Via a new reefer inspection express lane at APM Terminals Moin, trucks now pass through a finely tuned and fast inspection process for empty reefers exiting the terminal for delivery directly to farms. Due to the improved process, there are almost zero waiting times, no reworks, and considerably enhanced transportation costs.

With hundreds of employees trained in Lean principles such as process mapping, standardisation, and Kaizen (Continuous Improvement), it was only a matter of time before Ricardo Alexis Alvarado Ruiz, a supervisor at APM Terminals Moin, scrutinised the 40-minute inspection time for reefers exiting the terminal.

Further inspired by his passion for Formula One, where every second counts, he was convinced he could reduce the 40 minutes truck drivers had to wait for every reefer inspection. By removing 'wasted time' from the process and implementing a drive-in drive-out express inspection lane, congestion at the terminal has been significantly reduced, improving overall efficiency.

The newly located express lane allows trucks to drive forward without sharp turns that could hinder other traffic. Reducing unnecessary truck manoeuvres has saved time and improved safety.

The new express lane is currently processing up to around 120 weekly transactions and has received positive feedback from external truck drivers. They appreciate the reduced waiting times and that they no longer have to carry out complex manoeuvres in limited space, significantly improving their experience.