DHL Orchestrates Shipping Solution for World’s Largest New Year’s Day Parade

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  • Transports 50,000 pounds of musical instruments among 15 U.S. -based marching bands and parade in London, England

Plantation, Fla., December 15, 2011 – In a movement that will help bring beautiful music to the world’s largest New Year’s Day parade in London, England, DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, will carefully transport over 1,000 pieces of marching band instruments and equipment from 15 U.S. high schools and universities participating in the January 1, 2012 parade.  More than half a million people are expected to packLondon's famous streets to view the spectacular parade, themed around the upcoming Summer Olympic Games inLondon and Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Shipping the delicate equipment to theUKfrom Fremont (CA), Forest (VA), and locations in-between requires a highly-coordinated effort from the International Specialists at DHL. “DHL will conduct a very specialized shipping solution that provides peace of mind to these young band members, so they can focus on their once-in-a-lifetime experience and be at ease knowing their instruments will arrive on-time and in perfect condition,” saidTerry Carter, Vice President of Operations for DHL.  

This week, DHL will pick up tubas, snare drums, trumpets, saxophones, trombones and other musical instruments at each participating school and load onto special aircraft containers to be transported to the DHL Gateway atJFKAirportinNew York.  From there, the shrink-wrapped instrument shipments uplift for theUKwhere DHL will provide Customs brokerage services and warehousing for the instruments until they are ready for retrieval by band members in time for pre-parade rehearsals.

DHL developed a full-service shipping solution that includes customized labeling; dedicated, proactive monitoring for each shipment; additional trucks and flight segments and synchronized special handling – with services provided by DHL Express and DHL Global Forwarding units.

After the successful completion of the January 1 event, DHL will orchestrate the complex exercise in reverse, coordinating the return shipment of all 1,000 instruments to each of the participating schools in 13 states.

DHL’s role as the exclusive transportation provider for marching bands traveling from theU.S.will be acknowledged through DHL branding on banners along parade routes, on screens inTrafalgar Square,London; on Skyscraper website advertising as well as parade brochures.

London's New Year's Day Parade started in 1987, and has raised or donated nearly a million pounds to a wide range ofLondonbased charities. More than 10,000 performers representing 20+ countries worldwide and more than half a million spectators line the two-mile route, making this the biggest event of its kind in the world. Approximately 200 million TV viewers watch the London New Year's Day Parade.

For more details on the London New Year’s Day Parade, visit www.londonparade.co.uk

Media Contact:

DHL Express U.S.

Robert Mintz

Phone: 1 425 368 2163

E-mail: Robert.mintz@dhl.com

On the Internet: www.dhl-usa.com

Follow us: twitter.com/DeutschePostDHL

DHL – The Logistics company for the world

DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 275,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of more than 51 billion euros in 2010. For more information: www.dp-dhl.com

Quick facts

Participating schools: The Sound of The University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD; Ola High School Marching Band, McDonough, GA; Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners, Jacksonville, AL; West Florence High School Marching Knights, Florence, SC; Evans High School Band, Evans, GA; Rider High School Bands, Wichita Falls, TX; Chatfield Senior High School Marching Band, Littleton, CO; Glenbrook North High School Band, Northbrook, IL; Dr. Phillips High School Panther Band, Orlando, FL; Christopher Newport University Marching Captains, Newport News, VA; L'Anse Creuse High School - North Band, Macomb, MI; Jefferson Forest High School Band, Forest, VA; The Shawnee Mission West High School Band, Overland Park, KS; Alexis I. Dupont High School Tiger Marching Band, Wilmington, DE; Mission San Jose High School Band and Orchestra, Fremont, CA
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