Interview of the week - Transport Paris International (TPI) - France

Arnaud has been part of TPI since 2011. After 10 years in Bolloré Group and 10 years in CMA CGM Group, in 2011 he wanted to take up a new challenge at TPI and took over as General Manager in 2015.

TPI has been a member of THLG network since 2019.

Tell us about TPI. Who owns the company?

TPI is 43 years old and the majority of share capital is held by WORMS Services Maritimes, one of the oldest independent French shipping agencies.

TPI is a company on a human scale made up of 29 motivated and dedicated people whose sole purpose is to satisfy our customers.

As each customer is unique, and each project is unique, ...each solution is intrinsically unique.

Therefore, just like an architect, TPI conceives, conducts and leads transport operations thanks to an exceptional expertise and a highly skilled workforce.

Where are your offices located?

Our headquarters are located in Nanterre, near Paris, and a second office is in Pusignan, near Lyon. These two areas constitute the main French economic regions.

What is TPI's specialty and service range?

TPI’s strength is based on the diversity among our employees, each of who brings unique expertise in:

• Public Works
• Oil & Gas
• Engineering
• Oversized Cargo
• Industrial Projects
• High-Tech

Tell us about projects that you have handled recently.

Equipment for Oil & Gas Industry

4 crates of 94 tons / unit + 4 crates of 63 tons / unit  shipped from Fos sur mer to Dalian using different types of transport like :

• Road transport 
• Sea-river vessel
• Container vessel 
• Heavy-lift vessel
   

Public Works Relocation

2 vessels / 3500 m3 / 1000 tons of equipment per vessel.

• Chartering of 2x vessels from Douala to Cotonou and reshipping towards landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo.
   

To discover the extent of our work, feel free to visit our website www.tpi-paris.com or find us on Linkedin as TPI Transport Paris International.

Is the o/g licensing procedure time consuming or expensive in France?

The o/g licensing procedure in France is one of the most time consuming & expensive throughout Europe. For instance, it is usual for packages over 60 tons to wait 8-10 weeks to obtain permits for short distances. This is mainly due to Administrative burdens combined with poor road conditions.

Most of the French manufacturers find themselves faced with this problem, which in case of last minute changes in dimensions generates huge costs and delays.

It is therefore recommended to anticipate these issues well in advance and rely on forwarders like TPI who are used to co-operating with valuable partners.

What is your advantage against competition? Why do you stand out?

As a human scaled company, our first goal is to meet our clients’ expectations. As a dedicated company, we are able to satisfy every customer need, down to the smallest detail. We work hard, day in, day out, to ensure we provide a custom-made expertise. 

Each of our collaborators have acquired experience coming from a specific background. They all learnt how to be flexible, which is TPI’s core value.

What made you join the industry?

A meeting with the company’s founder, Mr Walter Zazzera, and the willingness to take up a new challenge. And every passing day convinces me I made the right choice.

The company, human relationships, the drive to race each other to the top, which makes us want to outdo ourselves for our clients.

What do you like the most about your business?

The variety of projects and the creativity we must demonstrate to ship some unconventional packages. Human relationships are key to professional growth.

Who should be approached in TPI for inquiries?

You can visit our website www.tpi-paris.com or contact me by email: ajuhel@tpi-paris.com, or standard@tpi-paris.com and I will forward your request to the most suitbable people to meet your needs.