Updates

Skanska Norway is one of the country’s largest and leading contractors, with large and complex projects within the business areas Building, Construction and Real Estate Development. Skanska also has a business area defined as Specialists, with companies such as UCO and Husfabrikken.

As an advocate for equal competition conditions and seriousness in the construction industry, Skanska is committed to ensuring that the transport of materials and equipment for the projects is carried out in a sustainable and safe manner in accordance with the EU’s mobility package and HSE requirements.

Skanska handles extensive international transport for new water supply tunnel in Oslo project
Particularly relevant for Skanska in connection with transport from abroad now is the ongoing project for the City of Oslo with a new reserve water supply from Holsfjorden to Huseby. A 19 km tunnel will be operated here using two fully electric tunnel boring machines (TBMs). TBMs each have a diameter of 5.2 meters and are approximately 310 meters long. The masses will be transported out on conveyor belts of up to 10 km, electric locomotives will also be used to transport personnel and materials throughout the project period (2021-2026).

For this project alone, deliveries of train tracks, TBMs, conveyors and other infrastructure to the tunnel represent about 150 overseas transports with containers, 2 own boat deliveries and just over 300 full cars only from abroad to the project addresses in Sylling and Oslo.

The collaboration with NTEX is proving to be a valuable resource for Skanska
Without fixed agreements, transport situations in our industry are relatively unclear, Leif-Martin says.  Our industry buys goods with essentially “freely delivered” terms. In cases where transport is not included in the price of the goods, we ask the supplier to arrange for the purchase of transport on our behalf, which can be costly and entail risk for us as the buyer.

We have experienced challenges with suppliers who do not have transport as their core business, which makes it difficult to achieve good conditions and ensure that the transport is carried out satisfactorily. There may also be challenges related to VAT and customs, where the wrong load can create additional work and challenges for us.

After starting our cooperation with NTEX in 2022, we have incorporated standardized and good operational routines for our transport assignments. This has been particularly important in situations where there has been a need for rapid adaptation and collection abroad. Through a transport broker agreement with NTEX, we have gained access to expertise and resources in transport and logistics that have made our transport situation easier and more efficient.

And the choice fell on NTEX because?
NTEX was chosen as the logistics provider for Skanska because of the ability to deliver on the safety, ethics and seriousness requirements that are important to us. NTEX also had well documented responses to this in the tender process, which was an important factor in the choice of bidder. In addition, it was important for Skanska to find a supplier who could help get the goods to Norway with the least possible resistance. Through good booking routines, we believe we have found a good solution where all the practicalities are taken care of by NTEX, in addition, we experience that we ensure the focus we have on both quality and costs for our transport assignments.

A direct and open line of communication with operative personnel
An important prerequisite for Skanska in choosing a transport supplier was the possibility of direct communication with NTEX personnel who are “hands on” on the assignment. When we ask Leif-Martin how he feels we solve challenges that arise along the way, the answer is that this direct communication, together with flexibility, is an important reason why Skanska has so far not experienced the major challenges in the collaboration.

With NTEX as a partner, Skanska has found a supplier that takes care of our needs in a good way.

A good story
Finally, we asked Leif-Martin if he had a “good story” or something he would like to highlight about us at Ntex, so in his own words:
“As a customer, we place many demands on our suppliers and carriers, including the use of transport materials and equipment that can withstand the light of day. We focus on well-winter-equipped cars that meet the requirements we have here in the country of ice and winter, including winter tires of the type 3PMSF.

We recently carried out an inspection of a car from NTEX where the focus was documentation on driver and cargo, chains, correct winter tires as well as chip for auto pass. We also attended the unloading to ensure safe unloading. The conditions in this control were in order, which is reassuring for us as a transport buyer.

Skanska puts safety as the first priority. In conclusion, I would therefore like to highlight a proactive initiative that I have not experienced before. I was contacted by NTEX where the driver who took over the trolley in Sweden asked to open the plumbing on the cargo to check if the cargo was still well enough secured and had not shifted along the way from Germany. If this driver hasn’t already been named driver of the month with cake and confectionery, I’m for sure looking forward to it.😊”