TIR Opens the International Logistics Corridor for Linyi, Shandong 

In recent years, Shandong has accelerated the speed of building an international logistics corridor, including the ocean harbours, CRexpress, aviation routes and TIR (the “fourth logistics corridor” between China and Europe). The powerful international logistics corridor strongly enhances the image of Shandong.

On September 20, two large trucks with “Lu Q” license plates slowly drove into a factory in St. Petersburg. After completing the relevant procedures with the factory staff, driver Li Chaojiang from Linyi opened the lead seal of the closed compartment and waited for local workers to move the goods from Linyi into the factory. The 16-day, 20,000-mile cross-border delivery journey ended successfully.

Starting from Linyi, which is named the “Logistics Capital of China”, Li Chaojiang and his partners drove six large trucks with “Lu Q” license plates northward, exited the country through the Manzhouli Port, and then headed west across Siberia, delivering more than 100 tons of Chinese goods to customers in Kazan, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

“One declaration, one certificate, one truck”, TIR transportation saves 10 to 15 days compared with the traditional sea transportation routes. On September 5, the reporter saw six “Lu Q” license plate trucks with TIR signs that had been inspected and sealed by Linyi Customs. 

Except for Li Chaojiang, all other eight drivers were driving trucks abroad for the first time. Some of them were born in the 1970s with decades of driving experience, while others were born in the 1990s but also with years of long-distance freight experience. When talking about this cross-border transportation, the drivers were both curious and worried about the unknown.

Li Chaojiang, though, seemed relaxed. This was his third time driving a “Lu Q” licensed truck to deliver goods to Europe. Just one day ago, he had just finished his second delivery trip to Europe and returned to Linyi. On June 29 this year, two trucks belonging to Shandong Linmanou International Logistics Co., Ltd. carrying cassava flour products worth more than 900,000 yuan departed from Linyi. They drove out of the country through the Manchuria Port. 10 days later, they reached Moscow, delivering the goods “door to door” to customers. The leading driver was Li Chaojiang.

Last year in September, Li Chaojiang drove a truck with a “Lu Q” license plate to deliver goods from Linyi to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, ending the history of Linyi without a cross-border road logistics route. The opening of this new channel marks the opening of all exit channels of Linyi by road, rail, sea and air. The goods sent out that time were also the first TIR export goods in Shandong.

As a global customs facilitation system for international cross-border cargo transportation, TIR is committed to simplifying customs clearance procedures, improving customs clearance efficiency, and providing strong guarantees for the facilitation and security of multilateral trade and international transportation. In 2016, China officially joined the TIR Convention.

Transport vehicles with TIR identification plates are allowed to pass with only one document through countries that have also joined the TIR Convention. They only need to undergo customs inspections in the countries of origin and destination. Normally no unpacking inspections are required in the countries passed through. “TIR transport has the significant advantages of one-time declaration, one certificate, and one vehicle to the end. Compared with traditional sea transportation, it can save 10 to 15 days of transportation time,” said Yu Lei, deputy section chief of the Commercial Port Supervision Section of Linyi Customs.

It is reported that there are many TIR-certified enterprises in Shandong engaged in cross-border road transport business. Qingdao TIR international road transport shipping routes cover major Russian cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Belarus, and the scale of TIR “China-Russia Express” ranks first in the country. Meanwhile, Linyi has also opened TIR transport routes to Central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.