Durban, the goods were rerouted to depart from the Port of Coega in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Once the sailing began, the carrier monitored the vessel’s progress daily and provided regular updates on whether it would meet the shipping schedule. A week into the sailing, the carrier informed DSV that the vessel was unlikely to reach Croatia on time. Through continuous communication and a strong relationship with the carrier, the team was able to respond swiftly and make a well-informed decision to discharge the container off the vessel in Italy and transport the goods by road to Croatia.

Efficient cross-border logistics services from Italy to Croatia
Once the vessel reached Italy, the goods needed to cross European borders smoothly. The DSV team in South Africa contacted the DSV office in Croatia, which liaised directly with customs officials to ensure the expedited clearance under an ATA carnet, allowing temporary duty-free importation of the goods specifically for the event. This phase required clear communication and compliance with European regulations to avoid delays, and DSV’s expertise, teamwork, and relationship with local customs agents proved essential in navigating this process efficiently.

Delivering success with seamless international logistics solutions

With the goods cleared and the Cycle Tour’s start date fast approaching, the next step was to ensure the timely transportation of the goods from Italy to Croatia. This year’s tour was designed in such a way that participating cyclists boarded three boats in Split, which travelled across four islands along the Dalmatian coast, down to the finish line in Dubrovnik. This added the requirement of ensuring the safe storage of bicycle and branding boxes between the two cities.

Through careful planning and effective communication, DSV’s Croatian team not only ensured the goods arrived in Croatia safely but also managed to get them there two days ahead of schedule. The goods were then delivered to the Cycle Tour’s starting location in Trogir on the agreed-upon date, enabling the Change a Life team to adequately prepare for the start of the event. Additionally, the DSV team arranged the required storage, ensuring the boxes were ready for repacking and return transportation.

Navigating reverse logistics through Croatia’s local terrain

Once the Cycle Tour concluded, the goods were repacked and needed to be transported from the tour’s destination in Dubrovnik, Croatia to South Africa – a journey that presented unique logistical challenges as the narrow roads and mountainous terrain surrounding the city made it inaccessible for DSV’s long-haul trucks.

To overcome this challenge, DSV worked closely with Change a Life to identify a suitable loading point, and the goods were then transported by the Change a Life crew. To complete the journey, DSV facilitated the carnet inspection and ensured the goods were placed on a vessel bound for South Africa, concluding a process that required months of planning and real-time problem-solving.

This collaborative and carefully coordinated effort underscored DSV’s ability to overcome geographic and logistical challenges, transforming complex transport needs into seamless solutions. DSV’s journey with Change a Life highlighted the expertise and dedication required to bring a vision to life—one that ultimately impacts the lives of many young people and communities.

Partnership with purpose

The journey from South Africa to Croatia showcased DSV’s commitment to logistical excellence and its role as a trusted partner. By leveraging its strong carrier relationships, global offices, and network, DSV successfully navigated the unique challenges presented by international transportation, proving that its logistics capabilities can extend beyond business to deliver hope and a brighter future.

Get in touch with DSV to streamline your logistics operations

Since 2015, DSV has been our trusted logistics partner. The tour is an extraordinary one, and sponsors such as DSV are absolutely critical to the tour’s success. Every year our tour takes us to a new destination, and with each destination comes its own set of challenges. We are heavily reliant on the incredible operations team to guide and support us through the logistics journey. The team are highly skilled, and no task is ever too big or too small to take on. It would be impossible for us to run a successful tour without a great logistics team supporting us and ensuring that our branding, equipment and more often than not, our bicycles reach its destination in good time and in good condition.

Lizanne Fivaz - Tour Manager