Yakult and Nippon Paper Crecia launch joint trunk transport in Japan

Yakult Honsha and Nippon Paper Crecia began full-scale joint trunk transport between Kanagawa and Okayama on 1 September 2026, following a June-to-August trial. The scheme mixes loads of ambient-temperature beverages and household paper products to raise truck load factors as Japan's freight sector faces capacity pressure from stricter driver working-hour rules.

Why this mattersCross-industry load pooling shows how shippers are restructuring logistics to offset Japan's driver-hour caps and rising transport costs.

• Full-scale joint trunk transport between Kanagawa and Okayama began on 1 September 2026, after a June-to-August trial
• Yakult's ambient-temperature beverages are combined with Nippon Paper Crecia's household paper products in mixed loads
• The scheme aims to raise truck load factors amid Japan's tightened driver overtime rules effective 2024
• Yakult reported consolidated revenue of JPY 486.425bn (USD 3.16bn) for the year to March 2026
• Nippon Paper Crecia reported revenue of JPY 128.2bn (USD 832m) for the year to March 2026

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