The Express Link - Issue 2

www.expressgroup.com

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Issue No 2 | April 2021

Reading time: 30 minutes

EXPRESS LINK IN THIS EDITION

HEALTH & SAFETY “A MATTER OF CULTURE” AT EXPRESS TRAILERS Figures released recently by the NSO showed that there was a total of 2,328 reported accidents in 2020. However, in the last six months of 2020, the number of workrelated injuries stood at 1,220 compared to the 1,679 reported in 2019.

SALVU VELLA LONG YEARS AT CUSTOMS

FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS ARE IN MY BLOOD…

DEALING WITH BREXIT… THE EXPRESS WAY!

Born in 1944, Salvu is the eldest of the Vella brothers and he remembers very well how tough the early years of the business were.

LUCIANO BACIGALUPI joined Express Trailers 3 years ago to oversee the company’s first steps towards internationalisation. Based in Genoa, Italy, Luciano, and his team are currently supervising the ongoing works on Express Trailers’ new logistics hub, which as Luciano says, “is now at a very advanced stage”.

Undoubtedly, for SANDRO AXISA, Manager of Express Trailers’ Customs Clearance operations, Brexit and its ramifications on the company’s operations have been his biggest headache for the past months. Procedures that have been in place for many long years, have suddenly seen a total upheaval.

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CEO’S MESSAGE Reading time: 3 minutes

Already three months have passed since we issued the first edition of this Express Link. And we are now here, introducing the second edition, backed by the very good feedback we have been receiving about this new initiative.

Although three months have passed, things outside the company have not changed much. Around Europe and the world, the pandemic goes on unabated, and Malta is no exception. Yet, as I have already had ample opportunity to state, although times are difficult, I also believe that this situation is a temporary one because the world always mends itself. I do really believe that. And that is what keeps me soldiering on.

Of course, as your company’s CEO, my first priority remains that of steering the company through these rough waves. We are a strong company, built on very solid foundations. However, this company is also built on people and as one of the pillars of this company, you, our employees remain a top priority.

From this edition, you will clearly find out how notwithstanding everything, we at Express Trailers, have kept the momentum going. We are using this time to train our people more. We also started introducing more training for our industrial people. They are the ones who are doing the heavy duty work and they need to know they are working safely and securely.

But my biggest concern at this point in time remains that of our truckers who daily battle the roads solo on the continents. Their only comfort zone is their own cabin – their home away from home. But we are aware of how challenged they are, not only because

they have to spend long hours alone but because they are doing so in such uncertain circumstances.

We are constantly in touch with all of them and their story is a heroic one.

They have to swab every other day, they are bleeding from their sore nostrils, and all this, because they are the ones delivering and making sure we find all our essentials whenever we need them.

They are doing this to serve us all.

I harbour total respect for all our drivers on Malta’s and Europe’s roads. They are our frontliners. Above all, they are our heroes.

HEALTH & SAFETY “A MATTER OF CULTURE” AT EXPRESS TRAILERS Reading time: 4 minutes

Figures released recently by the NSO showed that there was a total of 2,328 reported accidents in 2020.

However, in the last six months of 2020, the number of work-related injuries stood at 1,220 compared to the 1,679 reported in 2019.

“It is encouraging to see that there were less accidents than the previous year, but injuries and fatalities at work are bound to happen and this is why employers and employees together, need to ensure that health and safety at work becomes a culture not a just a formality,” said Franco Azzopardi, CEO of Express Trailers.

The company recently hosted the first session of a recently introduced health and safety training course covering the topics of Working at Heights and Safe Operation of Man Lifts & Scissor Lifts for a group of twenty employees from its fleet maintenance and domestic operations teams.

“Our people who are responsible for the fleet’s maintenance are constantly busy inspecting and servicing our trucks and trailers, whose sizes and heights make access difficult and somewhat dangerous. This prompted Express Group to invest in a number of scissor

lifts & man lifts which are very helpful at improving the team’s accessibility to, otherwise, inaccessible areas, such as trailer roofs,” explains Emanuel Vella who coordinated the training session.

“Likewise, our domestic operations team is frequently involved in lifting operations that require working at substantial heights, such as on roofs with limited fall protection.”

The training was not simply theoretic, but also involved physical demonstrations held on site at Express Trailers’ yard by a professional health and safety instructor. Employees learned how to identify risks better and how to avoid, control and protect themselves against such risks and were introduced to different personal protective equipment that is available, and how these should be used effectively.

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Another new training program covered Principles of Safe Slinging particularly intended for employees that are involved in relatively complex lifting operations.

“Whilst most employees could already demonstrate a great level of competence in the subject, they were still very eager to further their understanding on selecting the correct lifting equipment, identifying load capacity of lifting equipment, learning how to store and care for lifting equipment, and knowing how to identify defects in such equipment that render them unsuitable for service.”

“Guaranteeing a safe working place also comes from communicating with our people to understand where we might be lacking and where we could be improving our processes. This course was an ideal opportunity for them to come forward with a number of suggestions which we shall now look into how best to implement,” concluded Emanuel Vella.

SALVU VELLA LONG YEARS AT CUSTOMS AND A SHARED DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED....

Reading time: 9 minutes

Born in 1944, Salvu is the eldest of the Vella brothers and he remembers very well how tough the early years of the business were.

“It was tough work and in my case a lot of bureaucracy too, because whilst most of my other brothers were the more hands-on in the family and their work revolved mainly round our trucks, trailers and the running of the company, I had chosen to dedicate my entire working life at Express to the administrative side of the company.”

Salvu was only fourteen years old when he joined the family business.

He remembers his father Emmanuel starting off as a stevedore and eventually setting up his own venture with his brother, Ninu.

“This joint venture was not to last for long because Ninu decided to set off to Australia as did many Maltese at the time, and my father continued the business on his own – until I and my brother Ġorġ joined the business. My father and uncle Ninu were close and when Ninu left for Australia, my father not only lost a brother, but a dear friend and business colleague. But he was not discouraged and despite the emotional loss, he was determined to take the business forward.”

“At the time, the company was known as Emmanuel Vella & Sons

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(an Unlimited Liability Company as was regulated by Customs authorities at that time), then eventually the Company changed its name to Emmanuel Vella & Sons Limited.”

But those were different times, and we all wanted the company to succeed so I persevered.

“This was a very special time when we started buying a lot of equipment and vehicles. I remember the time we had bought a crane that was composed of five towers – which was quite a thing at the time because cranes of that type were still a rarity on the island. But we saw in it the opportunity to modernise our business and provide a more efficient service to our clients.”

“As we grew, we started seeing opportunities which before would have not been so apparent. This was when we started considering international transport on mainland Europe. As brothers, we decided to embark on this new business, and we formed Vella Brothers Ltd to be able to fund and acquire our first truck and trailer for overseas transport. We also invested in a piece of land which also came with a half-built garage. The former owner had a quarry and we used to bring the stone from his quarry to complete this garage.

We worked together on weekends till we finished it. We bought all the materials and built the roof ourselves too!”

Salvu recalls how the main clients at the time were mostly local factories so the company started buying more vehicles.

“We always believed that investing in new vehicles and working resources had to be a priority if we were serious about becoming competitive in a new, growing market.

“I recall the day when we bought our first Ford Trans Continental from Gasan Motors. This was our very first truck with which we started operating internationally as Express Trailers.

It not only enabled us to provide a better and much faster service to our clients, but it also gave us a better reputation in Malta and abroad because we allowed others to see that our new company Express Trailers was a company that meant business.”

Salvu’s main duties however were always at Customs where he spent a lot of years, going there every day.

“I remember how most times, I used to be already up by three o’clock in the morning so that I could go down to customs where I used to meet our clients, present the paperwork, and get our goods through. For a teenager, that was already a tough job. But those were different times, and we all wanted the company to succeed so I persevered.

Even when the going got tough and circumstances tried to hinder us from going on with our business. That seemed to be the only way how we would learn that ambition, passion, courage, and perseverance would see us through,” he reminisces.

When it came to financial matters, Salvu echoes what his brothers always say: that in the early years, resources especially financial ones, were always tight.

“It was a shared decision that we were to re-invest most of our income back into the company to improve the business. We invested a lot in new machinery and vehicles, and I believe that this is one of the main reasons why

“It was no mean feat, and we pride ourselves in having managed to not only overcome these tough times but to come out of them even stronger and more resilient.”

today, Express Trailers has grown to become the leading logistics company in Malta with such a wide and varied network of partners and collaborators across international markets. None of this would have been possible had we failed to invest at the outset, if we held back from exploring new economic niches and adapt our business to international circumstances.” Salvu looks at Express Trailers as a company that has accompanied Malta through thick and thin.

Salvu credits the hard work of Express Trailers’ people, the sound financial advice and the determination to carry on for Express Trailers’ constant growth even throughout the most adverse of circumstances.

“We pride ourselves in having managed to ride on some of Malta’s most prominent historical milestones such as Malta’s Independence and EU membership and benefiting from them. These were very positive times but likewise, we also had to withstand harsher events too such as the economic climate caused by the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent economic meltdown. It was a time when major international banks went bust, we saw well-established companies close shop and people losing their life savings.”

And perhaps even at this point in time, already a year into the uncertainty of this global pandemic, Express Trailers continues to remain true to the qualities that have always defined it, in persisting its conviction to keep offering the best service to its clients, investing in its people, and strengthening its fundamentals for when business starts picking up again.

“At Express Trailers we monitored the situation closely, relying on financial advice to ensure our operations adapted to those tough circumstances.

Our biggest fear was that the crisis would also end up affecting the country, and other close leading EU member states, negatively. But we adapted, as we always did when faced with similar trying challenges.”

“It was no mean feat, and we pride ourselves in having managed to not only overcome these tough times but to come out of them even stronger and more resilient.”

“When times became tougher, our priorities remained our business and our people, two key elements that go hand in hand. There is no point in safeguarding a business if the people behind it are not safeguarded. We learned to be resilient from our fathers and it is now our turn to pass on this quality to our people. Resilience after all, was and will always remain, the main ingredient in our success,” concluded Salvu.

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“FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS ARE IN MY BLOOD…. LITERALLY!” Reading time: 10 minutes

LUCIANO BACIGALUPI joined Express Trailers 3 years ago to oversee the company’s first steps towards internationalisation. Based in Genoa, Italy, Luciano, and his team are currently supervising the ongoing works on Express Trailers’ new logistics hub, which as Luciano says, “is now at a very advanced stage”.

“It is ironic how today I find myself working for a transport and logistics company like Express Trailers when my father also happened to work in

logistics as a director of the Genoa branch of a Swiss multinational freight forwarding company. So I can truly say that transport and logistics are in my blood!”

Born in 1959, after graduating from Italy’s nautical high school and navy academy, Luciano recalls his early years when as a fifteen-year-old, he was already inclined towards this business.

“My favourite fun activity during my summer vacations was replacing my

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“I have known and worked with the Express Group and the Vella family for over twenty years and have always admired them for their dynamic and well-rooted family business. Therefore, when they decided to internationalize the business and to do that in Genoa, I was not surprised at all but nonetheless, honoured to accept their proposal to cooperate in the new setup.

father’s company staff who were on holiday! Since all our business took place within the Genoa old town, I could easily help with running external errands and helping our port clerks. The era of the container vessels was not yet with us and our touristic old port which was the main commercial harbour used to be full of ‘liberty class’ ships.

“These were very cheap ships built and used by Americans during World War 2 to run commercial convoys across the Atlantic without the risk of suffering losses that were too costly if anything happened to them. I remember these ships used to be loaded by means of large cranes with the Italian export of technology products to the north and south America.”

After a short experience in the navy and aboard merchant ships, Luciano was back in logistics working with multinationals and small companies and, for four years, he was also a member of the board of Genoa’s transport and forwarding association, heading the newly created logistics commission.

“My experience working with multinationals taught me that a company of any size needs to base its business on strong values, clear and well-shared mission and vison, the ability to understand the evolution of society, economy and markets and plan the business accordingly. From smaller companies then, I learned the art of customization, teamwork, and the ability to cooperate with clients in their projects as a partner. Both sizes of companies have their disadvantages as well though. Big companies lack flexibility whereas small companies can easily stop innovating their model and skills.”

Luciano shifts to his current work with Express Trailers.

“I joined Express Trailers 3 years ago and today, our Genovese operating structure is composed of a team of seven experienced people, most of whom came with me from my former company. Our organisation enjoys a healthy network across Italy and abroad, allowing Express Trailers S.r.l to optimize and take advantage of every order and any transport and logistics operation. Our business is mainly focused on the setting and managing of logistics projects in Italy for foreign accounts, but we also operate in other niche activities such as ‘project cargo’.”

“I have known and worked with the Express Group and the Vella family for over twenty years and have always admired them for their dynamic and well-rooted family business. Therefore, when they decided to internationalize the business and to do that in Genoa, I was not surprised at all but nonetheless, honoured to accept their proposal to cooperate in the new setup.

“In the spring of 2018, after having established Express Trailers S.r.l. and acquired the area where to build our new hub, we started discussing the opportunity to integrate the activities of my former company and my team with Express Trailers’ project by generating the important holistic synergies and combining in one single entity both the well-set Maltese business activities and our niche specialization in forwarding and tailored logistics services in Italy.

“Today, two years since the start of this collaborative journey and despite the impact of this pandemic on our business plan, I am very happy to say that we still managed to reach our target and be where we were expecting to be: at a stage where the deep roots and strong values of a successful family business have been wisely combined with the professional and skilled management of our team.

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We are witnessing a very unique and successful synergy, and this is very motivating for us.”

Having worked with Express Trailers for many years, Luciano always saw the orange trucks and trailers as a well-recognized presence in Genoa but only as good customers of the ro-ro services transiting through Genoa.

“Now that I am part of the orange family myself, our duty is to promote the orange fleet in Italy, for the same qualities it is respected here in Malta: as a comprehensive logistics provider of a specialized service to the local and world-wide SME giving them the key to compete in the European market on the same, if not a better level of the big multinationals.

“Currently, our promotional efforts are concentrated through the communication tools of our professional networks, but we are planning to soon start extending our exposure through more efficient and structured strategies.

“Of course, challenges are always there. Currently, the most important challenge is to complete and activate our own logistics structure in Genoa.

Meantime, we are working, together with our Maltese colleagues, to build a competitive connection from Genoa to the rest of Europe to serve the import and export needs of the local market as well as the potential volumes of other European countries utilizing Genoa as port of reference with overseas.”

Meanwhile, works on Express Trailers’ Genoa hub in Trasta is now in its most important stages, where internal and external works are already at an advanced stage with the move to the new offices expected for late spring and full operationality of the warehouse services to start a month later.

What is it like to operate in logistics in Italy? Luciano knows the market very well and he does not mince his words.

“Logistics-wise, Italy is quite a complicated country, with an economic environment largely composed of specialized but small manufacturing and commercial companies that are rather spread out across the country, making logistics quite hard to manage especially also due to the presence of several international sea-ports all around the coast. This requires logistic providers to work across a network of connections and hubs at different levels, while trying to optimize their operations.

“Having said that, thanks to its geographical position and an interesting mix of customs and fiscal procedures, Italy represents the best southern European gateway for foreign companies, especially if interested in developing their presence in Europe without establishing their own entity. Genoa remains the most important and better located port and Express Trailers is well aware of this!

“In fact, whereas the sophisticated and standardized logistics solutions offered by the big multinational providers cannot really perform in such an environment, our humble and professional approach to the requirements of our domestic and foreign clients is proving that we too can make a difference in this sector.

“Malta remains an important cluster for the handling of international trading companies’ distribution in the European market but in most cases, this reduces competitiveness in terms of efficiency and costs. This is why our re-designed model, where control is kept in Malta and a welltailored logistics set-up is operated in Italy will increase opportunities beyond any expectations. And we are here for that!” concluded Luciano.

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DEALING WITH BREXIT… THE EXPRESS WAY! Reading time: 4 minutes

Undoubtedly, for SANDRO AXISA, Manager of Express Trailers’ Customs Clearance operations, Brexit and its ramifications on the company’s operations have been his biggest headache for the past months. Procedures that have been in place for many long years, have suddenly seen a total upheaval.

“It’s a big challenge but I keep remembering that no matter the situations we face, the most rewarding aspect of my job remains that of providing the highest level of service to our clients, gaining their trust and getting positive feedback from both our clients and colleagues,” he says.

Sandro started his career in logistics 27 years ago with his work evolving throughout the years and along the constant development of the industry.

Three years ago, he joined Express Trailers as a Customs Clearance and Documentation Manager.

“When I started, I did not know much about shipping but after a few months

I started realising how interesting and challenging this job was. I discovered a career that allowed me the opportunity to deal with a variety of imports/exports and by time I started increasing my knowledge and even had the chance to work with various companies from different sectors.

This not only helped me gain further experience, but it obviously brought me to the level where I am today.”

Sandro’s main responsibilities are to ensure that all his team feels confident in what they do and that they are capable of handling all requirements needed for customs clearance, in a way that allows them to guide our clients and colleagues to

we also have to spend a lot of time dealing with enquiries from abroad regarding procedures and documents needed for imports into the EU.” “Although we are used to clearing cargo from non-EU countries, different procedures needed to be applied for all cargo arriving from the United Kingdom. This also involves lengthy communications with Customs to be sure that all is being done correctly. All this obviously, also meant shipping delays.”

Sandro explains that another major challenge over the past months was to inform all Express Trailers’ clients with all the requirements, certificates, and documentation they will need to import from the UK.

what is needed. “It is important to know that once the cargo arrives in Malta, we have everything in place to clear the goods from customs as soon as possible without any delays and with utmost efficiency. A lot of this also depends on the very good relationship I have managed to build with Customs over the years. It is a relationship built a lot on trust and maintained and improved by honesty and good work.”

Everyone knew Brexit was going to be a big headache.

“Yes correct. Brexit was, and still is, a big headache. Everything is still very new even though we have slowly started finding our feet again because we are doing our best to remain up to date and increase our knowledge by attending meetings and networking with other stakeholders.”

“One of the major changes that Brexit brought about is the fact that, whereas before no customs clearance was required for import or export from or to the UK, now customs clearance has become a requirement. This bureaucratic process has drastically increased our workload which not only involves longer hours to process but

“Since the UK is one of the major countries that Malta imports foodstuffs from, it was a headache and still is since foodstuff requires various certificates and approvals from health authorities. Some of the UK exporters were not aware which documents had to be issued from their side so things at one point, got really complicated. Nonetheless, our daily work and the experiences we encounter through serving our clients are obviously sharpening our learning curve.”

“Things are already improving and over the coming months, clients will have gotten used to all procedures – something which will ease our workload,” he added.

“In the end, no matter what our work entails, we know that we are surrounded by very knowledgeable and experienced people who have been through a lot of challenging scenarios and come out strong.”

“This is the main advantage of working with a company like Express Trailers: knowing that we are working in an environment where there is not only respect between management and staff but a genuine commitment to help us all become logisticians and experts in what we do. This is how we can keep serving our customers with excellence,” concluded Sandro Axisa.

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SALVATORE ABELA Having joined the company in 1980, Salvatore is one of Express Trailers’ veterans and remembers the company’s early years.

“I have been working at Express for around 40 years, watching the company grow and becoming more and more respected and valued. I recall when I used to drive with uncle George and uncle Ġużi at a time when the company only had a small group of around 6 drivers.

Back then, they were known as Tas-Sieħ and they were people of few words but intent on getting the job well done.

Today, Salvatore is a supervisor and a team leader within the company’s local haulage department.

“I love my job to the extent that I find it difficult to take leave! I enjoy the atmosphere and the work involved and it makes me very proud to be part of this company especially since both my sons also work at Express Trailers.

Although Salvatore never had any particular hobby, his life very much consisted of his work at Express, spending his off time with his wife and tinkering in his garage.

JEANETTE AZZOPARDI Jeanette has been working with Express Trailers since 1988.

“For many years I worked in the import department but today I am in the export department as a coordinator. I like my job very much not only because I like the people I work with, but also because together, we share the same dedication towards our work.”

When she is not at work, Jeanette follows art, entertainment and plays board games.

“I believe in the importance of being an honest person and in treating others the way one wants to be treated. Most importantly, health and a good relationship with family and friends is what gives me most satisfaction in life.”

“I consider myself a hardworking employee, able to handle multiple tasks on a daily basis. What makes me proud to work at Express Trailers is that we work as a team together with our directors and managers and I feel there is a great sense of respect.”

Express Trailers’ relationship with Hammar Maskin AB goes back thirtysix years when in 1985, Express Trailers ordered its first side-loader for its local operations.

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The relationship was kept alive by Noel Vella, one of the third-generation MARIO MUSCAT family directors, who kept being Mario has been working with Express Trailers since 2004. regularly contracted

by Hammar His job sees him mostly involved in the transfer and to conduct modification and servicing deliveries of trucks and currently, his main duty is also worksin toGenova. existent side-loaders for the coordination of drivers Maltese clients and for re-export.

Express Trailersit is a “I am proud to work atEventually, Express Trailers because Engineering setthe up job as Express company where everyone involvedwas takes very new manufacturing arm seriously. Personally, ITrailers’ like everything about my job, apart to work on side-loaders from the worries that specifically come up. But problems are there sent towe Malta

by HAMMAR. to be solved and whenever encounter a challenge, I like to get involved to try help solving it.”

Today, Express Trailers’ busy team of 25 industrial workers arehe responsible Mario rarely has free time but when he does, is going to make sure to enjoyfor a good meal. all the rebuilding and upgrading works including structure blasting, “In life, I try to focus on the positive aspects.

I spend the hydraulics, modification of many months away from home and fromofmy family chassis, conversion chassis to make but I find a lot of support from them and this me it telescopic, braking andkeeps electrical going.” systems and other alterations as per client specification.

The team is also in a position to work and conduct modifications and improvements on crane structures as well as converting vehicles to be radio-controlled and operated.

NOEL VELLA Noel Vella, 49, always loved hands-on work. His inventiveness and passion to repair vehicles and his will to learn, caught the attention of his father Sebastian Vella who started supervising him from an early age.

Today, thirty-three years later, Noel occupies his father’s role of Head of Fleet Maintenance and manages a team of 24 people.

“I remember going to the yard every day, straight after school. And because I loved everything I used to do, once I finished school at 16, I started working full-time.”

Perhaps one of Noel’s most important career highlights was when in 1997, he built a drag racing truck, which was sponsored by Express Trailers, and which was considered to be the fastest and the best Diesel Truck in the world.

“What I like most about my job is that every day brings new challenges which help you learn new things. We always do our best to keep our fleet in its best road worthy condition.”

In his free time, you will still find Noel repairing and restoring old vehicles to their former glory.

“Our work for HAMMAR and the trust that this global brand has always bestowed upon our people and our company has always been a source of pride. We commemorate this fifth anniversary in the knowledge that this has been yet another important milestone for our company that confirmed once again the Express Trailers brand as a strong economic player,” commented Franco Azzopardi, CEO of Express Trailers. Express Trailers’ logistics setup allows the delivery of the rebuilt HAMMAR units to the client, anywhere in the world.

So far Express Trailers has rebuilt and upgraded side-loading trailers for HAMMAR and exported them to customers in the UK, Spain, Portugal, and the Caribbean amongst other countries.

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