Based in Latvia, Kreiss is a transportation and logistics services company operating across Europe and CIS countries. Head of Business Development in Europe Joffrey Thelliez discussed the company’s investments into technology and machinery, in conversation with Antonia Cole.
Kreiss is committed to providing efficient and reliable services, Head of Business Development in Europe Joffrey Thelliez said: “In 2023, our trucks travelled more than 274 million kilometres in total. This is the equivalent of circling the globe 7,000 times. Our talented team, modern equipment and dedication to continuous improvement have facilitated our growing success.”
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Kreiss has grown from one truck to owning and operating 1,500. Also in 2024, the company reached a record number of 2,800 employees, 2,200 of whom are professional drivers. Despite the significant growth of Kreiss, the spirit and flexibility of a family-owned company still remains.
The company was founded by Andrejs Kuznecovs, who was later joined by shareholder Sergejs Zalizko in 2000. The pair expanded the company, with Latvia’s entrance into the European Union driving growth into new markets. A project by NATO offering humanitarian help from Latvia to Afghanistan then saw Kreiss’ fleet grow to 700 by 2014.
In 2013, the company established its own driving academy, from which 500 to 600 people graduate every year. From
2017 and onwards, Kreiss began to expand
geographically with offices in France, Poland and Germany, as well as the acquisition of C Neil Dowson in the UK. The company now has a total of 16,000m2 of office space.
“We have drivers from all over the world, with almost 25 different nationalities,” added Mr Thelliez. “Kreiss also has more than 5,000 customers and we strive to exceed the expectations of every single one in our services.”
A diversified fleet
Operating with a variety of trailer types, Kreiss is able to fulfil the needs of clients from many different markets. From refrigerated, double deck and bi-thermal to oversized and mega trailers, the company offers a broad range of transportation solutions.
With this diversified fleet, Kreiss successfully transports perishable, frozen, hazardous,
pharmaceutical and cosmetics, high-value cargo, and electronics, plus general and consolidated cargo across the globe. The company is committed to effective and reliable operations.
“At Kreiss, we stand out for our ability to meet such a range of customer demands,” explained Mr Thelliez. “For example, using our bi-thermal trailers customers can transport two different types of goods in one journey. Not only is this time- and cost-efficient for the client, but it is also much more sustainable, limiting pollution and fuel use.”
This year, Kreiss will be expanding its fleet with the introduction of DAF trucks, as well as 30 mega trailers. The mega trailers have a height of almost three metres and allow the company to reach new markets that require more space in transportation, such as the automotive industry.
“Previously, we have only used trucks from Volvo, Mercedes and Ford,” continued Mr Thelliez. “These are all great partners of ours, but adding DAF trucks to this mix is exciting as it will allow us to further diversify our fleet. The new vehicles offer improved efficiency and reliability, supporting us in our day-to-day operations and evolving our environmental standards.
“The introduction of mega trailers will also drive significant growth within the company. They provide access to completely new opportunities, and we hope to expand into more industries with our excellent transportation services.”
Certified quality
Kreiss is dedicated to maintaining quality standards in all operations and is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified. These all combine to guarantee that the company is protecting employee health and safety, operating in the best interest of customers, and is actively working to limit environmental impacts.
The company is also GDP certified, which means it can safely store and transport medicines. With cargo such as
pharmaceuticals, it is vital that Kreiss is able to guarantee the safety and integrity of transported products throughout every stage of the journey. This certification ensures the proper control of the distribution chain.
“As well as this, Kreiss is a regulated agent so we can carry goods between airports,” commented Mr Thelliez. “Not only does this provide credibility and create trust with our clients, but it also expands our market opportunities internationally and highlights our commitment to quality services.
“We have regular external audits to renew our certifications and to find ways to improve the company. Many of our customers from heavily regulated industries independently audit and review our facilities too, guaranteeing that we are maintaining standards.”
To ensure quality at every layer of operations, Kreiss has a reporting system in which any employee can communicate an issue and action will be taken to resolve
it. Leadership teams discuss any concerns in regular meetings and design appropriate action plans in response.
As part of the company’s commitment to continuous improvement, Kreiss has also been focusing on advancing sustainability measures. The company has fitted over 1,000 refrigerated trailers with solar panels and is now testing this installation on tractors. This will contribute to lower carbon emissions, especially during vehicle parking times.
“Kreiss has installed solar panels at our headquarters in Latvia too, with a total power output of more than 400kWp,” added Mr Thelliez. “Sustainability is a major
requirement from our customers, so it’s important that we take the necessary steps towards minimising our impact.
“We strive to offer innovative solutions that respect the environment and encourage sustainable transportation, such as increasing our use of HVO fuel. This year, we will achieve our youngest fleet ever with an average age of 1.6 years, providing efficient and environmentally friendly solutions.”
Growing partnerships
By 2030, Kreiss plans to operate 2,000 trucks with 30% of the fleet emitting zero harmful pollutants. Through the implementation of LNG and electric trucks, the company expects to keep improving sustainability standards.
“We hope to continue our geographic expansion, as well as the diversification of vehicles used,” said Mr Thelliez. “Kreiss is currently growing activity between Europe and China, with 100 trucks making regular journeys. This number will increase in the future.”
Kreiss has a clear strategy to control the value chain to promote success, from training its own drivers to building up long-standing supplier relationships. For over 10 years, the company has been working with Mapon, a GPS provider. Through this, Kreiss has gained a competitive advantage by automating internal processes like unit maintenance, temperature tracking and more.
“We’ve had a lot of success over the last couple of years and have built up many excellent partnerships,” continued Mr Thelliez, in conclusion. “As a company, we are looking forward to attending events, such as SIAL Paris, where we can meet and share ideas with people from the industry. Whether in new or old relationships, we are looking forward to being part of the conversations that drive the sector forward.” n
