Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT, expects the company will make market share gains once the economy begins to recover, partly as a result of smaller rivals collapsing or withdrawing from the market.
He also believes the changes will come as customers shift to economy transport services, "which means a switch from air linehaul to road linehaul - and that should benefit us".
Speaking to Commercial Motor
at last week's Drive Me Challenge (pictured) at the MIRA test track in the Midlands, Bakker noted: "Companies do need a crisis now and then to [force them to] focus on costs. It's not always pleasant, though."
There have been 2,300 redundancies worldwide at TNT in the past 12 months - but that is less than 2% of the group's 161,500-strong workforce. TNT's total Q2 profit was cut 57% year on year to €89m (£81.6m).
One market share gain no longer available is a slice of Royal Mail. Following the government's decision to cease negotiations with TNT earlier this year on the part-privatisation of Royal Mail, Bakker dismisses any thoughts of proactively revisiting the opportunity: "It was disappointing, but we've got a business to build. If someone wants to talk to us [about buying part of Royal Mail], then we'll pick up the phone."
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