Schneider National moves into Chinese trucking market

Schneider National moves into Chinese trucking market Schneider National Inc. is set to join a small but growing number of U.S. trucking firms serving the internal Chinese market.
   Green Bay, Wis.-based Schneider said today it had received approval to operate a trucking and logistics business in China. The firm will operate in China as Schneider Logistics (Tianjin) Co. Ltd. with headquarters in Tianjin, a port city in the Chinese northeast and the country's third-largest urban area.
   Schneider plans to start with close to 50 trucks and is set to begin operations on Chinese highways around mid-year.
   The firm is also looking at acquiring two Chinese trucking companies. The deals, if successful, would close within the next six months.
   In addition to truck service, Schneider plans to offer warehousing, freight management and other transportation services in China.
   Schneider's long-term plan for the Chinese market has been under development for more than two years. Schneider President and Chief Executive Chris Lofgren said in October that the company is looking to invest tens of millions of dollars in China over the coming year.
   Already operating in China is less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide Inc., formerly Yellow Roadway Corp.
   Schneider competitor Werner Enterprises Inc. established a business in China in October and has received licenses to manage freight movements there.