A fully loaded truck carrying goods under the Transports Internationaux Routiers system departed from Haining Port, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, on March 11.

Bound for Europe, the vehicle will cover a journey of over 8,500 kilometers and is expected to arrive in about 10 days.

The driver of the truck passes customs inspection in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, on March 11. [Photo/Tide News]

Transports Internationaux Routiers, or International Road Transports, is designed to help save time and money for transport operators and customs authorities as goods are shipped across borders.

TIR is a cross-border trucking system that serves as the "fourth logistics corridor" between China and Europe, complementing air, rail, and sea freight. It offers fast customs clearance, high flexibility, direct door-to-door delivery, and cost-effectiveness.

Haining county-level city, a hub for export-driven industries, is home to over 2,200 export enterprises, shipping 2,629 types of products to 198 countries and regions. In 2024, the city's total exports reached 75.31 billion yuan ($10.40 billion), with home textiles and warp-knitted products particularly popular in the European market.

"Previously, shipments from Haining to Europe primarily relied on sea and rail transport. Compared to air freight, TIR trucking cuts transportation costs by more than 50 percent while offering greater speed and flexibility than rail," said Qian Shenghui, Party secretary of the Haining bureau of transport.

According to him, Haining aims to integrate TIR road transport with existing rail and sea logistics networks, expanding trade options and helping "Haining-made" products reach global markets faster and more efficiently.