b'22American Journal of TransportationNOVEMBER 20 - DECEMBER 17, 2023(TALENTcontinued from page 20) that are part of our global forwarding closer to home. This is a trend DHLgroup, and we have very strong people has been preparing itself for and hasinthe Americas.Itsveryimportant been since the pandemic. tohavebootsonthegroundwhere A prime example of this has beenourcustomersaresourcingmateri-theshortageofsemiconductorsinals. Were not working with agents on manyindustriesbecauseweweresending people to areas where were relying so heavily locally on Asia andnot established. China for that valuable commodity,Thatsimportantwhenyoure hesays.Thesupplychainlogjammovingspecializedequipment,he during the pandemic caused semicon- continues. Its different than moving ductor manufacturers like Intel to re- containersandairfreight.Project look and build fabrication facilitieslogistics requires more planningon closer to the customer so, we dontstrict schedulesa total solution. The run into this circumstance again. biggestchallengeisgettingbigger (A recent report by Toms Hard- modularized components to the mine warenewsletterlistsfivemajorsite,soyoudonthavetoconstruct chipmakersincludingIntel,Global- piecesthere.Youwanttoassemble Foundries, Samsung Foundry, TSMCcomponents offsite.andTexasInstrumentsasbuildingThatscrucial,Swansonsays, production facilities in the US, proofwhentheminesiteis,forexample, that nearshoring in semiconductors isintheAndesMountainswithits not just a trend but a restructuring ofHowever, global DHL as a proj- lithiumtransportandtermstheSouthextremelyhighaltitudes,Construc-the commodity). ectforwarderisntsettingitssightsAmerican market as maturing. Swan- tion workers can only stay at those job Youalsoseethisnowhappen- exclusivelyontheUSmarket.Itson says the logistics company has han- sites for two weeks and then have to ing with lithium mining where there isconcentrates on the total commoditydledmultiplelithiumprojectswhilecome back down to normal altitudes.huge focus today for electronic vehi- movement.Wereassetlightasaits work in North America is just get- DHLsprojectteamsoftenfocus cle batteries and cell phones, Swan- freightforwarderbutweremanag- ting started. Interestingly, DHL worksnotonlyongettingoversizedcargo sonexplains.ItallstartedinSouthing all the shipments from a transportwith the lithium mine owners and thefromcoastalseaportstoinlandmine America with all the lithium mines instandpoint, he says. The mine sitesconstructioncompaniesandnotwithsite but its more than physical logis-northern Argentina and northern Chile.are often in difficult locations in theEV automobile manufacturers such astics. They are deeply involved in the But now were able to find that naturalAndes Mountains, so we are partner- current industry leader Tesla. state permitting process that is manda-resource in Nevada and Colorado andingwiththeassetowners,therighttory when heavy haul truckers move Eastern Canada and other future loca- truckingcompanies,developingthep rojeCtf orwarDing aS a dimensionedprojectcargoesalong tions in North America. US companiesroutingsystem,workingwithcoun- p eopleb uSineSS extremelydetailedrouteswithinits are trying to get their mining facilitiestrieslike ArgentinaandChile,withAskedwhatadvantageDHLborders. That requires DHL finding the up and running so they can get com- ports, borderscoordinating all of itGlobal Forwarding has over the com- right partners for different elements of mitmentsfromautomanufacturers,and ensuring that the construction ofpetitioninwinningprojectassign- the total move, Swanson says.and we are handling the regional proj- (US) mining facilities at the job site isments? Swanson sums it up in a wordInterestingly, DHLs project cargo ect cargo movements for constructingon schedule. people. Adding, We have 750 proj- teams do not just focus on advising these plants. It is a bit of a race.DHLisseasonedinitsworkinect specialists on teams in 60 countries(TALENTcontinued on page 24)'