Tonami Unyu, the core company of the JP Tonami Group, which aims to transform Japan Post Group into an integrated logistics company, has announced plans to expand collaboration and strengthen its own capabilities. Cooperation among six companies, securing personnel and promoting digitalisation have been identified as key pillars of future growth.
Tonami Unyu President Takada Kazuya (髙田 一哉) said the company aims to play a central role in JP Group’s transformation into an integrated logistics company and outlined plans to strengthen its ability to meet customer needs. With contract freight and third-party logistics as its pillars, the company intends to deepen synergies with Japan Post and other JP Group companies and strengthen end-to-end proposals covering last-mile delivery and international logistics.
Strengthening collaboration with industry peers and using joint logistics facilities are also considered important. In June, the company opened its first joint logistics facility in Yokohama with JP Logistics, and is developing joint deliveries in eastern Kanagawa and reciprocal subcontracted operations for Hokuriku and Kyushu. It also plans to expand the scope of collaboration by consolidating trunk-line transport and jointly using facilities.
To strengthen its own capabilities, the company plans to step up recruitment, although conditions vary by region, train inexperienced workers, attract applicants from other industries and improve retention. It views securing trunk-line drivers as a challenge and is preparing to use foreign personnel and the Specified Skilled Worker program. It also plans to strengthen labour management, improve working conditions and promote digitalisation by linking its warehouse management system with handheld terminals.
As a new decision-making structure, the company plans to establish an executive officer meeting from October and introduce a branch-office system to enable more flexible operations. It intends to strengthen rapid decision-making and business execution by improving customer responsiveness and delegating authority to each branch office.
At the press briefing, it was explained that the president’s more than 40-year career and experience in the logistics division, together with his past forward-looking investments, have provided the foundation for an integrated logistics company.