Girteka Group has been a significant player in the logistics and road freight three decades. The Lithuanian company specialises in full truckload (FTL) operations on temperature-controlled and high-value cargo markets. Head of Corporate and Head of Sustainability Viktorija Terekė explained more to
transportation sector for nearly operations across Europe, focusing Corporate Communications Tomasz Weber to Hannah Barnett.
The Girteka Group story is one of humble beginnings. In 1996, the company was founded with three employees and one truck, along with ambitious plans for growth. These plans accelerated when Lithuania joined the European Union in 2004 and entered the European market. By 2010, the company had 600 trucks. It now has 6,000.
However, the secret to Girteka’s success is not simply being in the right place at the right time. The company has grown strategically, via digitalisation and data-driven decisions.
“We own our fleet, and we own all our data too,” said Viktorija Terekė, Head of Sustainability. “Other companies will go to external platforms and receive a data average, while we have access to the raw data. It means we can see how much CO2 each truck produced on one trip and things like that. In logistics, this is unique for improving sustainability.”
Head of Corporate Communications. “So, we’ve focused on attracting professional drivers from Asia by establishing offices in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. We recruit many of our drivers from there to join us to cover the logistical needs of Europe today.”
Smart driving
When it comes to improving its sustainability, Girteka has already been successful in the implementation of an effective lean management system, using data to increase efficiency.
The company focuses on optimising operations through digitally supported planning, implementing measures to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. It has also begun to communicate with OEM partners about potential technical improvements, and to look at changes drivers could make.
“We decided to reduce our internal speed limit for drivers, while keeping the same driving methods,” explained Ms Terekė. “That allows us to save one litre of diesel per 100 kilometres. Limiting speed also brought our partnership closer with our technical providers.
More than that, we understood how driving style affects carbon footprint.”
In response to this understanding, in 2019 the company created the ECO League, a training and grading system for drivers that acknowledges progress in adopting environmentally-friendly driving techniques.
The league looks at details like idling, braking and cruise control, to award drivers scores, running from bronze to platinum. Thanks to the ECO League, and an internal competition incentivising drivers to compete, Girteka has reduced driving emissions by 2-3%.
“We focus heavily on the education of drivers,” said Mr Weber. “We can analyse their performance, thanks to the digital tools. Based on their performance, we can then send them for training to update their knowledge and skills. That’s crucial, because most of our drivers are coming from outside the EU, where they may have different standards. Thanks to these sustainable practices, safety has also increased.”
logistics industry greener. Girteka is exploring the potential of alternative fuels, which means working closely with energy providers to find the best solution for a diesel truck.
“We might switch to biodiesel, it’s easiest to do because we wouldn’t need to change equipment,” said Ms Terekė. “So, we are investigating the possibility, by checking the raw material components and so on. And we are educating ourselves to understand the pros and cons of alternative fuels. Thanks to our team efforts with partners, the alternative fuel programme, a dedicated sustainable solution, is becoming more active, visible and understandable.”
The development of an intermodal rail network has also become an integral part of Girteka’s business offering. Intermodal services provide a complementary,
environmentally-friendly solution to longdistance FTL deliveries, addressing both sustainability and efficiency goals. The company began its intermodal arm in 2017 and by 2023 had already saved 17.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
“We have a lot of experience in intermodal solutions,” Ms Terekė explained. “If we are operating our own fleet across long distances with temperature-controlled goods, then we don’t want to buy container units. We are working with operators that are allowing us to put the same equipment into the train. Thanks to the operation excellence of our transit times, it is possible for us to transport temperature-controlled goods in this way.”
The possibilities of e-mobility account for the third portion of the company’s sustainability strategy, though they remain in the pilot project stage. Alongside Volvo, Schmitz Cargobull, and bp pulse, Girteka has conducted a comprehensive multi-day trial with a Volvo FM Electric truck with a fully electric Schmitz Cargobull S.KOe COOL box semi-trailer.
under varying load conditions, including refrigerated goods, demonstrating consistent performance and reliability.
Dealing with data
It is undeniable that using data gives Girteka a large market advantage. When it comes to implementing sustainable changes, data means the company can efficiently respond to complex tasks, as well as address the low-hanging fruit.
“We work on a scale that really differentiates us from competitors,” said Mr Weber. “And we use AI-supported planning that helps
the EU stated that even up to 20 per cent of international transport is empty mileage. We have the chance to optimise the supply chain in Europe.”
“We are creating solutions which never existed before,” Ms Terekė said, in conclusion. “We work with huge market players and make an impact. This is the unique power of sustainability.” n
