Logistics companies are strengthening partnerships to maintain delivery services amid concerns about a looming shortage of truck drivers stemming from new regulations capping the overtime of drivers.

Japan Post and Seino Transportation announced Thursday that they have reached a basic agreement to work together on joint long-haul truck operations in about a year¡¯s time.

As the logistics industry is under pressure to cope with various issues including the expected shortage of truck drivers and decarbonization, ¡°we believe that on top of the efforts by individual companies, co-creation that transcends corporate boundaries is critical,¡± said Satoshi Takahashi, president of Seino Transportation, a major Gifu-based business-to-business logistics operator.