In this article, we explore the role – and benefits – of using a European dedicated express courier van service. Every day, across the UK and Europe, such European courier runs demonstrate the value of dedicated-vehicle couriers. Often, but not exclusively, couriers – they’re so much more than just a ‘man in a van’ – make such trans-European runs with Sprinter-type or Luton vehicles. Where dictated by the cargo, 7.5 tonners and even Euroliners also see dedicated-vehicle duty on same day, next day or three-to-four day assignments to Europe’s furthest corners.

A dedicated-vehicle European courier is a ‘lifesaver’
The demands that make express dedicated-vehicle deliveries so valuable – often, business ‘lifesavers’ – are as diverse as business itself. As you read on, we challenge you not to see applications for this type of ‘white glove delivery service’ in your industry. Think dedicated, often double-crewed, vehicles travelling door-to-door from the UK to Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and all points between. Whether for routine contract runs or for emergency shipping, these deliveries help business and industry make money, save time and protect hard-earned reputations.

Double-crewed, dedicated vehicles
Whether for import or export, what’s the secret of European dedicated-vehicle deliveries? The heart of a dedicated-vehicle delivery service is a reliable, often-double-crewed, vehicle that travels point-to-point with a single client’s cargo. Forget load consolidation, groupage, and unloading and reloading at intermediate depots en route. Whether it’s same day or next day, a dedicated-vehicle delivery means that only your freight is carried across Europe. And all the time, it’s guided by experienced drivers and sophisticated GPS tracking and navigation systems.

Ultimate cargo control
Dedicated vans (or 7.5 tonners, or Euroliners) deliver perfect control over fragile, time-critical, cargo as diverse as high-value artwork, urgently needed aircraft parts, designer goods or broadcasting equipment. Such an express courier service is perfect where freight handling must be minimised, where terminal times will be extended, or where consignments are attractive to thieves. And then there are deliveries where the courier vehicle crew must do more than just ‘unload’.

Perfect for precisely-timed deliveries
Consider for example a delivery – like all this article’s examples, from real life – where the arrival at a European destination is precisely timed. In this case, a double-manned Luton van travelled from Berkshire, England to a chateau in the heart of France. Achievement of the strict timing was assured by sending two drivers. Furthermore, the van crew then moved the consignment of high-value electronic goods into the historic building and carried them up to the first floor. They then positioned the items to the client’s precise instructions. Deliveries with dedicated vans or trucks really can be that bespoke.

Clients’ bespoke loading and unloading requirements
Very precise, specific client requirements typically lie at the heart of dedicated-van deliveries. Consider now a multi-pallet consignment of life-sized fibreglass/composite resin models. On this occasion, they were sent from South West England to Germany – the inverse of the ever-popular express freight from Germany delivery. Such were the models’ characteristics that the client insisted on individually wrapping each pallet after loading onto the tail-lift-equipped 7.5 tonner. That was on Tuesday. With the consignment securely loaded and protectively packaged, the vehicle and crew set off across Europe to Germany. They made the door-to-door delivery – without reloading en route, on time and with the freight in perfect condition – the next day. By the weekend, the bespoke models were unpacked and installed in a Cologne shopping centre. Another express delivery to Germany was successfully completed.

No consolidation or reloading en route
Why is it so important to avoid consolidation of consignments during express haulage? Avoiding consolidation is a regularly-cited advantage of using dedicated-vehicle courier services between the places as far apart as Aberdeen and Athens, or Malmö and Milan. Without en-route interference with freight, control of load safety and security is maximised. Matt Everard, Managing Director of UK-based Logistics Consult, explains:

‘Imagine moving £400,000-worth (€472k) of valuable broadcast equipment from Southern England to the Swiss Alps for a major international event. For various reasons, including its effect on delivery speed, groupage wasn’t considered. We chose a dedicated 7.5 tonne van for the journey across Europe – under ATA Carnet for temporary import – to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Not only was the journey, leaving England on Tuesday and reaching Davos 48 hours later on Thursday, in a dedicated van, but our client stipulated a bilingual, English-German speaking driver. Everything went perfectly. The consignment reached Davos on time. It was offloaded by specialist fitters and set up by the time the event’s international guests arrived on Saturday. We’d successfully completed another rapid bespoke delivery to continental Europe. “Die Lieferung nach Davos wurde erfolgreich abgeschlossen”’.

Double crews maximise driving time
When time is tight, double-crewing delivery vehicles helps minimise delays caused by a solo van driver’s extended breaks. Double-crewed deliveries are a key to achieving the fast, accurately timed, door-to-door road freight deliveries that dedicated-vehicle couriers are so good at.

Same day from the UK to Germany or a next day delivery to Switzerland? With rapid dedicated-vehicle couriers, secure next day delivery within Europe is no problem. With a dedicated double-crew Sprinter or Luton van it’s eminently achievable and could be a lifesaver for your business. Not least because moving freight consignments this way is often faster and more cost-effective than multimode deliveries within Europe. Yes, over shorter distances, road freight really can outperform air freight.

Express courier saves the day: Italy to the UK
Such was the case when 10 pallets of designer goods were delivered to the UK from Milan, Italy after urgent rework. The original consignment had been rejected on arrival and returned to the Italian factory. With remedial work finished, the clock was ticking to get the goods to the UK for a product launch in Derby. The solution? Again, it was a 7.5 tonner that left Lombardy and crossed the Alps en route to the Channel crossing, the English Midlands and one very relieved customer.

Air-ride vans for fragile consignments
Those designer goods were easy to palletise and convey; the biggest challenge was timing. But what do you do when your express delivery to Italy consists of two massive bronze sculptures? In another case study, two artworks travelled from England’s south coast to a sculptor in central Italy. Eight months later, after the Italian artisan worked his magic, the sculptures made the return journey from Italy to the UK. Yet again, a dedicated 7.5 tonne curtain-side truck fulfilled the assignment – double crewed by the courier’s best drivers. What’s more, given the sculptures’ fragility, another measure was important. For further protection the courier specified air-ride vans of the kind used to deliver easily damaged aeromotive components.

European courier services for every industry
What kind of industries benefit from non-stop dedicated-vehicle European courier deliveries? The aforementioned examples give a snapshot of industries that regularly use dedicated-vehicle deliveries. Imagine aircraft operators faced with grounded planes (the ‘Aircraft on Ground’ scenario), automotive, pharmaceutical and design-industry clients. They all value fast, dedicated shipments. It’s not only when things go wrong or revenue-earning assets are at standstill either. To be honest, it’s hard to think of any industrial sector that doesn’t benefit from these pan-

European courier services.
For one Newcastle, UK, engineering customer, a combination of regular contracted 2–3 day delivery services and dedicated-van deliveries was a key distribution tool. In this case study, the business delivered metal construction parts, fabricated rig accessories and large structural components across the North Sea from England to the Netherlands using express delivery from UK to NL.

Adéu Barcelona!
From the North Sea separating England and Holland, it’s about 1000 miles (1560 km) to the warmer waters of Barcelona, Spain. That was the destination for a tail-lift LWB Sprinter van, loaded with high-value electronic superyacht equipment. After leaving the UK and crossing France, the van made a precisely-timed delivery in Spain. It’s exactly the kind of task that express delivery in Europe was designed for. But why was such precision needed in this case? Firstly, the yacht was only in port for the weekend. Secondly, the driver had to meet fitters at a set time. It’s all in a day’s work for Europe’s express delivery drivers. The consignment was on time, the fitters received the goods and the yacht – with equipment installed – could leave for its next Mediterranean voyage.

Trans-European reliability, security and precise timing
Viewed by anyone who hasn’t used express European couriers, their reliability, security, precise long-distance timing, and bespoke services, can seem magical. In reality, it’s all down to experience, well-honed skills, correct vehicle and crew selection, and meticulous planning. However, such is the diversity of demand for trans-European delivery that even professional magicians use express courier services.

That’s magic, express courier style!
Smoke, mirrors and sleight of hand might be enough to make assistants disappear and delight audiences. However, in another European courier example, transporting a consignment of flight cases from Belgium to North West England and back required a very different magic. This time, a top illusionist ‘loaned’ a breathtaking magic trick to another magician for a world magic convention in Blackpool, England. The loan required timely delivery of several flight cases containing the unique signature trick. Using a dedicated LWB Sprinter van, the consignment was safely delivered – ahead of time, no less. Afterwards, as soon as the curtain fell, the same express carrier collected the equipment with another dedicated van. Within hours, they’d whisked it back across the English Channel to Belgium in time for the owner’s show the following weekend. That’s trans-Europe express shipping magic for you!

Helping you make money and protect your reputation
Do you need to ‘pull a rabbit from a hat’ to save your product launch or make a time-critical cargo delivery across Europe? What would you do to get your production line running again if you needed to import a critical part from a factory on the other side of Europe?
As you’ve seen, it’s in situations like these, with time and profitability on the line, that a trusted European courier using dedicated vehicles really can hold the key to effective logistics, business success and protecting reputations – including yours!

Since 2006, as one of the leading European courier companies, Logistics Consult has delighted demanding clients with tailor-made solutions across the UK and Europe. The Essex, UK-based freight forwarder can access thousands of vehicles and a pool of reliable drivers. That’s perfect for the challenging same-day, next-day or 2–3-day time-critical, dedicated-vehicle deliveries the company makes. Typical European destinations include Sweden, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Learn more about Logistics Consult’s cost-effective dedicated-vehicle express courier services to and from Europe.

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On Monday 13th May, Matt Everard, Managing Director, set a new world record of 74.306mph (119.583km/h) at the famous speed test track at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire.

Matt was “over the moon” at receiving the award for driving the fastest tuk tuk in the world, along with his passenger and cousin, Russell Shearman. Not content with being the record holder for fastest tuk tuk in the world, Matt has already started talking about breaking the 100mph mark and the self-confessed petrol-head is determined to push the next boundary.

As well as breaking the world record, the Logistics Consult boss has raised a staggering £6025.04 for Havens Hospice, who provide local support and respite to life-limited children in Essex.

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On Monday 13^th of May, Logistics Consult Managing Director, Matt Everard, (46) and his cousin Russell Shearman, (49), will be completing a world record attempt as driver and passenger and plan to exceed the current record on a tuk tuk of 68mph at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire.

Popular for tourist taxi rides in Thailand and other Asian countries, this particular three-wheeled machine has benefited from a recent full restoration.  The original two stroke 350cc engine has been replaced with a modern 1300cc fuel-injected Daihatsu motor capable of taking the intrepid Essex cousins to speeds in excess of 90mph. Sponsored by Logistics Consult, the vehicle has been subject to a five month, £20,000 rebuild, including wide rear wheels, twin cooling radiators and many original tuk tuk parts imported from Thailand.

Manufactured in 1971 as a Bangkok Taxi, the unusual vehicle, affectionately known as the “Logistics Consult Bomber” has been owned by Matt since 2017, when a late night eBay purchase led him to become the fifth UK owner of the vehicle since 1992. Now a common sight in Matt’s home town of Billericay, the brightly coloured vehicle gets lots of attention as he drives it around.  Also known as an Auto Rickshaw, the name “Tuk Tuk” originates from the sound that the earliest models make. “The original engine made an unforgettable  “tuk tuk tuk tuk tuk” sound and left a smoke trail smelling of two stroke fuel.” said Matt. He continued, “the original engine sound was so loud and distinctive that my wife said that she could hear me arriving home before she could see me”.

The Essex cousins have partnered with the motor sport event company Straightliners Ltd of Yorkshire who have officiated and provided the venue for many world record attempts on motorbikes and other unusual vehicles like “The World’s Fastest Shed” and “The World’s Fastest Toilet.”. As a second event, Matt has also challenged Kevin Nicks the owner of The Fastest Shed to a drag race at the same venue later in the year.

“I am very excited at the prospect of being a World Record holder. I have been a big fan of the concept since my childhood watching the BBC TV Show “Record Breakers” with Roy Castle and Norris McWhirter as hosts.” admits Matt.

As well as satisfying their “need for speed”Matt and Russell have raised a staggering £5837.54 for Havens Hospices during the course of the event

To follow progress and to see photographs of the tuk tuk, please visit  www.instagram.com/fastest_tuktuk or LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/FastestTukTukInTheWorld

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Cut Out The Bad Stuff

Bad suppliers, bad partners, bad outsourcing – these are all things you should be shaking off as we progress through the months. Assess your current situation – do you find it difficult to communicate or contact your current supplier? Are you happy with the service they’re providing? Too many businesses are willing to put up with substandard communication in lieu of lower prices and substandard products, but 2019 is the year that this should change. Whether you have a bad relationship with your supplier, or they simply aren’t delivering what had been initially promised, there is no harm in searching for an alternative to help your business grow.

Nurture Existing Relationships

Relationships are everything in business and ensuring that you nurture them in 2019 could put you at the forefront of your market. Customer retention is the driving force behind the success of countless businesses so this year, start to pay attention to what your consumers want. Ask for their feedback and make sure you take out the time to listen to them. Send out simple surveys to get direct feedback about your service, or even consider using user testing websites to try out new products before you put them out on the market – all of this can help you nurture and improve your relationship with your customers and potentially even increase revenue over the course of the year.

Improve Your Digital Presence

In an age where over 4 billion people are using the internet, improving and maintaining your online presence is a crucial step to take. Having a website is a good starting point, but set yourself a resolution this year to improve its functionality. Bring it up to speed and ensure that there is relevant, high quality and fresh content available at all times. From here, you can develop a strong social media presence by linking back to landing pages that are likely to lead to conversions and even use these platforms to improve your customer relationships.

Visit Your Supplier

If you have a supplier you’re happy with, why not set yourself a resolution to pay them a visit during the year? If you’re feeling a little out of touch with your supplier or simply haven’t had good contact with them in some time, travelling to see their facility, connecting with important contacts and getting a genuine understanding of where your products are coming from could prove beneficial in the long run. You could discuss potential product developments, work through any ongoing issues and even set yourself up as a valuable customer in your supplier’s eyes.

Take A New Approach To Your Quality Control Process

Too often, our quality control processes can become substandard or lacklustre, simply because they haven’t changed in some time. Whether you’ve had the same process in place for a few years, or even longer than that, now is the time to take a fresh look at it and make adjustments and changes where they’re needed. Whether it’s switching up the documentation to cover new ideals or you simply take your customer’s feedback into consideration when coming up with new criteria, giving yourself a fresh start could be all your business needs to succeed in a brand new year.

Whether you choose to take on any of the resolutions listed or come up with some of your own, switching up your business plan in 2019 could be a beneficial fresh start. If you’re looking for a new freight forwarder in the New Year, our online quote form makes it easy to get a bespoke price. Simply fill in the form or enquire to find out more, today.

The post 5 New Year’s Resolutions Your Retail Business Should Be Making appeared first on Logistics Consult.

We’ve put together this guide for finding a brand new supplier, whether locally or abroad, in 2019.

Choose A Product

First things first, you’ll need to work out what products you’re looking to produce. Are you seeking a new supplier for a current product or something entirely new? Once you’ve determined this, you can better decide where you’re going to start your search. While consumers have grown a liking for ‘locally sourced’ goods, there are some products that could still benefit from being imported from China including technology, machinery parts and more.

Research, Research, Research

Once you’ve worked out the products you want to source, you need to start researching. Look into suppliers from across the globe, read reviews, ask questions and contact them directly to find out more information. This is the time in which you can really find out everything you need and could want to know about every supplier to better make an informed decision.

Get Social

Social media can be a great way to find out about suppliers, as well as network with them directly. LinkedIn, in particular, is useful for this given its B2B standing. You can not only search for suppliers, but you can speak to them through direct messaging and are more likely to find a real person to speak to directly, rather than an automated email response.

Pick A Handful Of Suppliers & Get Samples

Once you’ve done all of your research and started getting in touch, it’s time to whittle this down to a handful you may be considering. Take all of your research into account, pick out a few suppliers, and then request samples of the products you’re looking to order. Once you have the physical product in your hands, you can take a look at which is closer to your needs, desires and ultimately, what will be more beneficial for your business overall.

Ask Yourself These Questions

If you need further help choosing the supplier, you can ask yourself the following questions to help yourself out:

• Is there a minimum amount that you’ll need to order? How does this factor into your businesses plans?
• What discounts are available for bulk orders, if any?
• How long will it take for the products to be produced?

There are plenty of other questions you could ask too – take a look at your business plan, and work out what you need. Once you’ve done this, you can better decide which supplier would work best.

Make That Final Deal

You’ve chosen your product, your supplier, and you’re ready to go! All that’s left now is to make that final deal. Check all payment terms, shipping terms and organise your freight delivery.

For a quote, simply fill in our simple online form today and we’ll get back to you with a bespoke price as soon as possible.

The post New Year, New Supplier: Our Tips For Launching Into 2019 appeared first on Logistics Consult.

Merry Christmas, Everyone – Shakin Stevens

What better way to start off a journey than with this sing-a-long classic? Driving along on the way to your final shipment of the season can be a tedious task, especially on a cold, dark night but there’s truly no better way to shake off the cold and get that Christmassy feeling than with a bit of Shakin Stevens. Crank up the radio and get those vocal chords ready!

Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid

Bring yourself down from the high of having fun on Christmas Day and settle into Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band Aid. Whether you’re a sucker for the classic, or the 20 or 30 versions are more your style, you’re guaranteed the same warm feeling regardless. Remind yourself of what Christmas is really about and get into the spirit of giving and caring with Band Aid.

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

Male, female, young, old, married or single – none of us can resist trying to hit that glass-shaking high note that starts off this holiday classic. Okay, so maybe it’s not everyone’s favourite, but you certainly wouldn’t be alone in singing along when this treasure pops on the radio when you’re stuck on the motorway.

Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues And Kirsty MacColl

The lyrics might leave a lot to be desired in terms of festivity, but Fairytale of New York smashes through the charts year on year and, to this day, remains one of the nation’s favourite Christmas songs. Maybe it’s the jaunty tune, or perhaps it has something to do with its questionable lyrics, but the melancholic tale that propels this song is sure to get you feeling the spirit on your long drive.

Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea

You’ve dropped off your last shipment, you’re hopping back into your truck and you’re homeward bound – what better way to celebrate that incredible achievement than with the nation’s favourite Christmas song for the motorway Driving Home For Christmas. Stuck in traffic or cruising along, it’s the perfect song for a sing-a-long and gives you just the right feeling to make your homecoming feel that bit sweeter.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra

Finish up your long drive with Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Whether you opt for the Frank Sinatra classic, delve into Michael Buble’s sultry tones or have an alternative cover you adore, this timeless tune will give you that true merry little Christmas feeling.

Whether you’re a sing-a-long sinner or you prefer a relaxing drive with the smooth festive tunes as a backdrop, truly embracing the holiday spirit can make your final delivery that little bit easier this holiday season. What will make it onto your playlist?

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To make things a little more manageable this festive season, we’ve put together this simple guide:

Ship Early

While an ‘early’ shipment isn’t always possible with time-sensitive goods – medicines, food, high-value goods to name just a few – the earlier you can send out your delivery, the better. Whether shipping out or importing in, this is equally as important either way, especially during the holidays. By shipping earlier than you may have any other time of the year, you can rest assured that your goods will arrive precisely where they’re needed, when they’re needed. This can help not only avoid a back-up as we edge towards the big day, but provide a buffer zone in the case that your shipment does get caught in the rush.

Pack Everything Sufficiently

Packaging is everything when it comes to shipments, but it’s particularly crucial to get it right over the holidays to ensure optimal protection. With millions of parcels, containers, letters and more all being transported cross-country and overseas every day, it’s easy for bumps, scrapes and knocks to happen at any point of the journey. While the freight handler will take every care to ensure your goods are kept safe and intact, the high volume of goods being dealt with across the board, and even the sheer number of lorries on the road causing the notorious winter traffic, can all make the risk a little higher. For this reason, an extra layer or two of bubble wrap or the right temperature control can keep your goods safe and secure throughout the journey.

Make The Most Of TMS And Tracking

Here at Logistics Consult, we utilise a travel management system that ensures we know where our drivers and shipments are going and when. We are also on hand to provide tracking information and the true value of this throughout the holiday period often goes unnoticed. Being able to not only know where your shipments are, but plan when they’re going to arrive more effectively and help to streamline your entire supply chain. This way, you can plan for any delays and provide a more in-depth and efficient response to the final delivery.

Determine The Delivery Service You Need

Before you even send your goods on their journey, you have to decide which shipping service you need to begin with. Of course, in most cases you’ll want a faster shipment service, including next-day services. Consumer tolerance for late or delayed shipments is particularly low during the festive season and so it’s important to ensure that you’re picking the right shipment. While a standard delivery service may have been sufficient throughout the year, during December and into the New Year, it may be worth investing in a faster service for extra peace of mind.

Shipping during the holidays can be stressful, and no one is going to deny that. However, with the right preparation and Logistics Consult on your side, you can have those time-sensitive shipments at their destination in good time.

For more information or for a quote on your festive shipment, fill out our online form, today.

The post Our Guide To Shipping Time-Sensitive Goods During The Holidays appeared first on Logistics Consult.

Port

A port is likely to be the most common destination that your cargo will travel to when shipping and understandably so. Any location for ships to dock designed to cater for the loading and unloading of goods and passengers with an intention of revenue, this tends to be classed as a port. These are typically commercial versions of a harbour, which play a crucial role in the entire shipping industry. While some ports do specialise in particular materials or are designed entirely for passengers, they all serve a similar purpose in providing a place for ships to dock and load or unload their cargo.

While these are typically considered to be on the coastline of a country, there are countless ports situated along rivers e.g. The Mississippi River.

Harbour

A harbour is a more general term, designed to describe an area filled with water that has shelters or barriers. These are typically man-made, but natural harbours are also relatively common. These are typically surrounded by land and feature natural barriers of rocks. They provide ships with a safe place to anchor and are also utilised for the transfer of goods or passengers from the ship to shore, or vice versa. They have been utilised by tradesmen ever since humans began to trade between countries. Nowadays, they require a large amount of maintenance to ensure that the harbour remains usable and safe, including dredging, wall maintenance and more.

Terminal

A terminal is often considered a part of a port, particularly those of a larger scale. Terminals offer different places for ships to stop that may relate closely to either what they are carrying, the size of the ship, or even what they need once unloaded. A single port could have terminals for containers, roll-on-roll-off shipments, bulk cargo terminals and even oil & gas terminals.

Quay

A single terminal can have multiple quays, which serve as the area in which cargo can be loaded and unloaded directly. As a result, you’ll typically find open cargo storage, sheds and relevant staff and offices to streamline the process of loading, unloading, storing, logging and finally discharging any cargo that passes through the port.

Dock

While docks aren’t hugely different from ports and harbours, they are typically used for mooring ships for not only cargo and passenger exchange but also for repair. Drydocks, in particular, are often used to repair ships, as the water can be evacuated so that the underside can be accessed more easily. Docks can also feature a water level that never changes as they are often man-made, but can sometimes come with the downside that it may be necessary to wait for the tide before they can be accessed.

As your dedicated freight forwarder, we are on hand to guide you through any complex or confusing terminology but hopefully, this simple guide has given you a good starting point for understanding the terms listed here.

For more information, or to get your personalised quote, fill in our online form or get in touch with a member of our team, today.

The post Harbours, Terminals and Ports: A Guide To Key Shipping Terms appeared first on Logistics Consult.

Myth #1 – Sea Freight Is Bad For The Environment

It’s an easy misconception to make – with thousands of huge cargo ships trudging through the ocean each and every day, that’s a lot of gas being emitted and fuel being burned every single day. Well, it turns out that shipping by sea might actually be one of the most environmentally friendly options you could choose when it comes to getting your goods from A to B. Cargo ships emit barely any greenhouse gasses and in most cases, you’ll find that more damage to the environment will take place just getting your shipment from your door to the ship itself.

Myth #2 – Sea Freight Is Always Cheaper

Sea freight takes longer and arguably requires fewer resources and for that reason, it’s understandable that shipping via sea actually works out cheaper than most other forms of freight. However, there is a lot more to it than that. When it comes to whether or not sea freight will work out cheaper for you and your business, you need to consider everything from insurance, to ROI risks given how long the shipment may take. The costs can add up, so it’s important to do your research and talk to an expert about which alternative may work out better for you.

Myth #3 – Tracking Sea Shipments Is Difficult

Tracking has become a staple with any kind of delivery. Whether we’re shipping goods abroad or ordering something from Amazon, the ability to track each and every movement our parcels and shipments make is a common consumer demand. Given that sea freight can take days depending on the route and destination, you’d be forgiven for thinking that tracking sea freight can be difficult. However, GPS systems on cargo ships are incredibly complex and for that reason, the potential for in-depth, detailed tracking is certainly there providing that a streamlined way of reporting is introduced within a company.

Myth #4 – Only Container Shipments Can Be Sent via Sea Freight

While this one holds some truth, you may be surprised to hear that you don’t have to have an entire container load of goods to ship to be able to send it via boat. In fact, LCL – or less-than-container loads – are becoming an increasingly common option for those looking for fast shipments without having to wait for an empty slow. This essentially means that the goods will be submitted within other containers alongside other shipments from other sources until they reach sorting at their destination. It can work out cheaper and more convenient so if you have a smaller collection of goods to send, this could work out to be the more efficient option.

Shipping via sea freight may have certain risks but it’s also one of the safest, most affordable and most environmentally-friendly options for those seeking an alternate shipping method. Whether you’re looking to ship multiple containers or an LCL, simply get in touch with Logistics Consult and we can help secure your place on board a cargo ship, as soon as possible. Get in touch or fill in our form for a quote, today.

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What Do We Mean By Freight Forwarder?

A freight forwarder is in charge of arranging any storage, shipping and movement of shipments for other businesses or clients. Here at Logistics Consult, we work closely with various shippers to ensure that our clients’ goods are transported quickly, efficiently and with great care all while offering a number of different services to cater. This includes next day delivery, road freight, sea freight, air freight, express freight, cheaper alternatives, LCLs and FCLs, Insurance, packing, a duty calculator and so much more.

With all this in mind, the day in the life of a freight forwarder can be a busy one, but what does it include?

What Does A Typical Day Look Like?

Here at Logistics Consult, we are proud to be a freight forwarder, but depending on the role within the company, the day can look very different. However, the general day within the company can include everything from calculating the weights, volume and cost of any of the goods set to be transferred, to verifying that the packaging and labelling for any shipments are correct and in order. Other daily tasks include:

• Liaising with clients about shipping options, timelines and any transfer information
• Ensuring that all clients are aware of the right regulations and that all shipments are compliant with these
• Preparing various documentation where necessary, including Contracts of Carriage, Bills of Lading, packing lists, dock receipts and more
• Putting together shipping information including status and tracking

This is by no means the entire extent of the day! In fact, it can include liaising with customs, checking over processes constantly throughout the day, calculating rates, providing quotes, dealing with questions, queries and any potential issues with shipments from clients and, of course, a whole lot of coffee or tea drinking to get us through the working day.

What Needs To Be Done On A Weekly Basis?

We don’t just work on a daily basis – we also have our weekly and monthly targets. This can include anything from the organisation of sensitive cargo shipments and ensuring that it all goes to plan from the moment it first moves, to the moment it reaches its final destination and, of course, the obtaining of any relevant insurance and permissions where required. These particular tasks can often take longer due to the approval processes and the need for ongoing communication between us, the client and the insurer or relevant government or regulatory bodies.

What Kind Of Hours Can You Expect?

If you’re looking to join a freight forwarder, or you simply want to know how long we’ll work for you and your shipment, you may be interested to know that we can work upwards of 40 hours depending on the workload. However, this is typically all scheduled, put into a well-organised routine and adapted and adjusted as necessary to ensure that we stay on track all year round.

While the day in the life of a freight forwarder isn’t too unlike any other logistics career, it does offer the ability to work on a number of different tasks to keep things interesting. From the calculation of duty, prices and more, to the organisation of shipments for what can sometimes be highly sensitive shipments, there’s always something new to face every single day.

If you’re looking for a trusted freight forwarder for your shipments, here at Logistics Consult, we are proud to offer a bespoke service. Simply fill in our online form for a quick quote, or get in touch for more information about a current shipment or for any questions not answered in our FAQ.

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