- December 13, 2006 - DHL today announced significant progress on its Route Optimization Initiative, a component of a program announced earlier this year to enhance courier pick up and delivery efficiency  as part of DHL's commitment to providing the best possible experience in the shipping industry.  To date, DHL has improved pickup service for customers in hundreds of cities across the United States, while decreasing vehicle usage and fuel consumption.   

At facilities across the U.S., the DHL Route Optimization Initiative uses a customized software solution to pull pickup and delivery data from courier data terminal scanners. The information is uploaded for analysis and route mapping, enabling DHL to increase efficiency and effectively balance its workload capacity across its entire US fleet.

Since its inception, the route optimization program has decreased required drive times, limited route length and fuel consumption, and enabled more rapid processing of shipments.  As a result of the initiative, customers throughout the country have more predictable regular delivery times.  In addition, DHL has been able to extend the deadline for pick up service by up to 90 minutes in over 400 metropolitan areas across the U.S., encompassing over one half million businesses. 

"DHL's route optimization initiative is one of several programs that reflect the Company's commitment to continuous improvement, best practices and superior customer service," said John Cameron, executive vice president of operations for DHL. "DHL will continue to look at ways we can optimize our operation for the benefit of our customers," continued Cameron.

DHL will expand the Route Optimization Initiative in 2007 with still more precise shipment forecasting tools to ensure all courier routes are constructed to account for fluctuating volume by customer, seasonality, and historical data.   

DHL's commitment to providing the best possible customer experience in shipping was demonstrated in a recent a third party independent study that measured the performance and delivery reliability of DHL against competitors in the United States .  A white paper and executive summary of the study are available online at: www.dhl-usa.com/proof/2/index.asp.

About DHL 
DHL's mission is to provide the most flexible, personable and enjoyable experience in the shipping industry for our customers. DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source. DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, and contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide with over 285,000 employees dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.  Founded in San Francisco in 1969, DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. For more information on DHL, please visit www.dhl.com.