TNT Hoau, TNT's road distribution arm in China, has completed its nationwide day-definite road distribution network. Following recent extensions to Chengdu, Chongquing, Zhengzhou, Xian, Yantai and Xiamen, the company now offers guaranteed day-definite ground delivery to 26 of the country's largest cities, using 246 day-definite line-hauls.

The service features rapid door-to-door transport, complete with online trace and tracking. A shipment from Guangzhou to Shanghai, for example, takes a little less than two days.

Hoau purchased 400 EU III-compliant trucks for the network, each of which is fitted with GPS monitoring systems.

"Our customers in China will now be able to enjoy the full business benefits of a high-standard, national-level day-definite road distribution service, at a price well below the cost of domestic air freight," said Edward Xu, CEO of TNT-Hoau.

TNT North Asia managing director Michael Drake added in a company statement, "The successes we have achieved for the day-definite road distribution service enhances TNT's overall service offerings in China, and strengthens our leadership in China."

The day-definite service, which has already been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies, complements TNT's national less-than-truckload (LTL) operations. Overall, TNT Hoau manages a road distribution network of 1,500 depots and 56 domestic hubs, covering more than 600 Chinese cities.