FORWARDER magazine issue 56

BOUNCE BACK ISSUE COVID-19 WATCH

COV WA ID-19 TCH

How the industry is working together in reaction to this crisis

POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR LAURALU in spite of national lockdown

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elcome to

CONTENTS

AIR FREIGHT

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9 ID-1 COVATCH W SECTION

26

NEW

SEA FREIGHT ROAD FREIGHT

PROJECT CARGO

36 Fe

PHIL aturing...

Co-fo DENTO un de N r& M Ital Lo gistics D,

AIR & SEA PORTS

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76 84

TECH & DIGITALISATION

92

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

116

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

122

INDUSTRY SERVICES

128

TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

140

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

154

MEDIA & MARKETING

162 FORWARDER magazine

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Hull | Manchester | London | Felixstowe | Liverpool | Plymouth | Bradford | Istanbul | Izmir

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elcome to the bounce-back edition of FORWARDER.

CRAIG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

We have included some of the best features from the

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COVID-19 WATCH

Hopefully the most short-lived section of FORWARDER, we'll bring you word on how the industry is reacting to this crisis and how we're all working together to get through it.

Related topics SARS-CoV-19 coronavirus Government measures Industry reactions

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COVID-19 WATCH

NEWS

MAURICE WARD GROUP’S RESPONSE 19 AUGUST 2020

TO COVID-19

T

he spread of COVID-19 over the past months continues

Giving back

to affect everyone. Even as progress is made and offices

MWG were committed in playing a role in helping the global response

are reopened in some countries, in other part of the

to COVID-19. As such, for example MWG team in Plzeň, Czech

world people asked to work from home, reminding us that this

Republic, in the cooperation with their partner PILSCO s.r.o. and

is an ever-changing global issue that we all need to address and

other volunteers, created a COVID-19 relief team and supported

overcome together.

the emergency services in Plzeň by donating masks KN95, protective clothing and glasses, free trucking and thousands of litres of disinfectant.

At the Maurice Ward Group (MWG) people work hard to supply

30 volunteer seamstresses from MWG made masks from the provided

essential goods around the world during this critical time. Over the

materials. This way they were able to distribute about 15,000 pieces

past months, they have been amazed at the dedication MWG teams

to hospitals, emergency services and other medical institutes.

have shown to inform their partners and customers and ensure that their operations run as smoothly as possible. While they were

MWG Technical teams put their 3D printing machines to work

pleasantly surprised, they were not shocked because they have seen

making shields for the firemen. Moreover, MWG also bought 70,000

MWG teams work together and deliver to many of their customers

KN95 Respirators and donated them to hospitals and medical

in many difficult situations. At the end of the day it is the people

professionals in Czech Republic, Ireland and Sweden. Their company

who are the key to finding solutions to these new challenges. Putting

also bought 10 sets of respiratory ventilators and oxygen generation

people first has always been a core value at the Maurice Ward

sets. These were donated to various facilities in Europe with 5 sets

Group, whether it is their employees, partners, customers or their

going to www.crosscause.ie. These machines will be deployed in

communities. With that idea guiding their decisions, they wanted to

Romania and West Africa to give essential health care to those who

inform you of the steps MWG has taken to serve all those people.

simply do not have access to health care.

Their support – both large and small – is mainly focused on the real need and where their own Maurice Ward Group teams are close and able to support. They will hereby continue using their resources to address the urgent needs of those working to combat the threat and impact of COVID-19.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at mauriceward.com

Focus on MWG customers and partners As the demand for remote work increases, they see teams being creative about how to quickly support clients around the world who are changing their work practices and prioritizing clients who are at the forefront of dealing with the coronavirus situation.

In challenging times like this, it helps to remember that everyone wants the same thing: keeping the people they care about healthy, reducing the impact of the virus, wanting the treatments to be developed, and life to become as before again. That shared sense of hope and purpose can encourage everyone during this difficult time and help meet the challenges.

Stay strong. Together we will get through this crisis and keep the world connected!

ABOUT MAURICE WARD GROUP Established in 1968, the Maurice Ward Group is an independent global freight- forwarding and logistics organization with 40+ owned offices in 25+ European countries. With the 50+ years of logistics experience, expertise in trade and customs compliance and their network of world class agents, the Maurice Ward Group continues to offer quality service, flexible, reliable and cost-effective solutions.

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COVID-19 WATCH

NEWS

LOCKDOWN SPIKE IN D.I.Y. ACTIVITY: 25 AUGUST 2020

THE LOGISTICS SECTOR RESPONDS

T

he UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures show

Dachser in the UK and across Europe has a DIY-Logistics service

that in April this year, 30% of retail sales in the UK were

to help this particular sector overcome these challenges, providing

conducted online. This figure compares with just 18% in the

individually tailored logistics services for customers in the garden

same month last year and 21% at the Black Friday/Christmas peak in

and DIY sector. Established twenty-two years ago, Dachser DIY-

2019. By the end of April online sales across Europe, within the home

Logistics currently has an annual shipment volume of 7.5 million.

and leisure sector, in which Dachser DIY-Logistics covers, were at

These figures indicate the significance of this sector-specific logistics

a level more than double than experienced at the start of last year.

solution. The service came under the control of Jens Wollmann earlier this year. He emphasises,

The demands placed on the

The COVID-19 pandemic and enforced lockdown has changed

DIY suppliers and retailers by consumers are changing dynamically,

consumer buying behaviour dramatically and has accelerated the

now more than ever. Those DIY suppliers and retailers that are

trend of growth in online shopping and the e-commerce economy.

embracing e-commerce sales are having to apply an omnichannel

In fashion, home and leisure, sport and hobbies, the effect of online

approach to inventory and order processing. This means using

sales growth will become permanent once virus restrictions are lifted.

more efficient sourcing, warehouse management, transport and delivery tools, tracking both orders, stock and selecting the best

A recent global study by management consultants Accenture of

distribution options for each shipment. Furthermore, speed and

previously infrequent e-commerce consumers found that their DIY

reliability become even more critical in their supply chain solutions.

tools and materials’ purchases jumped from 6% up to 14% during

Suppliers also experience other challenges brought about by the

the crisis and are predicted to stabilise at a 16% level post-crisis.

characteristics of an online market place. This can include irregular

To whatever degree online becomes the chosen sales channel for

demand spikes, requiring sudden changes in supply capacity. These

Europe’s DIY product consumers in the future, it is clear retailers

unpredictable order sizes can make managing the distribution difficult,

that have not positioned themselves for an e-commerce future will

for instance, direct delivery, holding inventory in intermediary hubs,

face particularly severe challenges.

last-mile delivery, proof of receipt and handling product returns. As a consequence, Dachser is focusing on a range of tailored eLogistics services to adapt to the continuing digitalisation of its customers’ order processes and supply chains.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at dachser.co.uk

ABOUT DACHSER UK Dachser UK is part of the Dachser group, a major international logistics provider which on 31 December 2019 generated total sales worth EUR 5.7 billion. 31,000 staff working in This provides access to all relevant data concerning customer

393 locations worldwide handled 80.6 million consignments

shipments, and this system has a direct connection with Dachser’s

comprising 41.0 million metric tonnes. Dachser has been

transport and warehouse management systems. eLogistics provides

established in the UK since 1975, and now has four locations

quick and easy information about all processes along the supply

which include a new logistics centre in Northampton as well

chain. There are numerous functions available for handling, control

as branch offices in Rochdale, Dartford and Bristol.

and transparency. Crucially in circumstances where online sales demands are immediate and fluctuating, there is the ability to track

Dachser aims to be the supplier of choice for European

in-depth process sequences both in transit and in the warehouse

logistics and value-added services. A fully-integrated European

when necessary.

distribution network provides a comprehensive, high-quality service of total freight solutions supported by the latest

Maximum transparency of the product supply chain, with whatever

technology. Core services in the United Kingdom comprise

variations in routing, volumes, delivery criteria and unexpected

European export, import and UK pallet distribution, as well

disruptions that may occur, is vital in a DIY supplier's competitive

as contract logistics, value-added services and international

advantage within the future of the online sales.

sea and air freight forwarding.

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COVID-19 WATCH

NEWS

SOFTBOX DONATES THERMAL COVERS 26 AUGUST 2020

FOR SAFE DELIVERY OF VITAL MEDICINES TO THE D.R.C.

S

oftbox, a leading global innovator and provider of

We do our best to ensure all products reach their destination

temperature control packaging systems and thermal covers

in the same condition we’d expect in the UK’s pharmacies. The

for the life science and logistics industries, has helped

medicines must be kept below 25 degrees Celsius, and SilverSkin™

protect temperature-sensitive shipments of essential medicines to

thermal covers help enable us to do that. When cargo changes

the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in partnership with

planes or is unloaded, pallets might be left on the tarmac in the hot

the charity International Health Partners (IHP).

sun. Softbox® Silverskin™ thermal covers reflect the heat and make sure the medicines don’t get too hot. With uncertainties unleashed

To help maintain the temperature integrity of the shipped medicines,

by COVID-19, such as scarcer flights and more complex logistics,

Softbox donated its Silverskin™ thermally insulating pallet covers,

such protection has been vital.

which were used by IHP to protect shipments of medicines to the

Colleen Harrisson-Dodds, Director of Logistics, IHP

DRC. The transport of these medicines was especially challenging because of logistical challenges caused by COVID-19. Shipments

Panzi Hospital in Bukavu is one of two in DRC chosen to treat

contained Essential Health Packs, each pack including around 800

COVID-19 patients, and the shipment medicines have treated more

donated treatments of antibiotics, painkillers and other basic primary

than 1,500 patients there. The medicines sent to Goma are helping

health medicines.

those fighting the latest Ebola outbreak.

The first shipment of 24 packs went to IHP’s partner International

In regular times it is difficult for us get the medicines we need, but

Medical Corps in Goma, and the second, with 18 packs, went to the

during COVID-19, with border closures and the decrease in flights,

Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, established by Nobel Peace Prize winner

all supplies in Eastern Congo – from medical supplies to regular food

Dr Denis Mukwege to treat survivors of sexual violence.

– are significantly diminished. These packs have allowed us to keep our pharmacy pretty well stocked during this time.

Marissa Pledger, Project Manager, Panzi Hospital & Foundations

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at softboxsystems.com

Since the start of this year, IHP has sent more than four million treatments from the UK to vulnerable people without access to healthcare.

In 2019, Softbox donated temperature-control packaging systems to IHP for them to send temperature sensitive chemotherapy medicines to children with cancer in Tanzania.

It’s a pleasure to be working with IHP again to provide the safe transportation of life-saving medicines. COVID-19 is making international shipments of this nature much more challenging but also more vital than ever before. We’re proud to have been able to support the delivery of these medicines to those that need it most.

Clive Bryant, Product & Marketing Director, Softbox

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL HEALTH PARTNERS

ABOUT SOFTBOX

IHP works with a network of healthcare and logistics partners

innovator that has been designing and producing high

to source, organise, co-ordinate and move donations of

performance passive temperature control packaging solutions

essential medicines and health supplies. It works closely with

for over 20 years. We offer consistent quality to our clients

its NGO partners to identify needs and supply donations in

from our strategically located global manufacturing sites

an effective, safe and responsible way.

throughout Europe, North America, Latin America, India

Softbox is an award-winning temperature control packaging

and Asia Pacific.

These donations facilitate humanitarian work in some of the world’s poorest and most challenging places, including Gaza,

We have formed long standing partnerships with the world’s

Haiti, Iraq, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Yemen,

leading pharmaceutical, clinical research, biotech and logistics

where people lack access to basic healthcare.

companies, and apply innovative thinking to overcome the challenges that our clients face in managing the Cold Chain when shipping temperature sensitive clinical trial and commercialised products.

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COVID-19 WATCH

NEWS

27 AUGUST 2020

LOGISTICS UK LAUNCHES

COVID-19 PERFORMANCE TRACKER B usiness confidence across the logistics industry has

The results of the August survey reveal that, while the level of

plummeted since January 2020, according to the results of

disruption across the industry has fallen significantly from May

Logistics UK’s most recent Logistics Performance Tracker,

2020, nearly 11% are still reporting severe or extreme disruption

although there are signs of recovery in some areas. To identify

to overall freight volumes. To enable their company to continue or

where support is needed most for businesses across the industry

resume trading effectively, over a third of respondents state that

as coronavirus restrictions ease, Logistics UK has today announced

an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to

the creation of its Logistics Industry Panel. This Panel comprises

2021 is needed, and around half would seek relief to business rates

a significant group of businesses of all sizes dedicated to providing

or VAT/NI/Corporation rate tax payments deferred.

feedback on their operations to help inform the organisation’s discussions with government.

Members of Logistics UK have been invited to join the Panel, where – in exchange for sharing valuable feedback on their operations – they will

Elizabeth de Jong, Director of Policy at Logistics UK, comments:

be part of an exclusive group given access to detailed survey report

“While the future shape of the economy and the ongoing economic

findings. For more information, please visit logistics.org.uk/lpt

impact of COVID-19 is still unclear, it is critical that Logistics UK ensures government understands the effect of its policies and the support businesses require. Our Logistics Performance Tracker

ABOUT LOGISTICS UK

provides an evidence-based, quantitative insight into how logistics

Logistics UK (formerly FTA) is one of the UK’s leading business

businesses continue to be affected by the pandemic and signposts

groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping

where government support is most needed. The Panel provides a

the UK trading, and more than seven-million people directly

unique insight into the challenges faced by our industry.

employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new tech and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at logistics.org.uk

B

usiness group Logistics UK is warning the government it

future prosperity of our nation and does not tally with the expected

needs to do more to stimulate economic activity and restore

‘bounce back’ or ‘recovery’ we have been told is under way. Logistics

consumer confidence after the COVID-19 pandemic, after

businesses of all types are finding it increasingly difficult to remain

the group’s own research indicated that the nation’s businesses

solvent, with the end of the furloughing scheme fast approaching and

are stagnating, after two months’ of cautious re-opening. As David

it will become more expensive for those who remain in the scheme.

Wells, the group’s Chief Executive explains, consumer caution and

At the same time, faltering growth is delivering little or no uplift in

an unclear path back to ‘business as normal’ is hindering companies

revenues to meet government demands for repayment of deferred

in all sectors from opening up completely, and government needs to

taxes and increased staff costs. Forget the credit crunch – without

step in decisively to avoid massive redundancies and further damage

a strong, consistent recovery in economic activity, businesses are

to the long term prospects of UK PLC:

now facing a cash crunch and their survival is in doubt. Either we need a strategy to stimulate demand, and generate growth, or a

Logistics is a perfect barometer of economic activity because

strategy for containing infection, which will require a significant

it is at the heart of every industry in the country, delivering raw

support package for the long term right across the economy - at

materials and finished items to factories, offices, hospitals, schools,

the moment, we have neither. Because of the risk of a second

shops and homes. Through some of the critical services we supply

wave of the pandemic, government might well be apprehensive about

to industry, and our ongoing research, we have access to tens of

opening up the economy further. But if the strategy is to slow or

thousands of data points on levels of activity in the economy every

reverse growth in order to stem infections, then urgent action

day, and what the numbers tell us is increasingly worrying. While

is needed to protect struggling businesses to avoid an avalanche

the rate of growth was encouraging as the country came out of

of redundancies and insolvencies. Currently, business is caught

lockdown, driven by the reopening of some sectors of the economy,

in the middle without a plan for either strategy, and a vacuum of

that pace of expansion has now slowed to a crawl. While our larger

government policy, advice and action, and that’s the most dangerous

operators are holding steady, SMEs across the sector are finding

place to be. Without urgent action and a clear strategy to re-start

things increasingly tough, with less subcontracted work, squeezed

or re-stop the recovery, the recent flurry of redundancies from big

rates and fewer jobs of their own to sustain the recovery. This is

brands like Marks & Spencer and Harrods will only be the tip of a

bad news for the economy, for employees and for the longer-term

fast-approaching iceberg.

26 AUGUST 2020

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PROVIDE

CLEAR ROADMAP TO RECOVERY FORWARDER magazine

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COVID-19 WATCH

EXPERTS

T

he UK’s economy, like the economy of almost every

During the build-up to the referendum in June 2016, the Leave

other developed nation on Earth, has suffered

side repeatedly touted the potential for prosperous cross-

significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Figures

border trade the UK could enjoy outside the European Union.

from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the

Now that the date in which the UK formally exits the Common

economy shrank by 24.5% between February and June 2020, an

Market (1st January 2021) is fast approaching, it is vital that

almost unprecedented drop.

government officials ensure the UK retains the same access to low-tariff trade it currently enjoys as a member of the

There are, however, still reasons to be hopeful. The ONS’s latest

European Single Market.

statistics also showed that the economy is growing once again – expanding by 1.8% in May; implying that the worst of COVID-

Thankfully, 10 Downing street has recognised this and is already

19’s economic damage may already be behind us.

acting accordingly. In early July, sources close to the Prime Minister revealed that the UK would soon be announcing the

If the UK managed to make progress in this post-COVID

details of its new, ambitious, wide-ranging trade strategy – the

economic recovery in May, then the figures from June are likely

country’s first fully independent trade policy since entering

to make for even more cheerful reading. As lockdown measures

the EU in 1973.

are lifted and numerous industries – including hospitality, leisure, and domestic tourism – are jolted back to life, this recovery will

New trading policies will come into force in January 2021 and

surely be accelerated in recent months.

these reports describe the plan to lobby for low tariff access to trade and greater powers for the World Trade Organisation

Government efforts to provide further impetus for this recovery

(WTO); indicating that global trade will soon once again receive

are also welcomed. Initiatives such as the nine-month stamp duty

the attention it deserves from central government.

holiday are already succeeding in boosting consumer confidence and market activity.

International trade must be front and centre It is inescapable that global trade will play a gigantic part of the UK’s

More important, though, is that ministers are now once again

planned post-pandemic and post-Brexit economic resurgence.

turning their attention towards global trade; which will become an integral part of the UK’s economic recovery moving forward.

When looking at how important global trade has previously been for the UK economy, this becomes even more obvious. In 2019,

After COVID and Brexit

the UK’s exports of goods and services totalled £700 billion,

If you cast your mind back to before anyone had ever heard of

with exports totalling £724 billion – according the Government’s

COVID-19, you may remember just how omnipresent Brexit was

own data. Trade with the EU accounted for 43% of these exports

in the minds of commentators and consumers alike. For many

and 51% of the imports.

businesses, this remains the case.

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If no deal is agreed upon with the EU to allow this trade to

For the UK economy to succeed, British businesses must be

continue, British firms risk not having the same level of access

able to expand their operations without being burdened by

to European consumers that they’ve enjoyed previously. In fact,

unnecessary restrictions. If they are able to do so, we can all

if no new free trade agreements or mutually beneficial trade

enjoy the increased investment and tax receipts as a result of

deals are signed in the months ahead, the UK will have to learn

prosperous, UK-based trade with the wider world.

to deal with higher tariffs, more stringent custom checks and greater restrictions on trade generally.

I, personally, am confident that the UK Government will succeed in lowering these restrictions to the benefit of British firms

So, it is imperative that Westminster officials act soon.

nationwide – or else we risk our post-COVID recovery being

Agreements such as the EU – Mercosur FTA, which facilitates

hampered by companies deciding that the possible post-Brexit

easy trade between EU and South American nations, was only

difficulties involved in global trade are simply too much to bear.

finalised after two decades of negotiations. If the UK is serious about instigating this post-Brexit resurgence after the post-

Atul Bhakta, CEO, One World Express

COVID recovery, it should attempt to replicate agreements such as this before the UK leaves the single market and can no longer

Atul is the CEO of One World Express, a position he has held for

take advantage of these agreements as a European Economic

over 20 years. He also holds senior titles for other retail companies,

Area (EEA) member.

underlining his vast experience and expertise in the world of eCommerce, trade and business management.

IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL TRADE

TO THE UK’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY FORWARDER magazine

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COVID-19 WATCH

EXPERTS

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on supply

in both the road and air markets. It is likely that demand will be

chains across the globe, particularly the ISO-tank market

slow to recover and if working from home and a reduction in long

which uses specialist equipment and relies on a balance of

distance business travel continues in the long term, these industries

flows. The impact of 'lockdowns' initially hit the manufacturers of

may never return to pre-coronavirus levels.

product at the beginning of the supply chain, starting in China and then progressively impacting Europe and the Americas. A fall in supply side

There was also a near instant shutdown of large scale manufacturing

demand came shortly after, again cycling from Asia to the Americas.

such as car plants, white goods, aircraft, and parts, many of which

This disruption led to erratic volumes and delays in discharging tanks,

use chemicals directly, or use plastics which are made from

which in turn lead to tank shortages in some areas.

chemicals. Some of these plants have restarted limited production, but again, recovery will be slow against a background of increased

The manufacturing and usage of chemicals has not been impacted

unemployment and reduced economic activity, meaning it could take

as heavily as some other sectors: demand for some products has

years to recover to former levels of output.

increased, while others have remained stable and some have seen significant reductions. We saw an initial surge in demand for industrial

During the outbreak of the pandemic, Suttons’ first priority was the

alcohols and solvents, both used in cleaning and sanitising products,

health and safety of our staff, both from a welfare perspective and on

which were in high demand at the beginning of the outbreak to

business level because without healthy staff we would be unable to meet

support with the immediate attempt to keep economies operating

our customers’ needs. As a global business we had an early test of our

and preventing the need to lockdown. This initial rise in demand has

business continuity plans with the lockdown in China, which impacted

abated somewhat, but it is likely that demand for these products

us in late January. This tested our ability to maintain our International

will remain higher than normal until a vaccine is available, and

operation with remote working and allowed us to iron out any minor

may continue permanently with raised awareness of the need for

issues. As it became clear that COVID-19 was going to spread globally

improved hygiene to reduce the spread of other viruses.

we introduced social distancing and hygiene measures, as well as providing PPE to allow staff to continue to work safely, while providing support for

Many sectors have seen a continuation of normal levels of demand,

those who needed to shield due to age or for medical reasons.

for example, chemicals used in the water treatment industry and foodstuffs. Other sectors have seen a severe decrease in volume,

We quickly adapted our operations to ensure that we could maintain

many of which are related directly or indirectly with the transport

the standards of safety and quality that our customers expect from

sectors and manufacturing. As the nation adapted to working from

us and to respond to changing demand patterns for certain products

home the demand for petrol, diesel and fuel additives fell significantly

as already discussed. This included pro-actively marketing our

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capability to sectors where demand was increasing, or where new

As we navigate through the pandemic, we are constantly

entrants were supporting the national effort to combat the ever-

reviewing the way in which we have managed the business and

evolving pandemic. An example of this was our support to William

our operation, as well as how we have supported our employees

Grant & Sons Distillery who switched from producing whisky to

and customers. Our existing business continuity plans worked

distilling alcohol sanitising applications.

well and allowed us to operate safely and maintain an excellent level of customer service, all while managing our cash flow.

Like many businesses, unsurprisingly, we had to react quickly at a

However, we are noticing areas where we could have done

corporate level to ensure that we had access to sufficient cash to support

better or where additional investment in equipment, software,

the business and to fund any investment required to meet our changing

and training could improve our reaction to either a second

operational needs. The initial problem was trying to model what the

wave of COVID-19 or some similar challenge in the future.

impact on the businesses turnover and cash flow might be, in a situation that no one had ever lived through before. Our two biggest concerns

It is crucial for all businesses, including Suttons, to constantly

were that we did not know how far demand would fall and whether or

assess the medium to long-term impact of the pandemic on

not some of our customers would be unable to pay us. We were also

customers and competitors in the post COVID-19 world. It is

initially unaware of the level of support that governments would provide.

certain that the economy will take a significant time to recover from the shock of lockdown. Where coronavirus has had a

We moved quickly to preserve cash. Capital expenditure plans were

negative impact, companies like ours must respond quickly to

reviewed and some projects that were deemed non-essential were

reshape their business processes, asset base and workforce to

deferred or re-scheduled to ensure we balanced operational needs

ensure that the are in the best possible shape to survive and

with cash management.

prosper in this economy. Equally, where the pandemic generates opportunities businesses must react swiftly to capitalise on them.

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 Keith Broom, Finance Director, Suttons Group

ON SUPPLY CHAINS & LOGISTICS BUSINESSES

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COVID-19 WATCH

EXPERTS

T

he Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the fragility

Re-thinking Sourcing

of the modern supply chain, as companies struggle

With the global supply chain often more complex than many

to acquire the products and raw materials needed to

comprehend, very few organisations can trace their supply

keep revenue flowing. With many businesses relying heavily on

chain beyond their Tier 1 suppliers, and many are uncertain of

a limited number of trading partners, many located in hard-hit

the location of their second and third-tier suppliers. To fully

areas like China, the scale of the supply chain disruption has

understand supply-side risk, Deloitte notes that advanced digital

been a wake-up call.

solutions are “generally required to trace supply networks reliably across the multiple tiers of suppliers.� Indeed, manufacturers,

Pummeling the Bottom Line

retailers, and distributors are in uncharted waters as they race

COVID-19 shockwaves are being felt around the globe, with one

to identify new supply sources.

in six companies adjusting revenue targets downward. Figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed that 72% of

Global Trade Insights Guide the Way

businesses in the UK reported that they are exporting less than

With the daunting task of navigating the rapidly changing

normal, and 59% of reported that they are importing less than

global trade landscape, where should your organisation begin?

normal due to the impact of Coronavirus.

Actionable global trade data is your lifeline for supply chain resilience. In the face of COVID-19 disruptions, global trade

According to a survey by the Institute for Supply Management

intelligence solutions can help businesses swiftly find alternative

(ISM), nearly 75% of companies reported supply chain disruptions

suppliers in a concise three-step process:

due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with lead times doubling and

of tools to find alternative supply sources has increased by 21%.

1

Given the sheer scale of the disruption, many different types of

market dynamics, revealing the impact of both the Coronavirus

businesses are unlikely to have a plan in place to address supply

and recent tariff changes on specific commodity imports and

disruption from China and other countries.

exports by mapping the global flow of shipments and identifying

delays compounded by a shortage of air and ocean freight options. A recent survey of Descartes customers also found that 31% are looking for alternative suppliers, and their usage

Identify potential sources... know the market to make better sourcing decisions

A sophisticated global trade intelligence solution can assess

recent volume shifts. Previous shipment volumes reveal which suppliers have capacity for your sourcing demands, while bill of lading (BOL) data helps you easily identify names, addresses, and contact details for each supplier.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at descartes.com

2

Analyse costs...

With a global trade intelligence solution, businesses can quickly

how much will it cost to do business?

screen potential suppliers to determine if the country or vendor are subject to any restrictions or sanctions from the government.

Given the slowdown many companies are facing during the

Compliance vetting is crucial for avoiding fines and penalties but

pandemic, curtailing costs is top of mind. Global trade data

also ensures your company brand remains untarnished.

technology can analyse potential suppliers to calculate the total landed cost of doing business with them, including duty spend,

Beyond COVID-19

variable and fixed taxes, shipping costs, and insurance costs.

Access to actionable trade insight is critical to developing

With international trade insight, businesses can also identify

a proactive supply chain response to the coronavirus and

favourable Free Trade Agreements (FTA) or other preferential

emerging from this pandemic as intact and profitable as possible.

mechanisms to help maximise margins.

Sophisticated global trade intelligence solutions use shipment

3

data from across the world to model trade flows globally, Vet potential trading partners...

helping companies rapidly identify, analyse, and vet new sourcing

limit liability and brand damage

locations. With the right approach, businesses can mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on supply chains and also strengthen and

The vetting process is vital for avoiding exposure to sanctioned

add resiliency to their logistics operations going forward.

parties but, given the fluidity and sheer size of restricted party lists and the rabbit hole of shell companies, obtaining an accurate

Mark Segner, VP Global Sales, Descartes

view can be extremely challenging.

THE VALUE OF GLOBAL TRADE INSIGHTS IN NAVIGATING COVID-19 SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS FORWARDER magazine

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COVID-19 WATCH

EXPERTS

T

here’s no denying that these last few months have been

Office-based work will never be the same again. We can’t go back

tough for the economy. Lockdowns and social distancing

to how it was before. Both employees and business owners have had

have left many businesses battered and bruised, and many

a taste of what working remotely is really like. My team are happier,

good employees in search of new jobs.

more efficient and more focused working from home. You’ll see no perspex here! We’ll continue to work from home until it’s safe to

As businesses start to reopen, staff come out of furlough and the cogs

go back into the workplace, and once we do return it will be with

of the British economy slowly start turning again, it’s understandable

the idea that every team member can choose whether they work

that people are keen to get back to normal.

from home or come into the office.

Chadd Blunt, CEO, Millennium Cargo

But what is normal in this post-covid world?

Perspex barriers, staggered breaks & no more birthday cakes

When asked about how this 'taste of working remotely' will influence businesses on a wider scale, Chadd replied:

As we edge carefully out of lockdown, the Government have advised that we keep certain health and safety measures in place. Distancing

I think flexible, remote working is here to stay. Businesses may

needs to be maintained where possible and stricter hygiene policies

have to be more flexible in their expectations, offering the option of

implemented to prevent a second wave of infection.

remote work at least a few days week for those who want it. Flexible working hours and locations were already becoming a priority in

Some businesses are bringing staff in on staggered hours, others have

the younger generations, now they’ve had a real taste of freedom it

erected perspex shields to prevent employees breathing, coughing

might be hard to convince them back into an office full time. Meaning

or sneezing on each other. People are to avoid congregating in small

businesses may miss out on ideal candidates because they prefer to

spaces, such as break rooms, and everyone should provide their own

work for someone else who’s willing to offer remote working.

food – so no more office birthday cakes!

Whether you’re looking forward to getting back into the office or Not all businesses are planning

dreading dragging yourself back to work, one thing is for certain;

to rush back into the office

there’s light at the end of the tunnel! We’re one step closer to

The freight industry was one of the first to be hit by Covid-19,

getting British business moving again and creating a new kind of

affecting imports and exports all over the world as it swept

normal in the workplace - whatever that normal turns out to be.

through China as far back as November 2019. But despite battling with industry disruptions for more than seven months, Millennium Cargo in Birmingham is in no rush to bring the team back into the office. They believe that working from home is the future – whether business owners like it or not.

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HOW COVID-19 IS

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS FORWARDER magazine

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COVID-19 WATCH

EXPERTS

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has affected the logistics sector in a

lockdown period provide a good template for any businesses looking to

variety of ways, with no two organisations having an identical

restart or expand their operations, especially when adding the specific

experience; while many companies have experienced a

guidelines recently issued by the UK government.

downturn in business, others have seen unprecedented spikes in demand. In this article, FTA Supply Chain Consultants provide an

Driver self-isolation is down to 4-5% from 12-16% at start of the

overview of the developments affecting the sector throughout the

survey period in March. Warehouse staff isolation levels have taken

lockdown period and explore how the industry has managed to

longer to decrease, but recently have come into line with transport.

adapt to the new challenges posed by the pandemic; our views are based on the results of FTA’s weekly Coronavirus Logistics Impact

More recent impacts reported in FTA’s survey include delayed payment

Survey and our own research within the trade.

of invoices by customers. This and the overall downturn in revenue has driven operators to look for financial support in the form of government

The most significant business impact on the logistics industry we

backed loans, accessing the furlough scheme and attempts to renegotiate

have seen has been the overall downturn of volumes and the number

vehicle leases and rent or mortgage terms. However, these are not

of businesses closing. However, there are strong variations to what

long-term solutions for a sector that traditionally operates on relatively

extent individual businesses are affected. Grocery retail has stabilised

narrow margins and only a recovery in economic activity levels across

after an unprecedented spike in demand at the start of the crisis.

the board can provide sustainable income for the logistics industry.

Meanwhile, e-commerce & home delivery have seen a sustained

The shape of the economy of the future is bound to alter as changes in

uplift. Notable examples of where volumes have declined include

consumer behaviour and ways of working drive changes in purchasing

the drinks on-trade, events, non-food retail and construction. Some

behaviours, for example increased levels of and reliance on e-commerce.

of these are starting to see a recovery in volumes, while others are anticipating relaxations of the lockdown expected for June and July

More recent supply issues include difficulties in sourcing new vehicles,

which, it is hoped, will revive demand.

parts and machinery. This is likely to be a reflection of the stoppages in manufacturing and the reduced levels of international freight.; a lack of

The reduced workload for the industry has resulted in businesses

available vehicles may well affect the rate at which businesses bounce back.

furloughing staff. Although 75% of respondents to FTA’s Coronavirus Logistics Impact Survey have taken advantage of the government’s

In conclusion, logistics operators have been quick to put in place

scheme, the overall level is 10-15% of headcount. This appears to

COVID-19 prevention measures. There has been a significant downturn

align with the proportion of HGVs that are not in use andSORNed

in business volumes, with individual businesses being impacted to

(Statutory Off Road Notification) due to the pandemic and the

different extents. To reduce dependency on financial support and

resulting reduction in freight.

ensure a sustainable business environment, volumes need to recover.

The temporary stoppage of supplies, especially in parts and vehicles, will

The key COVID-19 prevention measures in place across logistics

be an additional challenge to ramp up logistics efforts. As the economy

businesses can be split between hygiene procedures and avoiding

slowly comes back to life, businesses will need to be sure they have the

personal contact. Most hygiene procedures were implemented by more

right measures in place to ensure safe and efficient operations.

than 95% of respondents by early April, showing an industry that is quick to adapt. The operations that continued to operate throughout the

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Eddy de Jong, Supply Chain Consultant, FTA

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at fta.co.uk

ABOUT FTA: FTA is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing the logistics industry, which is vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With Covid-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc.

FTA supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.

HOW THE INDUSTRY HAS ADAPTED

THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN PERIOD FORWARDER magazine

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COVID-19 WATCH

EXPERTS

B

efore COVID-19, the World Economic Forum estimated

Such innovative and easily adopted technologies can significantly

that approximately 40% of global air cargo was transported

mitigate dangers posed by the pandemic.

in the hold of passenger planes, and the remainder carried

available to transport goods, and freight rates have risen. Also, goods

What are the longer-term trends you’re anticipating post Covid-19?

take a much longer time to reach destinations not on major trade

No one can tell how the logistics industry will change exactly. We

routes, since cargo operators primarily use hubs.

do expect that the heightened emphasis on safety will continue even

by specialist aircraft. Since the pandemic there are far fewer planes

after the pandemic’s initial impact. We also expect that sustaining There are some upsides to the situation, though; jet fuel and gasoline

environmentally friendly transportation will continue being a priority.

prices have dropped and digital payments have surged. Working with partners to roll our out Contactless solutions has given us

Fortunately, the most effective safety measures – such as frequent

an enhanced understanding of the inner workings of their supply

handwashing and PPE – are generally cheap and simple to install.

chains. Everyone now recognises the importance of safeguarding

Decarbonising or going fully green may be trickier, but we’re noticed

their staff and customers. They can see why automated reporting

a skyrocketing demand for digital technology. Logistics providers

and paperless documentation are critical to seamless operations.

are seeking technological solutions to optimise their supply chains while addressing environmental challenges and the COVID-19

Should customers be concerned about the risk of Covid-19 transmission from contaminated packaging?

transmission risk. A common assertion is that technologies able

Since the pandemic started, we've closely monitored and assessed the

emissions and other negativities. An example is our GeoEngine,

scientific guidance on packaging’s transmission risks. Numerous studies,

which uses natural language processing across 65 languages and more

such as in The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine

than two billion addresses to reduce average re-deliveries by more

have indicated that COVID-19 particles can survive for prolonged

than 80%. Another is our LogisticsEngine, which increases average

periods on common packaging materials. Postal workers, travelling from

distance utilisation by more than 40%. Such technologies provide a

household to household, can spread Covid-19 just by doing their job.

win-win. Reducing vehicle congestion brings down costs, emissions,

to achieve this are just pipedreams or solutions for the future. The truth is that we do currently have active technologies to reduce

contact risks, and COVID-19 transmissions.

The onus is on us to keep the supply chain COVID-free. This protects our logistics workers and the people they interact with.

Jonathan Savoir, Co-founder & CEO, Quincus

Our specialised Contactless solutions were designed specifically to

Katherina Lacey, Co-founder & CPO, Quincus

limit person-to-person contact and reduce social contact at dropoff centres and parcel touchpoints. The beauty of our digitalised solutions is that they also reduce bottlenecking and sequencing time, and underpin paperless exchange to reduce infection risks.

Our Contactless solutions also support effective contact-tracing to track a suspected parcel’s entire journey, and which hubs and personnel were in contact with it.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at quincus.com

COVID’S IMPACT ON LOGISTICS

FROM QUINCUS’ PERSPECTIVE FORWARDER magazine

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COVID-19 WATCH

EXPERTS

WILL COVID-19 CATALYSE A

NEW GLOBAL FREIGHT STRATEGY

BY ENCOURAGING A SHIFT IN MODES OF TRANSPORT & NETWORK EFFICIENCY?

C

OVID-19 has generated unprecedented disruption

In the UK, for example, this has resulted in a 30% reduction

in the global logistics and freight industries, severely

of freight movements across all modes, including maritime,

impacting operations and delivery activities. However,

rail and HGV. As we move into the recovery phase following

could these current challenges ultimately pave the way for a

COVID-19, we need to understand if these changes to the supply

more streamlined, efficient and environmentally-friendly future?

chain configuration will be temporary, or if the way in which we operate and plan the logistics network will be transformed from

Demand for essential goods, such as produce, medical supplies and

this point on.

Personal Protective Equipment, has significantly increased, while manufacturing capacity has decreased due to various lockdown

Beyond economic stimulation, the need for a more resilient

restrictions. In the short term, hauliers, international gateways

supply chain to mitigate potential disruptions from future

and retailers are facing a climate of uncertainty, as we experience:

similar events could see producers and distributors looking to local manufacturers rather than international suppliers. These

• Disruption to points of supply and quantities of freight available

manufacturers would ideally be located near to where the key supplies are required.

• Disruption to freight handling across international borders • Reduced number of vessels, vehicles and personnel available across the supply chain, affecting routes taken

The current situation provides an opportunity to consider strategic locations where local manufacturing and production

• Changing demand patterns as consumer/business needs change

hubs could be key in providing this resilience while acting as an

• Population re-locations from urban to rural areas.

economic booster to those regions.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at ghd.com

ABOUT GHD: GHD is one of the world’s leading professional services companies operating in the global markets of water, energy & resources, environment, property & buildings and transportation. Fully employee-owned, GHD delivers engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services to public and private sector clients across five continents and the Pacific region. Committed to creating lasting community benefit, GHD connects the knowledge, skill and experience of its 10,000 people with

The reconfiguration of the supply chain and modal shift is an

innovative practices, technical capabilities and robust

idea that has been mooted previously, with the intention that

systems. GHD has over 200 offices around the world,

these modifications would help us achieve particular industry

serving a client base of over 14,000.

goals, such as the net zero targets. In 2017, the UK Government issued the Freight Carbon Review, which identified options for making more effective use of current capacity on the rail, water

This strategy would...

and road networks. The report notes that a significant reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions could be achieved through increased use of rail freight, deployment of longer semi-trailers and improved logistical efficiency by means of more widespread industry collaboration.

The report also recognised the constraints around network capacity due to passenger demand, however, it is anticipated that more people will elect to work from home following COVID-19, resulting in an estimated 20% reduction in passenger train movements on the rail network. If similar impacts are experienced across the overall transport network, additional capacity for freight paths may become available, where it previously did not exist.

A clearly defined strategy will provide confidence around resilience for current and future disruptions by addressing

Therefore, the pandemic may have just provided the industry

existing and potential policy and regulation amendments. This

with a window of opportunity to accelerate modal shift while

in turn will inform decisions to optimise the supply chain to

configuring the network to provide more efficient distribution.

achieve cost efficiencies (supply to demand ratio) and reduce the environmental footprint.

The industry can proactively plan to respond to these changes and grasp this opportunity by collaboratively developing a holistic

Matt East, Senior Advisor, Logistics & Infrastructure Policy

strategy for the movement of freight across and within countries.

for the UK, Europe & Middle East, GHD

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AIR FREIGHT

A system of transporting goods by aircraft.

Related topics AOG (aircraft on ground) OBC (on-board couriers) Air charter

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AIR FREIGHT

NEWS

NEUTRAL AIR PARTNER & BRIDGES WORLDWIDE 27 AUGUST 2020

PROVIDE INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS & COURIER LINEHAUL SOLUTIONS

H

ong Kong based Neutral Air Partner (NAP) , the premier

global network of air cargo architects and aviation specialists,

ABOUT NEUTRAL AIR PARTNER

and Bridges Worldwide PLC, have entered into a strategic

Neutral Air Partner (NAP) is the premier global network of

partnership aiming to provide NAP members with a platform of

leading air cargo architects and aviation specialists, dedicated

neutral linehaul solutions & BSAs on scheduled freighter services and

to providing innovative air cargo solutions to the global

commercial airlines for express and time-critical freight movements.

supply chain and the logistics & aviation community.

We are delighted to appoint Bridges Worldwide PLC as our global

The organization was founded in Hong Kong in 2016, which

express linehaul solutions partner. Our collaboration will enable NAP

is home to the world’s largest cargo airport, aiming to inject

partners to enhance their expedited freight and courier products on

a greater degree of advanced air cargo expertise into the

a global scale, utilizing a dynamic freighter network and blocked space

logistics industry, revive specialization, and to drive airfreight

agreements, to create a unique and competitive global advantage.

and express buying power across the air cargo supply chain.

Christos Spyrou, CEO, NAP Bridges Worldwide is delighted to partner with Neutral Air Partners and provide its members with an unrivalled global network

ABOUT BRIDGES WORLDWIDE

for their express linehaul utilising a combination of commercial airlines

Bridges Worldwide PLC is a leading provider of neutral

and regional freighters. We remain well positioned as a neutral supplier

network solutions to the international logistics, courier, and

to offer bespoke services to the NAP members that will benefit them

express industry. Formed by Guy Bridges in 1989 we remain

and their customers. It is an exciting opportunity and we look forward

independent and flexible to changing Customer requirements

to working closely with Christos and the NAP team.

on a global basis.

Paul Brady, Managing Director, Bridges Worldwide PLC

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The ultimate in blue-sky thinking We’ve been developing our air freight experience for decades and we’re now proud to announce the launch of Allair - our dedicated air freight services division.

We’ve built great relationships with international air carriers around the world offering a full, market-leading logistics package. All delivered by industry experts and supported by transparent, leading-edge information management. We make logistics simple, no matter what the challenges.

Logistics specialists working across: • Automotive • Aerospace • Ornamental Aquatic • Military • Projects

For exceptional air freight service:

Call: 0333 988 4848 www.allairglobal.com

FORWARDER magazine

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AIR FREIGHT

NEWS

18 AUGUST 2020

DACHSER USA ANNOUNCES

WEEKLY TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT SERVICE D achser USA announces a new dedicated weekly Frankfurt-

The transatlantic service is scheduled to be in rotation every

Chicago-Frankfurt flight service, which launched on July

weekend as customers benefit from fixed transit times allowing

26th in response to ongoing demand for increased air

for reliable planning. Utilizing specially chartered Boeing 747-400

freight capacity between Europe and the US.

freighters, the weekly flight schedule is as follows:

This new dedicated weekly transatlantic flight service offers

a solution to the current air freight capacity challenges that our customers are facing. They called upon us to provide a timely, efficient transportation option to move their cargo between the U.S. and Europe in a way that allows them to properly plan and meet their deadlines.

Andy Frommenwiler, Vice President, Air Freight, Dachser USA

In response to ongoing air freight capacity shortages, Dachser has continuously expanded its flight service offerings by introducing

Dachser USA’s weekly flight service connects its U.S. customers

several charter services with direct routes to and from Europe,

to the entire European market through its comprehensive land

Asia and Latin America.

transport network from Frankfurt. Through Dachser’s road transport network, the service connects Germany, Austria,

Dachser’s dedicated flight service program ensures that volume

Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Czech

capacities are available to customers regardless of unpredictable

Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. For European customers, Dachser

market conditions. In fact, various product categories including

USA’s dedicated trucking service in the U.S enables prompt door-

large-format goods, hazardous goods such as batteries as well as

to-door deliveries within the 48 contiguous states.

temperature-controlled products for life-sciences and healthcare sectors can continue to be sourced thanks to Dachser’s flight service program enabling supply chain fluidity.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at dachser.us

Today, the marketplace demands reliability and agility. As an customers and stay one step ahead by offering timely, innovative, and

ABOUT DACHSER USA AIR & SEA LOGISTICS

adaptable solutions. We plan to offer and expand our premium air

Founded in 1974, Dachser USA Air & Sea Logistics Inc. is

service routes as our customer requirements continue to grow.

the U.S. subsidiary of German-headquartered Dachser SE.

industry leader, Dachser aims to proactively foresee the needs of our

Thanks to some 31,000 employees at 393 locations all over Customers interested in reserving their shipment on Dachser USA’s

the globe, Dachser generated consolidated net revenue of

upcoming dedicated weekly flight service, can contact their local

approximately EUR 5.7 billion in 2019. That same year, the

Dachser USA representative or via email at sales.usa-asl@dachser.

logistics provider handled a total of 80.6 million shipments

com for further information.

weighing 41.0 million metric tons. Dachser USA Air & Sea Logistics is headquartered in Atlanta with several locations across the country. Dachser USA Air & Sea Logistics offers optimal access to international markets and ensures seamless integration of all import and export activities via air or ocean to and from Europe, Asia and South America. Country organizations represent Dachser in 44 countries.

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AIR FREIGHT

NEWS

IAG CARGO & LEVEL RETURN TO SKIES 28 AUGUST 2020

WITH BARCELONA - NEW YORK SERVICE

I

AG Cargo, the leading aviation cargo business, and LEVEL, a

To welcome back LEVEL’s operation out of Barcelona, IAG Cargo

long-haul, low-cost airline in the IAG Group, have announced

is offering customers who are members of their FORWARD.

a return to the skies for the Barcelona – New York route for

REWARDS loyalty programme the opportunity to earn double

passengers and cargo.

rewards points for cargo booked on the route between 28th August and 28th September.

The route provides an important trade and passenger connection between the Americas and Southern Europe.

Since the start of the pandemic, IAG Cargo has established a network of over 340 scheduled cargo-only flights per week and has

There will be a weekly Barcelona – New York rotation utilising

reconfigured aircraft to maximised cargo capacity for its customers.

LEVEL’s A330-200 aircraft. BCN – JFK commences on the 11th

These services will still be provided alongside cargo capacity on

September and JFK – BCN on the 13th September.

passenger flights as passenger traffic increases.

We are delighted that LEVEL has been able to resume operations and get passengers back in the skies. Increased passenger flights mean

ABOUT IAG CARGO

more options for IAG Cargo customers. We look forward to supplying

IAG Cargo is the single business created following the merger

these important markets with much needed air cargo capacity.

of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo in April

John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer, IAG Cargo

2011. Following the integration of additional airlines into the business, including Aer Lingus, Vueling and bmi, IAG Cargo

We at LEVEL are pleased to announce that we are restarting our

now covers a global network of over 350 destinations.

operations for passengers and cargo from Barcelona, contributing to

In 2019 IAG Cargo had a commercial revenue of €1,117 million.

IAG Cargo’s extensive freight traffic network made possible thanks

It has a combined workforce of more than 2,470 people.

to the group’s synergies. This is good news not only for the sector but also for the long-haul connectivity of the city of Barcelona.

Its parent company, International Airlines Group, is one of

Lucía Adrover, Chief Commercial Officer, LEVEL

the world's largest airline groups with 548 aircraft at 30th June 2020. It is the third largest group in Europe and the sixth largest in the world, based on revenue.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at afklcargo.com

O

ver 5500 cargo-only flights since the start of the corona

AMS hubs, but also have partnerships with GHAs at all relevant pharma

crisis, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo strives to offer a

destinations, providing state-of-the-art pharma handling services. Our

global airfreight network to help keep supply chains running.

investment in pharma logistics is paying off and our share in the pharma

This has always been essential, but even more so since the outbreak

segment has grown significantly in recent years and months.

of the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring that healthcare facilities as well as private citizens have access to medicines, medical equipment and

Shipping pharma and other medical-related goods is one of our

personal protective equipment (PPE). Since the start of the crisis, we

core activities and a strategic priority. From the start, we prioritised

have gradually rebuilt our network mainly for relief-related shipments.

pharma commercially and operationally. At AFKLMP Cargo, we

In recent months, we have constantly added new destinations and flights

have a department that is fully dedicated to pharma and healthcare

to our network, mainly operating on a cargo-only basis. We have been

solutions. With this in mind, Air France and KLM were among the

using our passenger aircraft for cargo charter purposes and have fully

first airlines to obtain IATA CEIV certification.

utilized our full-freighter fleet. Since the start of the pandemic, we have

GertJan Roelands, SVP of Sales & Distribution, AFKLMP Cargo

operated more than 5500 cargo-only flights. AFKLMP Cargo currently offers a network spanning more than 95 long-haul destinations.

Ready to transport COVID-19 vaccines Recently, we have formed a taskforce to define what steps need

Shipping pharma and healthcare products

to be taken to help ship Covid-19 vaccines. Working in close

is a core activity for AFKLMP Cargo

consultation with the pharma industry and related forwarders, we

In recent years, we have continuously improved our pharma and

have assessed specific requirements for shipping Covid-19 vaccines.

healthcare-related services by improving processes, training staff and

We subsequently adapted our operation in terms of equipment and

forming dedicated service teams for pharma customers. We have invested

dedicated monitoring & service, as well as the capacity we offer.

in infrastructure at both of our hubs, Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), and we have fully merged our booking and

AFKLMP Cargo is ready to play a key role in the distribution of

service options via our digital portal myCargo, offering the transparency

Covid-19 vaccines, thereby helping to ensure that as many people

customers need. Because we realise how important it is to guarantee the

as possible around the globe will have access to vaccines in these

required quality, reliability and connectivity throughout supply chains, we

challenging times.

not only offer all required infrastructure and capabilities at our CDG and

Enrica Calonghi, Global Head Pharma Logistics, AFKLMP Cargo 27 AUGUST 2020

AIR FRANCE KLM MARTINAIR CARGO

READY FOR COVID-19 VACCINES FORWARDER magazine

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AIR FREIGHT

EXPERTS

T

he International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Major stimulus from governments combined with

released new analysis showing that the damage to air

liquidity injections by central banks will boost the

travel from COVID-19 extends into the medium-term,

economic recovery once the pandemic is under control.

with long-haul / international travel being the most severely

But rebuilding passenger confidence will take longer. And

impacted. Quarantine measures on arrival would further damage

even then, individual and corporate travellers are likely to

confidence in air travel. A risk-based layered approach of globally

carefully manage travel spend and stay closer to home,

harmonized biosecurity measures is critical for the restart.

Alexandre de Juniac, Director General & CEO, IATA

Air travel scenarios

Long-haul travel impact will be longer lasting

IATA and Tourism Economics modeled two air travel scenarios:

When the recovery begins, it is expected to be led by domestic travel.

Baseline scenario • This is contingent on domestic markets opening in Q3, with a

• An IATA survey of recent air travelers conducted in April

much slower phased opening of international markets. This would

2020 found that 58% are somewhat or very likely to restrict

limit the air travel recovery, despite most forecasts pointing

their initial travel to domestic journeys.

toward a strong economic rebound late this year and during 2021.

• In 2021 we expect global passenger demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, RPKs) to be 24% below

• Domestic Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) will only recover to 2019 levels by 2022. International RPKs are only expected to return to 2019 levels in 2024.

2019 levels and 32% lower than IATA’s October 2019 Air Passenger forecast for 2021.

The impacts of the crisis on long-haul travel will be much

• We don’t expect 2019 levels to be exceeded until 2023.

more severe and of a longer duration than what is expected in

• As international markets open and economies recover, there

domestic markets. This makes globally agreed and implemented

will be further growth in air travel from the 2020 low point.

biosecurity standards for the travel process all the more

But even by 2025 we would expect global RPKs to be 10%

critical. We have a small window to avoid the consequences of

lower than the previous forecast.

uncoordinated unilateral measures that marked the post-9.11 period. We must act fast.

Pessimistic scenario • This is based on a slower opening of economies and

IATA strongly urges governments to find alternatives to

into Q3, possibly due to a second wave of the virus. This

maintaining or introducing arrival quarantine measures as part of

would further delay the recovery of air travel.

post-pandemic travel restrictions. IATA’s April survey of recent

• In this case, global RPKs in 2021 could be 34% lower than 2019 levels and 41% below our previous forecast for 2021.

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Avoid Quarantine Measures

relaxation of travel restrictions, with lockdowns extending

FORWARDER magazine

ISSUE56

air travelers showed that.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at iata.org

• 86% of travelers were somewhat or very concerned about being quarantined while traveling, and • 69% of recent travellers would not consider travelling if it

IATA’s proposal for a temporary risk-based layered approach to provide governments with the confidence to open their border without quarantining arrivals includes:

involved a 14-day quarantine period.

• Preventing travel by those who are symptomatic with Even in the best of circumstances this crisis will cost many

temperature screening and other measures

jobs and rob the economy of years of aviation-stimulated

• Addressing the risks of asymptomatic travelers with

growth. To protect aviation’s ability to be a catalyst for the

governments managing a robust system of health

economic recovery, we must not make that prognosis worse

declarations and vigorous contact tracing.

by making travel impracticable with quarantine measures. We need a solution for safe travel that addresses two challenges.

The mutual recognition of agreed measures is critical for the

It must give passengers confidence to travel safely and without

resumption of international travel. This is a key deliverable of

undue hassle. And it must give governments confidence that they

the COVID-19 Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) of the

are protected from importing the virus. Our proposal is for a

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

layering of temporary non-quarantine measures until we have a vaccine, immunity passports or nearly instant COVID-19 testing available at scale.

CART has a very big job to do with little time to waste. It must find an agreement among states on the measures needed to control COVID-19 as aviation re-starts. And it must build confidence among governments that borders can be opened to travelers because a layered approach of measures has been properly implemented globally. IATA and the whole industry support this critical work.

DON’T MAKE A SLOW RECOVERY MORE DIFFICULT WITH QUARANTINE MEASURES FORWARDER magazine

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SEA FREIGHT

A system of transporting goods by ship.

Related topics Shipping lines Biofuels Ships' parts

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NEWS

LINER SHIPPING’S MOVE TO WATER LUBRICATION 11 AUGUST 2020

GATHERS PACE WITH X-PRESS DELIVERIES

T

Sam Williams, Thordon Bearings’ Regional Manager for Asia and

CY Engineering, Thordon’s distributor in China, has now completed

Greece said that X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent

the installation and commissioning of the Thordon scope of supply

common carrier with a fleet of more than 110 Panamax vessels,

aboard X-Press Mekong (Hull Number CHB085) and X-Press Pearl

specified the Thordon system after operating a COMPAC-installed

(Hull Number CHB084).

vessel acquired two years ago under a Sale & Purchase agreement.

he two Super Eco 2700 containerships China’s

Zhoushan Changhong Shipyard is building for Singaporeheadquartered X-Press Feeders have launched with a

complete water lubricated propeller shaft arrangement supplied by Thordon Bearings.

Both MARIC-designed, DNV GL-classed vessels feature Thordon’s

Based on their experience with the system installed aboard the

award-winning COMPAC propeller shaft bearings, bronze shaft liners,

2018-built X-Press Kabru [formerly Washington Trader], which is

a Water Quality Package, ThorShield shaft protection coating and the

based on the same Super Eco 2700 design, the owner specifically

company’s proprietary bearing condition monitoring system (BCM).

wanted the arrangement for its newbuilds. This is a testament not only to the success of the MARIC design, but also to the

Due for delivery later this year, the vessels were ordered in 2018

environmental performance and cost-saving benefits of a water

with options for an additional two plus two.

lubricated system.

Indeed, a key factor in the shipowner’s decision to specify the arrangement was to further enhance a design already optimised for 'clean shipping.'

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at thordonbearings.com

Commenting on the vessels’ green credentials, Williams said:

Shipyard delivered the final vessel in a series of two newbuild

With a hull form designed for maximum fuel-efficiency and

containerships to a Greek owner. All three of these vessels are based

reduced emissions, the move away from an oil-lubricated shaft

on the Super Eco 2700 design incorporating a COMPAC shaft line.

to a more environmentally acceptable solution was a significant motivation. The experience the owner had with X-Press Kabru

Commenting on the bearing systems’ popularity amongst Chinese

proved the COMPAC system’s operational and environmental

shipbuilders, Alex Li, Managing Director, CY Engineering, said:

performance but also showed that long-term operational savings

The Zhoushan Changhong Shipyard is well equipped to install

can be achieved with water lubricated tailshaft bearings. A very

water-lubricated systems. The Thordon system is one of a number

cost-effective alternative.

of environmentally sustainable solutions now widely adopted across Chinese yards to meet environmental sustainability goals. About 40

X-Press Mekong and X-Press Pearl are the 4th and 5th ships to be

shipyards are experienced with the arrangement and are enthusiastic

built based on the Super Eco 2700 design to use Thordon's proven

about the COMPAC system.

water lubricated system.

All the vessels in this series have been designed to meet DNV GL’s stringent tailshaft monitoring notation TMON, which means a water-lubricated shaft has the same extended shaft withdrawal inspection periods as an oil-lubricated system.

X-Press Feeders has a clearly defined set of environmental sustainability standards, so we are delighted it has incorporated COMPAC into the design and build of these super eco-friendly newbuilds. The first COMPAC newbuilds in the X-Press fleet is a further indication of the container shipping segment’s commitment to improving the ocean environment.

Terry McGowan, President & CEO, Thordon Bearings

ABOUT THORDON BEARINGS Thordon Bearings designs and manufactures a complete

It does appear that liner shipping companies, in particular, are

range of journal bearing and seal systems for marine, clean

avoiding oil-lubricated propeller shaft bearings in favour of a

power generation, pump and other industrial markets. These

seawater-lubricated system.

products are built using Thordon proprietary non-metallic polymer materials that are lubricated with water eliminating

In 2015, Thordon inked a milestone agreement to supply the water

oil or grease usage, meaning ZERO risk of oil pollution to our

lubricated bearing system to two 3600 TEU Jones Act boxships. And

rivers, lakes and oceans. Thordon systems and bearings are

in 2019 the COMPAC-operating Log-In Polaris was delivered to a

available worldwide through over 75 agents and distributors.

Brazilian shipowner. That same year China’s Guangzhou Wenchong FORWARDER magazine

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SEA FREIGHT

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SAVE TIME WITH

WIRELESS TEMPERATURE LOGGERS FORWARDER magazine

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WANT TO KNOW MORE?

NEWS

Further information can be found at cargostore.com

11 AUGUST 2020

BLIZZARDSTORE ADDED TO CARGOSTORE’S GROWING

REFRIGERATED CONTAINER RANGE C ontinuing in their goal to offer unique and innovative

There are several benefits to this compared with a permanent

products to better serve their clients, Cargostore

built solution. The BlizzardStore is energy efficient, requiring

Worldwide announces the launch of the BlizzardStore to

fewer generators or electricity to power the units and therefore

their refrigerated range of products.

more cost-effective. It is fast to construct or relocate. Its unique design is flexible; easily upscaled or downscaled as necessary, and

The BlizzardStore boasts an expandable and adaptable design to fit

it can be customised with additional features such as shelving, or

any sized requirement, whereby any number of the individual units

lighting as required.

can be secured together to form a large temperature-controlled storage solution.

The BlizzardStore enhances our Refrigerated Storage Range.

Cargostore is known for its specialized units including our Dual Temperature Reefers and we are pleased to be able to offer our client base this flexible, cost efficient, long term refrigerated storage solution.

Kevin Cudby, Intermodal Sales Director, Cargostore Worldwide

ABOUT CARGOSTORE WORLDWIDE Cargostore Worldwide is one of the world’s fastest growing suppliers of ISO shipping containers and DNV 2.7-1 certified CCUs for on and offshore projects. With offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Holland and depots across the globe we pride ourselves on providing a seamless and fast service with the flexibility to meet any client requirement.

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Felixstowe

Istanbul

Izmir

Weekly direct consol service TURKEY to UK

The best route to get your cargo to UK shores We offer weekly, direct container groupage services from Turkey to UK. This service has fantastic USP’s versus traditional part load trailer services ex Turkey:

PORT OF LOADING ISTANBUL IZMIR

TRANSIT TIME 9 DAYS 10 DAYS

FREQUENCY WEEKLY WEEKLY

Advantages Saving

25-30% on average

Savings on Cost

Speed & Reliability

Fixed Schedules

Reduced Carbon Footprint

Cargo Safety

Avoid Potential Brexit Delays at Dover

E: turkey@johngood.co.uk www.johngood.co.uk

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Hull | Manchester | London | Felixstowe | Liverpool | Plymouth | Bradford | Istanbul | Izmir

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SEA FREIGHT

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

NEWS

Further information can be found at cargostore.com

KERRY APEX RANKED #1 NVOCC FROM ASIA TO US 18 AUGUST 2020

FOR THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF 2020

K

erry Logistics Network Limited (‘Kerry Logistics’; Stock

We are gratified to see that the efforts of our team in Southeast

Code 0636.HK) is pleased to announce that Kerry Apex,

Asia and the relationships we have built with our partners have

its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, was the number one

paid off. While the protracted US-China trade war and the as-yet-

non-vessel operating common carrier (‘NVOCC’) from Asia to the

uncontained COVID-19 pandemic are clouding the horizon, we are

US from January through July 2020, supported by a well-positioned

confident that we will maintain our leading position in ocean freight

team in Southeast Asia to capture the export volume shift from

for the rest of 2020.

China to Asia.

Vicky Cheung, Executive Director of Kerry Logistics Network

Kerry Apex was the third largest NVOCC in terms of volume from Asia to the US in 2019. In the first seven months of 2020, Kerry

ABOUT KERRY LOGISTICS NETWORK

Apex outperformed the market by recording a 6% growth in volume

Kerry Logistics is an Asia-based, global 3PL with the

against the market trend of a 7% contraction in the same period.

strongest network in Asia. Its core competency is providing highly customised solutions to multinational corporations

Kerry Apex shot to the top spot through capturing the volume shift

and international brands to enhance their supply chain

from China to Southeast Asia by a strong regional team perfectly

efficiency, reduce overall costs and improve response time to

situated to handle the volume surge, earning additional origin-

market. Kerry Logistics has a network covering 57 countries

controlled shipments and winning new customers, on top of the

and territories, and is managing 75 million sq ft of land and

increased demand from existing customers who restocked their

logistics facilities worldwide, providing customers with high

inventory. Kerry Apex was also able to build on its long standing

reliability and flexibility to support their expansion and long-

relationships with ocean-carrier partners who helped it to secure

term growth. Kerry Logistics Network Limited is listed on

the space needed to move its customers’ freight from Asia to the US.

the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is a

Kerry Apex’s achievement was made possible by the tremendous

selected Member of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability

support from within Kerry Logistics’ global network both in origin

Index Series 2019-2020.

and destination.

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OUR FAVOURITE

CUSTOMERS ARE THE REALLY

AWKWARD

ONES CAUTION

WIDE LOAD Who wants to just fit in, like everyone else? Bring us your misfits, your non-standard, your oversized, out-of-gauge freight.

It’s where our passion for problem solving comes into its own.

We’ll find a way www.allseasglobal.com

FORWARDER magazine

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45

SEA FREIGHT

NEWS

1 SEPTEMBER 2020

BLOCKCHAIN TRANSACTION CAPACITY &

SPEED BOOST FOR SHIPPERS

AS SHIPCHAIN’S ‘MAINNET’ GOES LIVE

C

omplete supply chain transparency, unprecedented

Adding on to that solid foundation, the launch of ShipChain Mainnet,

security, and the transactional capacity to serve the needs

a public delegated Proof of Stake sidechain of the Ethereum network,

of even the largest Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies

means that ShipChain’s blockchain system is now fully developed

are all now possible following the launch of ShipChain Mainnet.

and deployed, with blockchain transactions now being broadcast, verified, and recorded with full transparency.

This launch is a significant milestone toward achieving a modular system across the entire supply chain. With all the uncertainties in

ShipChain Mainnet vastly increases our transaction capacity,

the world today, it gives supply chain decision-makers the incentive

which is essential in an industry such as transportation and logistics.

to move from considering how blockchain might be used in global

This means ShipChain can now support the supply chain tracking and

supply chains to realizing its evident promise across transport modes

transaction needs of the largest Fortune 500 and Global 500 level

and continents.

enterprises in the world, with capabilities that significantly exceed other alternatives. And this is supported by our Track and Trace

Put simply, we can now fully deliver on blockchain's promise to enable those in the business of trade and logistics to do business

blockchain-based system, which brings complete transparency and visibility to the supply chain.

with anyone or anything in the world at any transaction size and without an intermediary.

ShipChain Mainnet reduces costs by avoiding the congestion and

John Monarch, CEO, ShipChain.

higher pricing users encounter when using the Ethereum mainnet. It also moves the cost of deployment and contract use away from end-

U.S.-based ShipChain has long been established as a world-class provider of a trustless end-to- end logistics platform that delivers full visibility to the global supply chain via the blockchain platform, Ethereum, with a sidechain built on Loom for scalability.

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users, simplifying and improving the blockchain user experience.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at shipchain.io

ShipChain Mainnet also uses a public blockchain rather than a private blockchain.

ShipChain Inc. is constantly developing new partnerships, pilots,

The lack of trust across companies and actors in

and customers. We’ve had a steady flow of new partners, and we

shipping today partly stems from a fractured environment - there

hope to be able to announce more soon, including an upcoming deal

are no unified systems to truly bring the industry together on one

with a significant Global 500 company, which will significantly expand

independent platform without competitive risk. We believe a public

our modular capabilities even further. We are very excited to begin

blockchain is safer than operating on a private network controlled

this next chapter and watch the logistics industry fully embrace the

by competitors. ShipChain Mainnet provides a protected, permanent

public blockchain.

ledger of transactions that everyone has their eyes on all at once.

That doesn’t mean everyone knows exactly what you’re doing corporations can still preserve privacy on public blockchains very easily. It just increases trust between your company, suppliers, vendors, and even regulatory bodies if needed. ShipChain’s public blockchain ecosystem also removes the risk of antitrust legal threats, as well as creating a level playing field for all involved.

Another noteworthy benefit of ShipChain’s Mainnet launch is the opportunity it gives to developers to build on top of the ShipChain platform rather than directly on the Ethereum blockchain. This opens up new possibilities for digital freight marketplaces using smart contracts, tokenized inventory management, and robust document management.

ShipChain, Inc. will continue to develop for and enhance the offerings on the Mainnet and encourages others to develop and work collaboratively to make it better and more secure every day.

ShipChain already has key partnerships with industry leaders, including ScanLog, CaseStack, Zinnovate, ParcelLive, KeepTruckin, DistiChain, GTX Corp, and the World Economic Forum. More key partners will shortly be announced, said Monarch.

FORWARDER magazine

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SEA FREIGHT

EXPERTS

T

urkey has always been a strong partner for UK business

John Good Logistics have been operating in Turkey since 2005

with trade in 2018 estimated at around $18.5 billion,

when they opened their first office having seen the opportunities

with Ankara exporting $11.1 billion to the UK and

for growth. Trading as John Good Denizcilik the group now has

receiving $7.4 billion in imports. This represented an increase on

2 offices located in Istanbul & Izmir and employs 12 staff across

imports of 13.7% and 15.7% on exports against the previous year.

the sites.

English is increasingly used for business and Turkey has adopted European business ethics and modern management practices.

As well as general forwarding & logistics activities including, Sea, Air & Road, John Good Logistics has been successful in

In fact Turkey was already ranked in the top 30 countries in

developing a weekly, direct Sea Freight consol service between

terms of ease of doing business by World Bank and has a rapidly

Turkey & the UK. The service has been in operation for 13 years,

developing and increasingly sophisticated market, with a growing

originally operating from Istanbul but in recent years the service

middle class and young population estimated to hit 87 million by

has developed, to now include Izmir.

2023. There are estimated to be around 400,000 Turkish people living in the UK today so the synergies for trade are clear to see.

It has been a great success story for the group but we are not sitting still. We are anticipating further growth on this trade

As Brexit looms ever closer talks have been ongoing as the UK

post COVID. Not only are relations strong and negotiations in

& Turkey have worked hard to protect their relationship and

advance stages in terms of the FTA, there is also consideration

business interests when the UK leaves the European Union on

in terms of lead time and turn around. We fully expect

the 31st December this year.

businesses to re address their supply chains and reduce their reliance on China & the Far East in general following the massive

Updates circulated in the Financial Times early this month have

disruptions many businesses experienced through COVID.

suggested a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is very close to being

We feel Turkey presents the ideal opportunity. Competitively

signed. Ankara has believed to have set a post – Brexit bilateral

priced with significant time saving in terms of door to door

trade target of $20 billion which will be well received particularly

moves, on average you would be looking at 3-4 week saving

by the Turkish manufacturers of cars, textiles & white goods,

on transit, dependant on origin points which means importers

along with the 2,500+ UK companies already operating in

can see massive efficiency gains from order through to delivery.

Turkey, the likes of Vodafone, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Marks &

Another advantage is the reduction in carbon footprint, we

Spencer, HSBC, Unilever & BAE Systems.

know this is increasingly part of planning particularly for the bigger companies and again Turkey fairs well when making the

Of course as Turkey are part of the EU customs union any FTA could only be implemented once the UK has reached agreement itself with the EU which hopefully will be a trade deal in the coming weeks.

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comparison against the Far East.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at johngood.co.uk

Brexit

Other key advantages include...

One of the key routes into the UK from Turkey has always been road however there are fears of widespread disruption post

• Cost Savings

Brexit with dover handling around 10,000 trailers per day and

• Reliable & Fixed Transit Times to UK

facing potential disruption due to increased customs controls.

• Cargo Safety

Some recent estimates have suggesting queues of 15-20 miles

• Environmentally Friendly

at Dover / Calais based on additional 2 minutes dwell time per

• Fixed Schedules: ability to pre-book delivery slots

truck at the border.

over a week in advance

John Good Logistics sea freight services from Istanbul and Izmir

With a dedicated team of experienced professionals in Turkey

offer fast transit times of around eight days, shipping by sea from

& the UK including Turkish speaking staff, we offer in-depth,

Turkey is usually suitable for most needs and offers an excellent

specialist knowledge of the market, including business practice,

alternative to road transport coupled with significant reductions

and are fully informed about the latest developments which may

in freight costs for dense cargo in particular and again reduced

influence trade & development.

carbon footprint compared with the traditional 3000 kilometre journey by road.

Paul​ Ferguson, Sales Director, John Good Logistics

GET IN TOUCH...

As a UK shipping agency with two dedicated offices in Turkey

TURKEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG PARTNER FOR THE UK

(John Good Denizcilik), we are perfectly placed to handle all your shipping requirements from the region. Please get in touch with us at turkey@johngood.co.uk

FORWARDER magazine

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49

Ocean freight visibility at its best

Track all of your containers in real-time Do you realize what strategic and financial benefits you can gain from improved supply chain visibility? Our container visibility solutions – Container Track & Trace and Container Sailing Schedules – connect carrier information with actual vessel positions so you enjoy real-time information on the status of your container cargo.

That way, you can take action before things go wrong in your logistics supply chain, as well as enjoying benefits such as: Greater customer satisfaction

Enhanced operational efficiency

Inventory optimization

Lower detention & demurrage charges

Timely crisis intervention

Profitable carrier contract negotiations

www.ocean-insights.com

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Contact us for a free trial and see how you can save time, money and resources! getintouch@ocean-insights.com

Container Track & Trace Full overview of all your containers with quick access to all details Automatic event notifications and alerts so you can take action Immediate response to predicted delays to adjust supply-chain logistics and reduce D&D charges

Container Sailing Schedules Transparency in the sailing schedules of all major shipping lines and alliances World’s most accurate and comprehensive data to enable informed decisions, e.g. most suitable service from A to B or performance comparisons

Improve your visibility with our solutions FORWARDER magazine

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ROAD FREIGHT

A system of transporting goods by road.

Related topics Groupage Couriers Last mile

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NEWS

7 AUGUST 2020

THE PALLET NETWORK SIGNS NEW-TO-NETWORKS

SLOUGH-BASED KPI TRANSPORT S lough-based Keith Perry International Transport, which

Burke says that TPN’s enhanced international distribution service,

trades as KPI Transport, came into new ownership in June

TPN XPort appealed to him because it will give KPI greater flexibility

2020. KPI director Ray Burke says he is looking to expand

over how it conducts its international work in the future.

its fleet, its customer base and its range of services – and TPN membership is the key.

We are currently busy working with the TPN team to get the operation

ready to go live. We are very pleased with how it’s going so far.

Traditionally KPI has consolidated loads into Ireland, as well as offering general haulage, ADR and international transport. It runs a

TPN has a first-rate on-boarding service which is designed to set

modern, versatile fleet, and has warehousing and storage facilities

new Members up for success from day one. The TPN team ensures

to complement its other activities.

that all systems, protocols, training and marketing support is in place and they work alongside staff on the ground until they are

Being part of a pallet network can give us new clients and a

comfortable with the new service.

diversified range of services. We chose TPN because its membership offer was the best and I think it will be the best path for us to

TPN celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and coincidentally hit

grow the business. The other networks we interviewed were more

its projection of 20,000 pallets a night. Its Hub, which is capable of

concerned with what they wanted than what we needed. However,

loading/unloading 40 trailers simultaneously, has been extended to

TPN could provide what we needed to grow,

now handle another 17 trailers an hour.

TPN MD Mark Duggan says:

says Burke.

We are very pleased to welcome

We have a highly analytical Hub strategy which stays ahead

KPI to the network. KPI is not alone in noticing that TPN prioritised

of volume growth so that our service standards never slip. This

the Member’s needs as a business. Our business model is predicated

includes moving to artificial intelligence to manage Hub movements.

on making our Members successful. If individual Members thrive, we

Other networks still use the old matrix-driven models, but we are

thrive as a network. This is an auspicious time to be joining TPN

discovering whole new levels of efficiency. We are constantly evolving

because we’ve got exciting developments planned. We’re in a time

to ensure that we provide the best commercial and operational

of growth and evolution for the whole network.

environment for our Members,

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says Duggan.

A

driver from Gist has been hailed as a hero in the Microlise

hurtling towards John from underneath the vehicle. John made a

Driver of The Year Awards 2020. With nomination-

split-second decision. He knew he couldn’t move to the left or to the

based awards receiving more entries than ever before and

right and braced himself for a collision while releasing and reapplying

telematics-based categories containing an initial eligible pool of over

the brake to reduce impact. After the crash, John immediately

225,000 drivers, the 2020 winners are leading lights in the industry,

realised that the object that hit him was a car. He immediately called

having triumphed after a process of rigorous data analysis, corroboration

the emergency services, and waited until the passengers were freed.

by employers and assessment by an independent judging panel.

Dash cam footage later revealed that the lorry in front of John The Microlise Driver of the Year HGV Hero Award recognises drivers

started to pull out into the middle lane hitting a car which was in its

who have gone above and beyond to respond safely, professionally

blind spot, causing it to spin in front of the truck, along its nearside

and with great community spirit when faced with potential human

to then be crushed by the tractor unit. Despite injuries, the couple

tragedy on our roads.

driving the car have recovered thanks to John’s swift and controlled action. Most driver’s instinctive reaction would have been to turn sharply left or right when an incident such as this occurred but it is widely believed that John’s action of staying in lane and keeping his vehicle under control prevented many fatalities.

According to Chief Executive of Microlise Nadeem Raza, the independent judges found it inspiring to read stories such as this.

The Microlise Driver of the Year Awards highlight drivers who act with great courage and presence of mind when faced with challenges on the road. Our winner has clearly shown how lives can be saved through

John Bushby’s story is an inspiring one that featured on the BBC’s Caught

sheer bravery as well as through experience, knowledge and training.

On Camera programme. As a seasoned driver of forty-four years – with 26 years of service with Gist, all of John’s experience was called into play

Driven by safety to provide industry-leading, integrated fleet

in March 2019 when he helped to avert a major catastrophe on the M1.

technology, Microlise is the UK market leader across HGV telematics, with a current installed base of over 500,000 global assets. The

John was in the nearside lane immediately behind a European left-

company works with many of the transport industry’s leading

hand-drive lorry with cruise control set. Suddenly this trailer started

operators, including 14 of the UK’s largest retailers and with industry

reacting very violently and, at the same time, a large object came

heavyweights such as MAN Truck & Bus, Knorr-Bremse and JCB.

CELEBRATING A HERO 11 AUGUST 2020

IN THE MICROLISE DRIVER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2020 FORWARDER magazine

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NEWS

12 AUGUST 2020

NEW-LOOK OFFICE &

EXPANSION FOR BAXTER FREIGHT B axter Freight, the customer service driven logistics company expand their Nottingham office by 15,000sq ft and carry out a full two-storey refurbishment.

The new-look office transforms the Baxter Freight headquarters into a stylish and creative hub where employees can work, socialise and

relax. With newly designed zones, every aspect has been carefully created to not only optimise the entire space, but to reflect the vibrant Baxter Freight brand and culture.

The refurbishment project, managed by Pinfold Projects, also boasts The brand-new coffee house makes for an impactful welcome area,

a fresh new look to existing meeting rooms and large open plan

with barista-quality coffee and a striking, custom-made pavilion, all

office. New meeting rooms and offices have been created and the

adding to the fresh and modern Scandinavian design.

entire ground floor has been transformed into a dedicated sales floor which can seat up 90 members of the Account Manager, Key

The new lounge area brings luxury and serenity. Employees can take

Account and Business Development Manager team.

a break or catch up with colleagues in a more relaxed environment.

With sliding partitions, the area can be opened up to make a great

Acquiring the space was also well-timed in light of Baxter Freight’s

space to hold large-scale meetings.

Covid-secure return to work plan. The entire Baxter Freight team, consisting of 80 employees, can now gradually return to work

A huge table and vibrant stool configuration is the star feature in the

with an abundance of extra space to accommodate for new social

collaboration zone. This is the place for the team to come together

distancing measures.

to share ideas, innovate and spark their creativity.

This expansion is key in helping Baxter Freight achieve their The newly refurbished kitchen is equally as funky with an industrial

ambitious growth plans to reach 150 members of staff and turnover

edge including a black and grey colour scheme, a brick-effect wall

ÂŁ30m in the coming years. It also demonstrates their commitment

and quirky lighting. The reimagining of the space creates more space

to investing in their staff by creating an inspiring and modern

to seat their growing team.

working environment.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at baxterfreight.com

We believe working that in a vibrant and fantastic looking environment will go a long way in helping our team be the best they can be. By continually reinvesting in our business, whether that be by expanding our premises, training or mentoring, we are attracting and keeping some of the best people in the freight industry – the very people who enable us to continue delivering the market-leading customer service we are known for. The completed refurbishment project marks the next stage of our journey as we look to take our business to the next level and ultimately deliver more for our customers, suppliers and our staff.

Peter Isler, Managing Director & co-founder, Baxter Freight FORWARDER magazine

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NEWS

1 AUGUST 2020

NNR

EXPANDS & ENHANCES LOGISTICS SERVICES A fter challenging times and delays, both due to the

NNR Wellingborough provides the location, size and modern

Coronavirus, NNR Global Logistics UK opened its new

characteristics demanded by our business. Energy efficient design

state-of-the-art distribution centre at the end of July

and central location help us minimise Carbon Footprint and

2020, in Wellingborough, UK.

reduce the final mile delivery time and cost. With flexible pallet height storage and customized pick-faces, together with available

After 2 years of meticulous planning, NNR’s 130,000 sqft, 15-metre-

office space for our customers and congestion-busting parking for

tall facility is ready and fully furnished to deliver solutions now and

hundreds of vehicles, there’s no better choice than NNR.

the future. Boasting 20,000 pallet positions and full E-Commerce capability, the latest investment from the Japanese owned ‘Award

Capable of serving all sectors, with special focus on ‘Big Brand’

Winning’ global logistics provider is the UK flagship.

FMCG customers and E-commerce fulfilment, NNR satisfies both Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer solutions. Both

Head of Contract Logistics, Tim Dabbs, explained why the

operations run simultaneously through NNR’s flexible warehouse

big investment:

management system, providing ‘plug & play’ Application Programming Interfaces for smooth systems integration which facilitates swift and

The investment in the Wellingborough facility was to meet the

inexpensive integration.

increasing demand, in-line with our organic growth strategy. The site was commissioned 2 years ahead of schedule; testament to our

Delivering efficiency and optimization by combining the latest

success. The rapid expansion is due to NNR’s flexibility, attention

flexible software, the ideal facilities, and the best people to provide

to detail and impeccable customer service.

true end-to-end solutions, remains the recipe for NNR and their customers’ continued success.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at nnrglobal.com

NNR UK Managing Director, Lee Griffiths, further explained: The investment in additional network locations and complementary solutions are part of NNR’s clearly defined growth strategy that will lead the group to further success. It’s been a productive time for NNR in EMEA who have recently expanded our network coverage with additional locations in France, Netherlands, Czech Republic and Dubai plus expanded Contract Logistics and Warehousing operations in Rotterdam, Warsaw and Budapest. During that time, NNR has also upgraded its cloud-based global operating platform and enhanced our online customer-facing tools. These achievements, whilst successfully navigating the Coronavirus pandemic without any business interruption, is testimony to the focus and diligence of our team to execute to a plan. How can we help YOU?

FORWARDER magazine

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COVER FEATURE

PHIL DENTON DGSA MD, ITAL LOGISTICS 60

FORWARDER magazine

ISSUE56

FACT FILE FOUNDED

Founded 10 August 2000 TURNOVER

Turnover last year (as yet unfiled due to Covid-19):

MAIN TRADE LANES

Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, France, Gibraltar, Andorra, Balearics & Canary Islands MODES

Road 95%, Sea 4%, air 1%

£15.6m. This was up on 2018 by 10% from £14.2m

MILESTONES & AWARDS

(which was also up on 2017 by 9% from £13.3m).

BIFA awards entered for four years only and as

SPECIALISMS

a minimum were finalists on every occasions:

We ship freight of all kinds but have a

• 2002 winners of European category

specialisation in the carriage of dangerous goods,

• 2007 winners of European category

which constituted 24.3% of our business in 2019

• 2012 finalists in European category

EMPLOYEES

• 2015 finalists in European category, finalists in

31 SITES

Extra Mile award, and James Mears was finalist in Young Freight forwarder of the Year award

Just the one in Heywood, but with 3rd-party facilities in the South

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COVER FEATURE

Tell us about how you got into the freight industry I initially wanted to be in the banking sector, but when I went for a day visit to NatWest bank, courtesy of my commerce teacher (business studies now) they asked me how I would fair with my O-levels in English and maths. I answered that I’d have no problem with maths, but doubted I’d get a good grade in English. They said I needed English so that was that!

(I wonder, had they focused on maths, would 2008 ever have happened…?). So, as it had to be a desk job, three weeks straight from school I went for two interviews with freight forwarders. Had no idea what that was, but I got them both anyway and chose Tower Express in Trafford Park.

There I met my first boss: Jim Woodward. The nicest person you could ever imagine and a good teacher. I often refer to

didn’t know it then) a turning point in my career path. In 1993

him as my mentor. I started doing customs entries (C273s,

I decided to leave as there was nowhere I could go in the

as they were then) and then moved onto operating Maltese

company. But I must have made an impact on the personnel at

and Canadian container groupage.

their Italian partner – Tritrans in Varese. Several months later I was approached by M&S Europe (later to become IS Logistics,

62

What’s your background in shipping?

part of the Italsempione group) to join them as Italian Route

Between 1978 and 1983 I had a few jobs in freight forwarding.

Andreas from Tritrans had moved to Italsempione Como and

Salford docks was closing as a commercial port so many

recommended me. It was there that I ended up meeting the

companies were moving their operations to Liverpool.

people in Italsempione who would, in 1998, form ITX Cargo

I didn’t drive, so I ended up with a few redundancies along

and become our partners in Italy. In 1998 I parted company

the way. In these six years, though, I learned quite a lot.

with IS Logistics and with the assistance of ITX cargo started

One redundancy too many, I then worked for three years as a

an Italian service from scratch, with a small forwarder/export

musician (I’d previously been semi-professional) until in 1986 when

packer in Burnley. After two years' toil, we had turned over

I wanted to get on the mortgage ladder. The bank manager asked

£2m and in a conversation one evening with Brain Hay

my profession and when I told him, he wasn’t overly convinced!

(Cardinal Maritime) I was asked whether I had ever thought

At that point I thought I would have to go back to freight

of forming my own company. Well, I had, but…big steps.

forwarding. Went for an interview, got the job and after two

Anyway, after a few months, Ital Logistics was founded as a

moves ended up at TFS Cargo Services in Manchester around

partnership between me, the then three directors of Cardinal

1988. They started an Italian service and asked me to look after

Maritime and a small minority shareholding from the CEO of

it. This was the best thing that happened as it was (although I

ITX Cargo. We were on our way. That was 20 years ago.

FORWARDER magazine

ISSUE56

Development Manager. The introduction came around because

PHIL SAYS...

24.3% of our business in 2019 was related to dangerous goods.

Tell us a little more about your specialisms

Why was it important for you to introduce air and sea services?

Ital Logistics specialises in the carriage of dangerous goods.

Sea/air – many customers were asking if we could do more

But, we don’t just do dangerous goods: 24.3% of our business

for them as they liked the service they received. We did some

in 2019 was related to DG but we move a whole lot more.

sea/air work but decided to employ an ocean development

We don’t do ‘anywhere and everywhere’ but focus on

manager to ‘do it properly.’ This has grown quite well for us

several key markets, which we do well. Yes, we do offer a

and we have two people involved in maritime now, and we

full service to our clients and will act as full freight forwarder,

are aiming to further this in due course.

but we have our niches.

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COVER FEATURE

What do you think you offer as a company that sets you apart from your competitors?

stronger, internally. The comradeship of our people has been

What do we do that sets us apart? Our company mantra is...

have, like many, had a setback, but we’ve been through other

'The aim of Ital Logistics is to provide a quality, reliable and

challenging times before.

second to none and this will hold us in good stead. Yes, we

personalised service with openness, honesty and integrity We care about what we do. Since we started, just

What's your biggest achievement?

me and one other person in the back of a warehouse

When I look around the office and see a company that I

in Rochdale, it has always had a ‘family’ feel to the

started flourish, support people's families and indirectly other

company. It still has the same feeling, even with 31 of us.

families of our suppliers, one cannot help but feel proud.

I don’t have ‘staff’, I have colleagues. It’s all about respect.

Yes, I couldn’t have done it without them, but nevertheless,

I have always rewarded my team and I’d like to think

it does feel good. One day some of them will take the reins

that their salary and benefits handsomely reflect that.

and continue the legacy. Watching and guiding them to make

The fact that people rarely leave Ital Logistics says something,

further success of the company will then be icing on the cake.

and to always perform to the very best of our abilities.'

and that is echoed by our client retention.

What has been your biggest challenge?

How would you define your company culture?

Comradeship, dedication, family-feel, no holds barred.

That would have to be COVID-19. 64% of our business revolves we were looking at heavy losses, to the tune of £175-200k over

How do you get the best out of your team?

three-to-four months. But it hasn’t happened. We have continued

I am always around to nit-pick. Yes, it bugs them at times,

to service all of our core markets and from April onwards have

but it is this that makes them want to keep improving, even

traded at between 30% and 15% below normal levels – and what

if just to get back at me! We simply get on with it together.

is more, with a reduced team. This is certainly a testament to

My door is always open. I am not always right and am happy

our people and is vindication of our business ethic. Brexit is,

to take ideas and comments from anyone.

around Italy and Spain, so when they were hit hard, I thought

simply, what it is. I’ve set thoughts of this aside slightly whilst we navigate the COVID-19 storm, although in previous Brexit cliffedge moments, preparatory measures have been made with our software to enable us to issue documentation to our customs brokers. I have no immediate intention of bringing customs in house, apart from sea freight export entries under NES. We specialise in moving freight, whilst customs brokers specialise in customs as their staple diet. So focus on specialisms: we do our bit, let them do theirs. We will come out of COVID-19

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PHIL SAYS... ...our current plans are to get past COVID-19 and then the 2021 Brexit formalities

What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?

How do you decide which new business to go after?

At this precise moment it is riding the storm of COVID-19;

long as we are confident of being paid and can make a profit!

No real answer to this. We will ship anything and everything as

keeping close control and a tight rein on ensuring that we spent 20 years growing in an organic way and every effort is

What are your expansion plans over the next 12/24 months?

being made to ensure continuity. We will come through this,

One has to say that our current plans are to get past

and probably stronger than before. Just with gentle, careful,

COVID-19 and then the 2021 Brexit formalities. Beyond

measured steps.

that‌? We are always looking to keep growing and take

come through this period as unscathed as possible. We have

opportunities as they arise. Prior to this pandemic we had

What are some of the common challenges you face?

targets of 10% growth year on year. So there is nothing

Life and other people!

services and modes.

in particular, except that we aim to grow all of our core

FORWARDER magazine

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ROAD FREIGHT

NEWS

6 AUGUST 2020

EAST MIDLANDS GATEWAY

NEW VEHICLES T o support the continued growth of our Overland business

The new 7 x 26 tonne and 6 x 18 tonne rigid vehicles will be used

we have upgraded our East Midlands Gateway (EMG)

for local deliveries and collections and the trailers will be part of

based fleet by purchasing 13 new rigid vehicles and 50 new

our Overland fleet departing daily to 32 European countries. Our

double-deck box trailers.

double-deck trailers are equipped with a double deck bar system to ensure load safety and maximise the capacity of the trailer,

This investment comes only one year after we opened our new

allowing us to consolidate cargo from different clients to the same

state-of-the-art facility at EMG, located in the heart of the Golden

destinations and help to reduce their supply chain costs.

Triangle, where we provide groupage, part load and full load services to a wide range of clients. We are committed to providing our

We are delighted with our fleet modernisation which is a part of

customers with environmentally-friendly, sustainable and innovative

our on-going investment in our Overland infrastructure , we are

supply chain solutions that will reduce our collective CO2 footprint

very proud to invest in equipment which is built to support our

and help them achieve their environmental targets.

Carbon Neutral commitment and at the same time will add value to the supply chains of our customers.

All of the new vehicles conform to the latest European standards

Jim Hedderwick, UK Overland Director, Kuehne+Nagel

on emissions and are fitted with sophisticated telemetry systems to enable monitoring of vehicle and driver performance. This helps to improve driving styles, which in turn will bring important safety,

ABOUT KUEHNE+NAGEL

fuel efficiency and emission reduction benefits helping us reach our

With over 80,000 employees at 1,400 locations in over 100

commitment to offer CO2-neutral transport from 2020 onwards.

countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world's leading logistics companies. Its strong market position lies in sea logistics, air logistics, road logistics and contract logistics, with a clear focus on integrated logistics solutions.

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ITALY

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SPAIN

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BALEARICS

PORTUGAL �

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CANARIES

GREECE �

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FRANCE

MOROCCO

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GIBRALTAR

TUNISIA

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MALTA

CAPE VERDE

European Road Freight Specialists Dangerous goods experts Daily groupage services Freight forwarding worldwide Deep sea & air freight Express freight & Cross trades

For rates and bookings call 01706 248 001 email sales@ital-logistics.com visit www.ital-logistics.com

Ital Logistics Limited Unit 1, Birch Business Park, Whittle Lane FORWARDER magazine ISSUE56 Heywood, Lancashire, OL1067 2SX

ROAD FREIGHT

R

EXPERTS

ecent weeks have proved to many of us that adaptability

Eco-friendly Technologies

is key. The impact of the coronavirus is likely to be lasting

The FTA has announced that they’ll be launching sustainable

and every industry is considering their traditional working

infrastructure initiatives in Northern Ireland moving forward and it’s

methods – including those in the logistics sector. Industry clients

likely that this will be the case for the entirety of the UK in the near

require hauliers across the UK to deliver bespoke, efficient and

future. For construction logistics, in particular, a major challenge will

reliable haulage solutions that meet their ever-changing needs

arise in how to best adapt methodology and adopt environmentally-

seamlessly, and as we move toward an uncertain future, versatility

friendly procedures. Indeed, it’s no secret that the sector doesn’t

and innovation will be integral.

have the best track record when it comes to carbon emissions.

In this article, we will explore how the haulage sector could evolve in

That said, we are witnessing hauliers become more eco-conscious and

the years to come – more specifically, how construction logistics will

taking collective steps toward positive change. A prominent transition

adapt to suit the demands of a developing world. These services can

for many arises with Low Emission Zone compliant fleets, which are

be some of the most demanding within the industry, often providing

moving goods in and out of London to support UK supply chains whilst

tailored transport services through major cities and thus anticipating

limiting their impact on the city’s air quality and carbon footprint.

some major changes. So, whilst nothing is set in stone, there are a

However, as you would likely expect, there is still much to be done.

number of changes that we might expect to see!

The future of construction logistics has its sights set on innovation and mass production. It’s likely that we will see the development of new technologies that prioritise sustainability and subvert expectations. The introduction of electric and carbon-neutral vehicles are suggested to be the front runners – massively reducing

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HOW CONSTRUCTION LOGISTICS WILL ADAPT IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

the environmental impact of long-haul journeys. Of course, one of

A Change in Timings

the notable drawbacks to wide-spread implementation of this sort

A slight roadblock for haulage companies is the London Lorry

of technology is that it currently doesn’t have the range or power to

Control Scheme which prevents heavy-weight vehicles from making

be effective – especially for making long haulage journeys. However,

journeys in certain residential areas from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am. Whilst

as technology advances and demand grows, this is something we

it’s doubtful that this scheme would be axed altogether, we may find

might expect to be implemented in the future.

that if electric vehicles come to fruition then certain acceptances will be made. The scheme itself is to minimise any noise pollution

A Change in Supply Chains

that may disturb the public, a noteworthy concern, but as electric

The expansion of consolidation centres has been in the minds’

vehicles are much quieter, we could expect a change. What’s more,

of many for some time now, but following this unusual period,

this will also decrease carbon emissions in certain circumstances as

there’s no reason that hauliers will not approach new challenges

vehicles will be able to make the preferred, shorter routes within

with a rejuvenated spirit. These expansions will allow regional

controlled hours.

distribution centres to become a thing of the past for construction logistics and instead make way for new centres that are tailored

Our current environment makes it almost impossible to have a clear

to the servicing of densely populated areas with intricate and

idea of what the future will bring, but together as an industry, there

time-dependent consignments.

is no reason that we may not overcome this challenge with a fresh and improved outlook.

Whilst now just a convenient stop-gap for forwarders to process their deliveries, it’s expected that these centres are set to become

Abbey, Content Producer, Forest Freight

more – adding another link to the supply chain whilst improving communication between forwarders and clients.

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ROAD FREIGHT

EXPERTS

T

he shipping industry faced an uncertain future heading

the industry must rely on every aspect of the supply chain, from

into 2020, but there were more challenges to come. The

harvesting and production to shipping and logistics.

sudden onset of the coronavirus pandemic has further

fueled uneasiness within an already rocky industry. Every aspect

Interestingly, hemp has many additional applications beyond

of the national supply chain, from shipping to logistics and beyond,

CBD. The adaptable plant is used to make textiles, paper,

must now adapt quickly in the face of unprecedented change.

biofuel, insect repellent, and various food products, including baked goods and non-dairy beverages. What’s more, hemp rope

In this respect, legal considerations are just as important as

is sturdy and versatile and was used by Viking sailors as well as

keeping a fleet of reliable vehicles on hand. For instance, a truck

early American colonists.

driver found himself taken into custody in Idaho in 2019, charged with felony trafficking of marijuana, but the driver, 36-year-old

In 1619, Jamestown settlers were even ordered to grow hemp plants

Denis Palamarchuck, was actually hauling a load of industrial

on their land for export to England. Clearly, the history of hemp

hemp which is federally legal according to the Farm Bill of 2018.

and America are intrinsically intertwined, yet that didn’t prevent Palamarchuck’s unjust arrest for transporting a federally legal plant.

Passed by the Trump Administration in order to provide a boost

The entire supply chain should take note and advocate for more

to the fledgling agriculture industry, the Farm Bill allows for the

consistent standards regarding CBD and industrial hemp products.

transport and manufacture of hemp and hemp-based products throughout the U.S. Unfortunately for Palamarchuck, CBD

Opportunity and growth in shipping and logistics

remains illegal in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Idaho as does

Interestingly, however, it seems as though the pendulum may

industrial hemp. In the realm of logistics, planning a shipping

have swung in favor of continued growth within the shipping and

route for the transportation of CBD products must account for

logistics industries. Online ordering has become the go-to method

varying location-specific classifications of the compound.

in the U.S. and throughout the world, and will continue to be into the foreseeable future. The CBD and hemp industries will

CBD by the numbers

account for countless products ordered, tracked, and shipped in

To the untrained eye, hemp is visually similar to marijuana,

our post-coronavirus world, and when it comes to the transport

leading to false identification of the plant, but hemp lacks the

of products containing CBD and hemp, supply chain management

psychoactive component found in marijuana, THC, and cannot

must do its part to protect drivers from legal repercussions.

legally contain more than 0.3% of the compound. Rather than THC, hemp produces CBD, a non-euphoric cannabidiol used to

Of course, adapting to change is nothing new in the realm of

promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.

shipping and logistics. Widespread digitization and advancements in technology throughout the 21st century have ushered in a new

Make no mistake — CBD products are a big business throughout

age of supply chain management. High-profile security breaches

the nation. Experts claim that the hemp and CBD market is on

have led to enhanced protection measures, for example, and

track to reach $22 billion in revenue by 2022. To do so, however,

sustainable logistics have become the norm.

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That’s great news for hemp advocates since sustainability is all in

The hemp plant is an integral part of American history and continues

a day’s work for the robust plant. Hemp requires one-third less

to provide benefits to the modern consumer, but even in 2020,

water to grow than cotton, the world’s most popular natural

hemp lives in the shadow of its psychoactive cousin, marijuana.

textile source. Furthermore, hemp is the ultimate space saver of the plant kingdom. Under optimal conditions, one acre of

The unfortunate reality is that not every state government

farmland can yield up to 8.7 tons of industrial hemp.

recognizes the healing and environmental benefits of hemp, as Denis Palamarchuck discovered first hand. Palamarchuck, an

Advocating for change and consistency

essential worker according to the parameters of COVID-19,

It’s easy to see why the popularity of hemp and hemp-derived

spent four days in jail for doing his job, simply because it

products including CBD oil continues to grow. For many people,

involved hemp. To avoid similar incidents, greater consistency

daily life post-coronavirus may involve the use of hemp or CBD

in the labeling and classification of hemp and CBD is needed

products, safely shipped rather than purchased at a retail store.

at the federal level.

Those individuals may not put much thought into the logistical factors of shipping hemp-based products, but overlooking those crucial

Key takeaway

steps would be detrimental to a supply chain management level.

The threat of COVID-19 exposure notwithstanding, all of America’s harvested hemp needs to be shipped somewhere, and

Until shelter in place orders and social distancing mandates are

the plant’s legal status can vary from state to state. Therefore,

significantly relaxed, it’s up to the shipping industry to keep the

understanding pertinent rules and shipping regulations regarding

nation up and running. That includes the shipping of industrial

CBD and hemp is of paramount importance for managers and

hemp and products made from the highly adaptable plant.

workers across the supply chain.

SHIPPING & LOGISTICS FACTORS OF THE

CBD & HEMP INDUSTRIES FORWARDER magazine

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GLOBAL LOGISTICS SERVICES Integrated logistics services that provide value to your supply chain.

Air freight forwarding

Ocean freight forwarding

Customs brokerage

WHAT MAKES US...US

Warehousing & storage

Transport & distribution

OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE

• No request too small or shipment too big for us to help you with.

• IT solutions and EDI booking interface.

• Professional advice from start to finish.

• Experienced project cargo handlers for demand and OOG consignments.

• Current market updates and trends to help support your logistics planning.

• MEC portal tracking...on-the-go live time update!

• 24/7 coverage and support care...logistics never sleeps.

• Dedicated account manager on hand for any quotes or questions.

• Dedicated team offering first-class customer service experience.

• Accurate quotation to billing with PO referencing.

• Global network of Morrison Express Corp offices.

• Competitive rates with professional service.

• HMRC Customs & HS code advice.

72

‘The UK’s Morrison Express are doing an excellent job for Garmin Europe Limited based out of Southampton.

The Morrison team is flexible and will quickly resolve issues that occur. Even though the UK Morrison Express team is small in numbers they always make sure Garmin are kept informed at all times.’

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Garmin Europe

The power to move. The passion to deliver.

SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS Streamlined solutions that deliver competitive advantage wherever you operate around the world.

Supply chain visibility

Order management

Vendor-managed inventory

Regional hub network

Value-added services

morrisonexpress.com Global Headquarters

European Headquarters

US Headquarters

7f, 360 Rueiguang Road Taipei 114, Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel: +886 (2) 8752-6688

T435-439 Cargo Center Luxair L-1360 Luxembourg Tel: +352 (346) 43 9350

2000 South Hughes Way El Segundo, CA 90245 Tel: +1 (310) 322-8999

‘As you are aware, apart from the import services that you commendably provide MSI Worldwide, it’s our valuable and sensitive cargo to which our appreciation is directed. Morrison’s speed of information and updates reassures us that our clients here in the UK and those worldwide are in safe hands. In this day and age this is PRICELESS!’ MSI Worldwide

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Is your freight big, long or bulky?

Whatever the shape or size trust Tuffnells to deliver!

0800 138 8343

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Why choose Tuffnells?

Specialist in large, heavy parcels & freight Simple & easy to use Dedicated friendly local service with over 100 years’ heritage 37 local depots Ship internationally to over 167 countries

View our services

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PROJECT CARGO

The transportation of large, heavy, high-value or critical (to the project they are intended for) pieces of equipment.

Related topics Heavy lift Abnormal load OOG (out of gauge)

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PROJECT CARGO

NEWS

PROFESSIONAL & RELIABLE SERVICES 10 AUGUST 2020

FROM ALPHATRANS UKRAINE

W

e are pleased to approve Alphatrans Ltd as new

Dmitriy Balaban (Managing Director) introduces the company:

members in Ukraine! Located in Odessa, the

Alphatrans is an international freight forwarding company

company come recommended by current members

established in 2001 in Odessa with the goal of providing a full range

and are registered with FIATA and the Ukrainian Association of

of services for the delivery, forwarding and customs clearance

International Freight Forwarders as well as ISO 9001 certified.

of cargo on a door-to-door basis by sea, road, rail and air. Our competitive advantage is a professional, reliable and personalized service, provided regardless of the size or type of project and customer. With a trained and highly dedicated team, we are ready to provide efficient and cost-effective logistics solutions. We have great experience in handling different types of project and OOG cargo including oil & gas equipment, steel, machinery, pipes, vehicles and other industrial shipments. Our specialist services for OOG cargo include the development of optimal routes of delivery, preparation of loading plans, reloading of cargo from trucks and rail wagons onto containers, lashing and securing and cargo protection using tailor made crates etc.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at centraloceans.com

C

entral Oceans have assisted with several shipments of

The new design will not require elaborate pumping stations thanks

tunnelling machinery for a Deep Tunnel Sewerage System

to an appropriately planned gradient with the sewage in the tunnels

being built underground in Singapore and another set of

flowing to the destination by itself. Central Oceans are very proud

two machines were loaded this week. The machines will assist in

to be part of this great project in Singapore and look forward to

making tunnels that serve to feed the sewage from the South and

seeing the tunnels in action.

West into the new Tuas Water Reclamation Plant.

CENTRAL OCEANS ASSIST WITH SMART SEWAGE SYSTEMS 10 AUGUST 2020

IN SINGAPORE FORWARDER magazine

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PROJECT CARGO

NEWS

20 AUGUST 2020

COST-EFFECTIVE LOGISTICS SOLUTION FROM DIMERCO

SAVES FEES ON HEAVY CARGO SHIPMENT I nternational freight forwarding and transportation specialist

Dimerco has leveraged its global network and long-standing strategic partnerships to manage the transportation of heavy

equipment from Germany to Shenzhen in China, via Hong Kong, without incurring high storage fees or delay.

Dimerco’s cost-effective solution was to unload and hold the first partial shipment on a truck overnight, arranging for the considerably

The shipment including 17 cases of PCB (printed circuit board)

lower Pressure Fare to be applied instead, saving the customer

manufacturing machines, which weighed nearly 70 tons, was dispatched

substantial storage costs.

from Hirschhorn in Germany with the support of Dimerco’s German JV company, who worked with the local partners to ensure seamless

Further potential costs were saved by efficient control of the delivery

shipment within a week, coordinating split flights, facilitating customs

schedule. Dimerco organized both shipments to be delivered same

clearance and timely delivery to final destination by flatbed truck.

day from Hong Kong to Shenzhen on 7 flatbed trucks, which had been booked 3 days in advance, so avoiding a delayed loading fee of

A spokesperson for Dimerco explained,

Our partnership with the

airlines enabled us to book space for this significantly oversized cargo,

50%, despite the second partial shipment arriving two days later than the first.

and Dimerco followed the flight loading time closely to avoid any delay in pick up, as this would have incurred a penalty. We continued to monitor

A hold up in Customs Clearance was also averted by quick action

the status of the cargo throughout the process as it was split into

from Dimerco. Despite the over-3% discrepancy in the customer’s

two shipments on separate flights, which were scheduled to arrive on

declared cargo weight and the actual weight, Dimerco’s rapid

different days, and advised our customer on the most effective course

response in revising and submitting the necessary paperwork

to avoid the high Airport Storage fees that potentially could be applied

allowed all of the cargo to cleared on the same day, rather than the

to the first partial shipment pending the arrival of the second.

usual additional day to check and release.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at goodrich.co

G

oodrich Central Asia and Afriguide Logistics were recently involved in moving 4 motors, each weighing 37mt with dimensions of 6.3 x 3.2 x 3.0m from South Africa to Kazakhstan.

The motors were a challenge as they were packed in crates but

Afriguide managed to work around this with ease. Access holes were cut at the shippers premises to facilitate the lashing on the trucks and on arrival at Durban, the holes were sealed off with a tarpaulin flap. After lashing, the tarpaulin was then securely stapled to the crate, ensuring it would not lift and expose the opening. We used the existing holes to access the lifting and lashing points on the motors and a small access hole was also cut in the base of the crate which enabled us to reach the lashing points on the flat-racks. We ensured that these holes did not compromise the safely of the motor at all.

The access hole requires a perfectly vertical lift which is something that can be achieved by stevedores on a BBK vessel, but not at a CFS. However, Afriguide did exceptional work with a H-shaped spreader. A similar process was carried out in Klaipeda once the units arrived before destuffing from the flat-racks, re-loading onto 4 railway platforms and further delivery to Kazakhstan.

Sanju K. Mani, Goodrich This is the first lot for this project from South Africa to Kazakhstan with the entire shipment made easy for the client thanks to the professionalism and expertise of Goodrich Central Asia and Afriguide Logistics.

20 AUGUST 2020

GOODRICH & AFRIGUIDE LOGISTICS

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UNTIL THERE’S A CONTAINER FOR EVERY COMPLEX CARGO THERE’S ALWAYS ALLSEAS

Bring us your misfits, your non-standard, your oversized cargo. It’s where our passion for problem solving comes into its own.

We’ll find a way

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PROJECT LOGISTICS I GLOBAL FREIGHT SOLUTIONS I SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT I SHIPPING LINE AGENCY

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AIR & SEA PORTS

Any place where persons and merchandise are allowed to pass, by water or land, into and out of a country and where customs officers are stationed to inspect or appraise imported goods.

Related topics Cargo handling Container terminals Drayage

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NEWS

PORT OF TYNE AWARDED ROSPA GOLD MEDAL 25 AUGUST 2020

FOR THIRD YEAR RUNNING

P

ort of Tyne, one of the UK’s major deep-sea ports, has

The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in

been awarded a prestigious Gold Medal in recognition of

the UK, but it receives entries from organisations around the world,

its practices and achievements in helping everyone who

making it one of the most sought-after global accolades in health and

works at the Port to get home safely at the end of the working day.

safety. RoSPA wants every employee, wherever they are, to work safe in the knowledge that they will be going home unharmed and healthy

Port of Tyne has achieved a Gold Medal for the third year running

at the end of every day. The RoSPA Award winners are vital to help

in the internationally-renowned Royal Society for the Prevention of

achieve this goal, as by entering they are driving up standards and

Accidents (RoSPA) Health and Safety Awards.

setting new benchmarks for organisations everywhere. Currently, around 7 million people are directly impacted by the RoSPA Awards,

The RoSPA Awards scheme, which receives entries from organisations

but the scheme’s influence is even wider.

around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety

Julia Small, Head of Qualifications, Awards & Events, RoSPA

management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement, and is the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK.

The awards mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold Medals are presented to organisations sustaining the

We are delighted to have been recognised, once again, for our health and safety practices here at the Port. Ensuring our staff, customers and contractors get home safe is our top priority, and we have a number of initiatives in place, including awareness campaigns, safety training and performance reviews, as we work towards our Tyne 2050 aim of Achieving Zero Harm by 2022. It is testament to the Port’s commitment that we have achieved seven consecutive Gold Awards, and three consecutive Gold Medals in these highlyregarded annual awards.

Steven Clapperton, Maritime Director & Harbour Master, Port of Tyne

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high standards of the gold level over consecutive years.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at importservices.co.uk

A

key milestone has now been reached in constructing

The new £23M extension, will be joined to the existing quayside

the current extension to Import Services’ quayside

warehouse operation, adding 200,000sqft and doubling bonded

warehouse, which is expanding alongside the container

storage capacity to 60,000 pallets at Southampton container port.

port. The first, above ground infrastructure of a steel frame section, was erected by Construction Partner, Midas. The full skeletal frame

The warehouse has been designed to BREEAM ‘excellent’ sustainability

will take circa six weeks to complete.

standard, in close collaboration with port owner ABP and once complete will also feature a further £2.5million roof mounted solar

This is a significant step in the expansion of our Southampton

array investment from ABP. This solar panel installation on its own,

Container Port development. Hearty thanks to our construction

will more than double the existing solar power generated on the port,

partners and their great groundwork teams who have continued

a positive, green contribution in the drive to cut time, cost and carbon

working on the build right through COVID-19. We are all so excited

from international supply chains.

by this purpose-built quayside facility which epitomises our portcentric model and we therefore look forward to operations comingon stream for our Clients in April next year.

Mike Thomas, Client Services Director, Import Services

25 AUGUST 2020

KEY MILESTONE REACHED IN

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AIR & SEA PORTS

NEWS

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at mauriceward.com

MWG NEW ANTWERP OFFICE 18 AUGUST 2020

IS OPEN

T

o better respond to current and future customers’ needs,

the Maurice Ward Group has opened a new office in Belgium, Antwerp, an important step in the development

of their business that they are proud of.

They happily welcome the infectiously enthusiastic Nancy Verstraeten, Antwerp office’s Branch Manager, to MWG team!

As a Branch Manager with more than 20 years of experience in the Antwerp forwarding field, we see Belgium as the ideal hub for supporting the other Maurice Ward agencies in Europe and of course also the international agents. Belgium may be a small country but Antwerp has a strategic location in Europe at the intersection of major traffic and trade flows. The port of Antwerp is the second largest in Europe and for certain goods even the largest in turnover.

With its own regional airport and a dense network of rail traffic & the international airport of Zaventem being only half an hour away, we are crucial for the smooth, safe and rapid movement of goods by ocean, road, air and rail. One of the main highlights of our port is

ABOUT MAURICE WARD GROUP

The Kieldrecht Lock (Dutch: Kieldrechtsluis), the largest dock lock

Established in 1968, the Maurice Ward Group is an independent

in the world, which offers a perfect answer to the ever-increasing

global freight- forwarding and logistics organization with

shipping traffic,

40+ owned offices in 25+ European countries. With the

Said Nancy.

50+ years of logistics experience, expertise in trade and Contact Belgium’s team to find out more details of MWG new Antwerp

customs compliance and their network of world class agents,

office by emailing to belgium@mauriceward.com. Nancy is looking

the Maurice Ward Group continues to offer quality service,

forward to meeting existing and new partners in Belgium and across

flexible, reliable and cost-effective solutions.

the Benelux region and working closely to further MWG presence.

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Are you a hiring manager working from

The Headford Group is offering the option

home trying to fill a vacancy or wary of

of pre-screening and live-video interviews

inviting people to your office in the midst

to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

of this new virus outbreak?

We all need to take this threat seriously and at Headford we want to do our bit to help.

To find out more, please contact (preferably not physically) one of our recruitment consultants for a free demonstration.

+44 (0)1454 275 957

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AIR & SEA PORTS

N

EXPERTS

ow, more than ever, port operators need to account

The growing list of potential risks for ports includes:

for isolated, disruptive events that have the potential

• Extreme weather events and climate change

to impact not only their operations but also their

• Economic disruption and market turbulence

profitability, as supply chains across the world are affected.

• System failures and disruptive technological advances • Aging assets

World trade increasingly relies on longer, larger and more

• Strikes and similar action

complex port facilities and systems, with maritime transportation

• Civil emergencies

a vital trade backbone. As such, when ports experience failures

• Compliance failures

or disruption, it’s big news.

• Pandemic and terrorism threats • Supply chain failures

For example, in June 2018, the rollout of a new terminal operating system at the Port of Felixstowe, one of the largest ports in the

At the same time, ports are facing increasing pressure to reform;

world and the busiest in the UK, caused significant disruption

if they haven’t already done so, many ports will need to evolve

and decline in productivity issues that reportedly took more

rapidly from being traditional land and sea interfaces to providers

than a month to fix. Five years earlier, the NotPetya cyber-attack

of complete logistics networks.

that hit Danish shipping giant Maersk cost the company more than USD 200 million and led to a temporary shutdown of the

Without effective risk management and business continuity

largest cargo terminal in the Port of Los Angeles.

procedures, the disruptions or shutdowns resulting from such events, and in turn the negative impacts these have, can

These are just two examples of the increasing risks and challenges

potentially cause significant short and long-term financial and

facing ports around the world, and the pressure to prepare for,

reputational damage to the broader business. The outcome

and respond promptly to, threats beyond ‘business as usual’

could also expose the Board and management team to legal

conditions is mounting.

action and possible prosecution.

The most common maritime risk management issues have

How can you achieve effective contingency

traditionally been relatively consistent, if not predictable: natural

planning and resilience?

disasters, mechanical failures and human error. Now, however,

The simple ‘plan, do, check, act’ approach to contingency

the incredible growth of international trade, the impact of

planning is a universal concept that has been successfully

climate change and the introduction of new technologies mean

applied around the globe but, like any system, it has to be

the threats are broader and constantly evolving.

managed and maintained.

The first step to developing an effective contingency plan is to assess the existing business operations to identify the inputs, decision points, processes, information and connections

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at ghd.com

that produce the outputs and outcomes. In many cases, system

A mock test is particularly important, given that some of the

weaknesses stem from gaps or discontinuities within these areas.

scenarios being planned for may only occur once within our

Another common problem is having a hierarchy structure in

lifetime. However, we must be confident that the intended

place that does not operate effectively during disruption –

response will be effective and achieve the goals.

for instance, one that doesn’t allow for rapid decisions to be made in order to achieve an effective outcome.

In many examples, it is more beneficial to take preventative steps to avoid loss of business operations than to take

Importantly, the contingency plan should aim to identify a

corrective steps following failure. It will depend on the nature

process that can be followed to manage a return to normal

of the failures and the extent of the impact, with a balance

operations, rather than identifying individual mitigations to

between the ongoing cost of prevention and what might be the

known operational risks.

one-off cost of recovery.

This process should include the identification of...

Having a well-defined strategy in place will enable the business

• Who has been delegated what authority

to proactively respond to a disruptive event. The strategy will

• The criticality ranking of each business operation so that

also provide confidence to clients and the local community the

priorities can be established

business serves that there is a coordinated and tested approach,

• The stakeholders who need to be contacted

which will minimise the length of the disruption and its impact

• The responsibilities of individual depts across the business

during and after an unforeseen event.

The system must incorporate a testing and monitoring process

Matt East, Senior Advisor - Logistics & Infrastructure Policy

that can identify the effectiveness of the continuity strategy,

for the UK, Europe & Middle East, GHD

which may include a mock run-through of an emergency event.

Keith Brown, Executive Advisor - Asset Management, GHD

RETHINKING RESILIENCY

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TECH & DIGITALISATION Digitalisation: leveraging digitisation to improve business processes.

(Digitisation: converting information from a physical into a digital format. Digital Transformation: the use of new, fast and frequently changing digital technology to solve problems.)

Related topics Robotics Drone technology Cloud data

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93

TECH & DIGITALISATION

NEWS

FIRSTPOINT LOGISTICS APPOINTS AMDARIS TO DRIVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

F

irstPoint Logistics, a logistics business based in the South

Digital transformation is

West, is employing digital transformation technology to help

critical to the growth of our

it expand beyond its Portishead roots and has appointed

business. We see technology as a

nearshore software development business, Amdaris, to deliver the

key growth driver for us enabling

first phase of its digital transformation.

us to deliver the best customer experience in the industry and

Through digital transformation, FirstPoint Logistics aims to become

helps us live up to our promise

a state-of-the-art logistics operation meeting UK and international

that once you’ve given your

logistics customers’ with just a single customer contact each time.

parcel to us it’s done.

Chris Standeven,

By replacing existing legacy systems with bespoke software FirstPoint

Logistics Director, FirstPoint

Logistics aims to deliver the best customer service in the market.

We are committed to using Offering a single conversation

technology to create a real

for all a business’s logistics needs

competitive advantage for our

The logistics industry typically offers specialist services (air, sea,

clients and FirstPoint Logistics

urgent, high value) but fails to connect up those services leaving the

has a vision that off-the-shelf

customer to manage the connections between each service making

solutions were just not going

complicated logistics even more demanding and time-consuming.

to meet.

Vlad Nanu, Co-CEO, Amdaris

FirstPoint Logistics offers customers a single conversation to cover all the variables they face when shipping goods across the world – air, sea or land, same day or next day, high-value or perishable.

ABOUT AMDARIS Amdaris is a nearshore software development business headquartered in Bristol with offices in Moldova, Romania, and Dubai. It is run by Co-CEOs Andy Rogers and Vlad Nanu and recently closed a £6m investment from BGF.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at existec.com

E

xis Technologies, global leaders in IT solutions for the

One of the white paper recommendations is the incorporation of

management of dangerous goods in sea transport, and

integrated digital tools that automate critical compliance functions,

their parent company National Cargo Bureau (NCB), the

like Hazcheck Detect.

New York based cargo inspection company have launched Hazcheck Detect, a cargo screening tool to detect misdeclared and undeclared

Hazcheck Detect focuses on...

dangerous goods in containerised shipments. Maersk are the first customer signed to the Hazcheck Detect solution.

Undeclared dangerous goods Looks for cargo that is not declared as DG, looking for suspicious

In a white paper published by NCB in July this year they reported

items that should be declared as DG.

that a recent Container Inspection Safety Initiative they had carried out revealed an alarming number of containers carried by sea include

Misdeclared dangerous goods

misdeclared dangerous cargoes that represent a serious safety

Looks for cargo which is declared as DG, but may not have been

risk to crew, vessel and the environment. The inspection initiative

declared as the correct DG.

showed that 55% of containers were non-compliant with 43% failing to secure dangerous goods correctly within the container itself.

It scans all booking details for keywords, validates against rules

Approximately 6.5% of containers carrying dangerous cargoes had

and highlights suspicious bookings to identify misdeclared and

been misdeclared. The white paper is calling for industry to adopt

undeclared dangerous goods (DG). Container lines that sign up to

a comprehensive, holistic and coordinated approach to address this

use the service will be able to screen their bookings and bills of

worrying trend with 12 recommendations ranging from embracing a

lading using the same keywords and rules to try to find mis and/or

safety culture for dangerous goods compliance to practical measures

undeclared dangerous goods, thereby helping to ensure the safety of

for container and vessel inspections and monitoring.

the crew, ships and cargo. In the future there is also scope to apply the tool for use in other global screening applications not related to dangerous goods, for example, the illegal shipping of wildlife or other compliance cargo. Currently, the system has around 4,500 mis-declared rules and 10,000 undeclared rules available.

1 SEPTEMBER 2020

EXIS TECHNOLOGIES LAUNCHES

SCREENING TOOL

FOR MISDECLARED & UNDECLARED DANGEROUS GOODS FORWARDER magazine

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TECH & DIGITALISATION

A

EXPERTS

n increasing number of containership incidents

The growing spread of undeclared and misdeclared DG

are being caused by poorly stowed, undeclared

Last year, NCB conducted 32,387 DG container (dry and tank)

or misdeclared dangerous cargoes. Nine major

inspections in the USA and found that 7.9% of these units (equating to

containership fires were reported in 2019 resulting in tragic loss

2,569 containers) were noncompliant due to poor stowage/securing;

of life, significant damage to vessels and cargoes, and a range

misdeclared cargo or other related issues. NCB recently spearheaded

of other associated consequences. The increasing number of

a Container Inspection Safety Initiative (CISI) involving the inspection

containers being carried coupled with the trend for larger

of 500 containers from participating carriers. These inspections

containerships is exacerbating and concentrating this risk.

included DG and non-DG import loads from Latin America, Europe, Asia and Middle East as well as export loads involving shippers that

The Ultra Large Container Carrier (ULCC) Maersk Honam with

had not previously been exposed to container inspections. The

a capacity of 15,266 TEU caught fire on 6 March 2018. 27 crew

objective of this initiative was to quantify the level of danger that

were on board and 7,860 containers were stowed. Tragically, five

exists on every voyage caused by misdeclared or insufficiently secured

crew members lost their lives. The cause of the fire has not been

cargoes. It is intended that this will act as a catalyst for increased

determined, but it is suspected that undeclared or misdeclared

container inspections globally, increased safety awareness and

DG cargo was involved. According to TT Club data on average

regulatory compliance of shippers, freight consolidators and export

a containership is involved in a major fire every 60 days.

container packers; and ultimately a reduction in shipboard incidents due to non-compliance with DG regulations

Reasons are varied and include the difficulty of supply chain stakeholders complying with a myriad of regulations; a poor

55% of inspected containers failed to comply including 43% for

understanding of what constitutes a dangerous cargo and what

poor securing of cargo within the container. Approximately

is required to transport it; the increasing complexity of multi-

6.5% of the DG containers contained DG cargoes that had been

modal supply chains; carriers and ports restricting or refusing

misdeclared. Interestingly, for DG containers exported from the

to move or receive certain dangerous cargoes; varied internal

USA, the failure rate was 38% which, when compared to the

company challenges; and the continuing threat of bad actors.

annual average of 7.9% for regular inspections, may be a strong indication that shippers and consolidators are more likely to

A White Paper from the National Cargo Bureau is calling for

comply with applicable regulations if there is a reasonable chance

urgent reform and offers a way forward for enhancing industry-

their shipment will be inspected

wide compliance and safety. It recommends a comprehensive, holistic dangerous goods programme that sets a high, minimum

Startlingly, 2.5% of inspected imported DG containers were

bar for achieving regulatory compliance requiring a robust

found to include misdeclared cargoes that represented a serious

internal safety culture with strong management backing.

risk to crew, vessel and the environment. When extrapolated to the 5.4million2 DG containers shipped annually, the potential risk to life, vessel, cargo and the environment is unacceptably high and hard to ignore.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at existec.com

Recommendations

Establish a compliant DG training programme

NCB recognize that container vessel operators bear a

IMDG Code e-learning (39-18) is online training, developed in

disproportionate level of the risk associated with the carriage

collaboration with the International Maritime Organization,

of non-compliant dangerous goods and have developed a list of

for all shore side staff involved in the shipment of dangerous

12 recommendations to assist shipping lines with this issue. Exis

goods by sea. We offer several levels of training including

Technologies, part of the NCB Group, has been working closely

general awareness, function specific and advanced. The

with NCB to help to develop tools that address several of NCB’s

courses are used by 6 of the top 10 container lines and

recommendations.

are approved by several competent authorities worldwide www.imdge-learning.com. We also offer Container packing

Incorporate integrated digital tools that automate

www.ctupack.com and Tank Container www.tankcontainer-

critical compliance functions

elearning.com e-learning courses.

Hazcheck Detect is a new cargo scanning tool that scans all booking details for keywords, validates against rules and highlights

For further information on National Cargo Bureau’s holistic

suspicious bookings to identify misdeclared and undeclared

approach, including their 12 recommendations and potential

dangerous goods (DG). Currently, the system has around 4,500

solutions to assist in the development of a robust DG programme

mis-declared rules and 10,000 undeclared rules available. The

can be found here: www.natcargo.org/Holistic_Approach

rules are continually enhanced and will evolve using machine learning and AI techniques. Maersk are the first customer signed to the Hazcheck Detect solution. https://hazcheck.existec.com/ hazcheck-systems/hazcheck-detect.aspx

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SAFETY

ADDRESSING THE CARRIAGE OF NON-COMPLIANT DANGEROUS GOODS FORWARDER magazine

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TECH & DIGITALISATION

I

EXPERTS

magine a future in which hunger and thirst around the world

Using AI, logistics professionals and data scientists can anticipate

are no longer life-threatening problems for anyone. Impossible,

all kinds of consumer needs. In a world in which inequality in food

right? Well, with improvements in shipping and logistics tech, we

supply runs rampant, such an understanding of needs has incredible

are edging ever closer to that reality.

implications.

Artificial intelligence powers data analytics and decision making

Blockchain Systems

processes that are changing industries. The data can be used as a

Blockchain systems have been gaining popularity in a variety of

tool for transportation and communication and makes for a better

industries. This technology was invented for and popularized by the

system. This allows us to ensure all needs are being met.

cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Made up of linked cryptographic hashes in data modules called blocks, blockchains operate at an enhanced level

It will most likely be a long time before we can completely end world

of security and data mobility.

hunger. However, with the use of data technology to alter shipping and logistics we can work to close this gap. Here, we’ll explore

For the world of shipping and freight management, blockchain offers

how new tools are changing freight and logistics, as well as how this

a lot of benefits. Cogoport Europe and Milvum, for example, are

change can address global inequalities.

teaming up to make a blockchain logistics platform. They want to ensure their products and ingredients are ethically sourced. As tech

Tech Improvements Changing Shipping and Logistics

like theirs becomes more popular, more consumers than ever will

The modern world is a fast-changing landscape of incredible

be able to access a network of sustainable, ethical food sources.

technologies. Many of these new trends have much to offer shipping and logistics. Everything from data analysis to manual processes like

Robotics

loading freight could potentially transform.

With the help of automation, freight and shipping businesses have had a boost in productivity and safety among workers.

Below, we’ve listed some of the ways shipping and logistics tech are always being improved for business solutions that can help the larger world.

Robotics make for faster times in finding, sorting, and loading product, all while keeping employees safe. They are saving companies

Artificial Intelligence Tools

time and money, reducing costs for the consumer in turn.

AI, once a pipedream of science fiction, powers much of the new technology in freight and logistics. With the power of AI to scan

There has been a global trend in recent years towards more

and analyze a lot of data that no human could process, it’s clear why

automation. The use of robotics gives us the possibility of delivery

these tools are being used within the industry.

drones and autonomous vehicles. This would make transporting food and water across the globe much more efficient. Robotics are

AI can track consumer information as well as key performance

already here in the shipping industry—a key element of Amazon’s

indicators. This brings comprehensive insight into every aspect of a

success—and will continue to grow.

business. This is invaluable when navigating a messy web of suppliers, destinations, and inventory.

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Transportation Management Systems

Sources of sustainable water are a real threat to millions of lives.

This software, usually located on a secure network, acts as a

Approximately 10% of the world’s population lacks access to basic

platform for all the information in a transportation system. A TMS

drinking water. However, with the help of AI analytical tools, we

can optimize route scheduling, process payments, or even conduct

could potentially see a shift in this massive inequality.

freight auditing.

Monitration devices can maintain water resource data in real-time.

Such a system can help manage everything from fleets to rail systems,

Additionally, predictive analytics can provide informed indications of

like Sweden’s newly implemented collaboration to enhance food

when a shortage may occur. Then, with the help of drones or even

transportation. Across supply chains, comprehensive dashboards for

autonomous vehicles, shipments of water can be dispersed where

data and communication lead to better values and reduced waste

they are needed most.

in the food industry. This can translate to lower costs and broader accessibility of resources in communities that need them most.

The ability of technology to aid in the disbursement of food in underserved communities improves all the time. Constant analysis

New technology solutions are constantly emerging, changing the

provides insight into communities in need. Meanwhile, automated

face of shipping and logistics. These are but a small sampling of the

shipping devices make for faster deliveries. With the future of global

innovations driving a more efficient system of goods transportation.

food systems integrated with AI and data tools, sustainable and

With every improvement, the ability to produce more accessible and

resource-efficient consumption can occur on a global scale.

cheaper food and water for the world increases.

Final Thoughts Fighting Global Inequalities with Tech

Though we are still a long way off from a world free of hunger and

Perhaps the biggest issues to face the world in the years to come will

thirst, the tools to get there are improving all the time. With AI

be access to food and water in certain communities. The disparities

and data technology that enable predictive analysis and automated

are already there and growing. However, technology enables

solutions, we could legitimately see global inequalities fought through

solutions through logistics and shipping that may prove useful.

effective resource management.

However, the question remains: who would be responsible for shipping and logistics at this scale?

Indiana Lee, contributing writer

HOW IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPPING & LOGISTICS TECH CAN

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olin Abrey of Nextivity outlines the importance

For those of us that do venture out for some retail therapy,

of reliable 4G coverage in distribution centres,

safety measures, such as the non-touching of merchandise unless

warehouses and behind the scene stock rooms

there is an intent to purchase, hand sanitizers at shop entrances/ exits, obligatory mask wearing, reduced changing room capacity,

Seamless mobile connectivity and high-speed internet access

etc will do little to boost our confidence, further driving demand

have been our saving grace for the last few months, and not just

and pushing the customer service expectations of online retail.

from a commercial perspective. Digital communications have allowed those shielding to remain in contact with family/friends/

Central to these new purchasing trends is a slick and effective supply

colleagues, thus providing some semblance of normality. It has

chain process, from order placement right through to despatch, and

also allowed the rest of us to get our “shopping fix” by serving

seamless mobile coverage plays a fundamental role in this process.

as the enabler behind the online purchasing of what are now termed as “non-essential items.”

Mobile only business strategies are the new normal More and more companies are pushing mobile-only strategies

The country is now slowly returning back to normal, with

for infrastructure and operational reasons, and seamless mobile

retailers and other businesses adapting their respective facilities

coverage is no longer limited to smartphones; t’s the driving

to entice us out of our homes and onto the high street. However,

force behind many smart building features, including lights,

according to the Office for National Statistics, only 36% of

access control, sensors and CCTV. The levels of efficiency that

people in England actually feel happy about leaving their homes.

modern businesses are seeking cannot be achieved by a Wi-

Furthermore, one in five have stated they would never enter

Fi only strategy. Implementing quality mobile phone coverage

clothes shops again, which means that home-shopping, along

enables a single device to become a specific point of contact for

with homeworking, home schooling, etc is likely to continue to

the user, irrespective of location. Only by delivering effective

be “the new normal” for the foreseeable future.

mobile phone coverage can a business deliver the quality of service (QoS) needed for voice calls (essential to profitability

Innovation and flexibility are the key to survival

and customer satisfaction) as well as driving process application.

As a result of the crisis, businesses across the board have had to be increasingly innovative and flexible. They’ve been forced to

Distribution centres have patchy mobile coverage

rethink their business models simply to retain the bottom line. In

In paradox, most large warehouses and distribution centres are

retail this has meant free delivery, free collections and extended

blighted by inconsistent mobile coverage because of the building

return periods. These changes have had a dramatic impact on

materials used. Concurrently, facility managers are often limiting

customer expectations, taking the concept of these free services

investment in solutions to overcome this to certain parts of the

past the point of no return.

building, such as rest areas, canteen facilities and administration offices. This leaves the large storage areas, along with goods in and out handling areas, with no mobile phone signals because of the perceived high costs involved.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at cel-fi.com

Not only does inadequate mobile connectivity impact supply chain

However, this is no longer the case. Thanks to a relaxation in

efficiency, ubiquitous mobile coverage is a basic health and safety

the mobile repeater rules by the telecoms regulator, facilities

requirement that facility managers should be fulfilling. However, many

managers can now take action to improve their mobile signal

are failing on that score because of the sheer magnitude of these

quality using readily available signal boosting equipment. The only

facilities. More importantly, the provision of uninterrupted mobile

limiting factor is that said equipment must satisfy Ofcom’s mobile

connectivity will soon be fundamental to safety critical communications

repeater licence exemption specification and not many do. Cel-

inside buildings as the UK’s public safety communications networks

Fi by Nextivity is an example of Ofcom licence-exemption

transition from Tetra to 4G. What this will mean in practical terms

compliant solutions.

is that without a reliable 4G signal, first responders and blue light services will be unable to effectively manage an incident and staff will

As the UK emerges from Covid-19, warehouse and facilities

be unable to dial 999 from anywhere within the building. Not only

managers will have a pivotal role to play in fulfilling sales orders.

could this potentially put lives at risk, it poses the question of who

This in turn will help boost both the economy and consumer

would be held to account?

confidence. Reliable indoor mobile coverage is central to this and the use of supplementary equipment to ensure this is achieved

Providing in-building 4G coverage is not complicated

can no longer be regarded as the last consideration or worse,

Most large warehouse facilities and distribution centres have

not considered at all. Connectivity drives productivity and

already invested and implemented sophisticated tracking

creates new opportunities. Facility and supply chain process

technologies to improve supply chain management. With ever-

managers that are slow to realise this could find their respective

diminishing profit margins as a result of market expectations for

businesses losing out to the competition.

'free' everything, 'rip and replace' tactics to enable seamless mobile connectivity are not always feasible. Implementing supplementary technologies like mobile signal boosters hasn’t always been plain sailing either because, until recently, their deployment was illegal.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

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t’s a challenging time for the global economy. Covid-19 has

Has there been a better time

seen sales numbers plummet, sending businesses of all sizes

to invest in automation technology?

into survival mode. With tighter cost controls in place,

With many companies freezing IT programs with hefty financial

businesses across the logistics industry are freezing long term

commitments, project resources are available to spearhead change.

IT programs, leaving project resources sitting idle while we ride

Unlike many IT transformation initiatives, Shipamax’s document

out these turbulent times.

automation solution is a light touch - we offer a fully packaged, predictable implementation programme that’s managed by our

It’s clear that the number one priority is keeping business healthy,

Customer Success team. We’ve found end users can get up to

and now more than ever, the spotlight is ensuring efficient work

speed in less than 30 minutes - a relief for implementation managers

practices are a top priority. As a result, we’re seeing businesses

responsible for driving new initiatives during this remote period.

use this time to take a step back to review dated systems and internal technologies as they look for new ways to save money

It’s no secret that document automation technology can

and mitigate risk.

address back office inefficiencies. In the current climate, driving efficiencies is more important than ever, and will ultimately help

Automation technology is more relevant than ever

freight forwarders set up for future success.

Before Covid-19 shook the world, automation was already a fast growing trend throughout the logistics industry. In a recent

What is Shipamax doing to help businesses

survey of business leaders by EY, 41% of respondents said they

in the current market?

were investing in accelerating automation as businesses prepared

Shipamax is committed to helping global logistics companies

for a post-crisis world.

generate efficiencies during these uncertain times. We’ve made some changes to our commercial offering that we believe will

Despite uncertain market conditions, it’s clear many businesses

allow new customers to invest in technology without a big budget.

still have one eye on the future, with the objective of emerging from the current crisis in a stronger position. Interestingly,

Consumption based pricing model

what we’re seeing is that businesses are still willing to sign off

Our consumption based pricing model can be scaled up and down

technology purchases that help to deliver quick and quantifiable

depending on your business needs. So during these uncertain

ROI. Document automation fits this mould.

times, your software costs will be matched to your demand.

No implementation fees Our out-of-the box integrations with popular systems such as CargoWise and Microsoft Outlook mean you won’t have to stump up for hefty implementation fees before you see a return on your investment.

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Flexibility on terms We’re working closely with new customers to set out terms that

If you’re considering different options, such as OCR, you can

work for all parties. We understand that market conditions are

learn more about some of the differences between OCR, RPA

unique, and we want to make sure that as a solution provider,

at Shipamax.com . We'd love to talk

we’re giving our customers the opportunity to generate maximum value from our technology. If you have budget freezes, or resource

Shipamax helps to free logistics companies from manual admin

uncertainties, let us know & we’ll make sure our agreement

using plug and play automation. If you're a logistics company and

ensures you’re not taking on unnecessary commitments.

you’d like to learn more about back office document automation, we would love to hear from you.

Is the time right to invest in document automation technology?

Jenna Brown, Co-Founder & CEO, Shipamax

These are unprecedented and uncertain times for businesses, but there is an opportunity to emerge in a position of strength.

If you have idle project resources that need to be utilised, and are looking for a project with minimal risk and high ROI, that will help generate efficiencies in a crisis, perhaps now is the ideal time to invest in automation technology.

INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY DURING TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY? ...THE TIME IS RIGHT

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nternational Workers’ Day goes back to the year 1886. In the

transmitted via stationary terminals. This is prone to errors,

USA, a strike that lasted several days began on 1 May with

interrupts the process and costs time. In addition, the data is

the aim of enforcing the eight-hour day, which is still in force

not recorded in real time, which can lead to recommendations

in most companies today. But work is changing. Digitalisation is

for action and protective mechanisms taking effect too late or

often equated with robotics and artificial intelligence, and many

possibly not at all.

employees are increasingly concerned that in the future they will no longer play a role in production processes. But humans will

In order to upgrade production and logistics to Industry 4.0

continue to play an important role in industry. The aim is to plan

standards, it is essential that employees understand the benefits

the production environment in such a way that employees and

of wearables and integrate them into their everyday work. One

machines can integrate seamlessly into processes, work together

of the most important criteria for the acceptance of smart

and communicate with each other. For this to succeed, people

systems is ergonomics. Wearables should offer tangible added

must be equipped accordingly with the right tools.

value. For example, in terms of weight or freedom of movement.

Ideally, they do not distract the employee's attention during

Industry 4.0 has long ceased to be just a dream of the future.

work processes but integrate themselves almost naturally. In

It has become firmly integrated into production facilities in

industrial environments, wearables should have the appropriate

recent years. Pioneers in this segment include the automotive

robustness to ensure long service life. In addition, users should

industry and aviation – and trade followed their example. The

make sure that the systems are easy to install and commission.

aim of Industry 4.0 is to use networking and automation to

A simple solution is offered by systems that follow a plug-and-

make production more efficient and above all more flexible. The

play approach.

systems are based upon data being generated and evaluated in order to derive recommendations for action on this basis, which

Smart Glasses: Additional information

are essential for increasing efficiency, redistributing resources and

and recognition of objects

occupational safety. Robots and machines can already generate

Data glasses can be used in production and logistics in many

this data or be upgraded with appropriate applications. This

different ways. Smart Glasses are used to support and guide

capability is also available for humans in the form of industrial

employees with information via the glasses and to check the

wearables, such as smart glasses, portable audio systems or even

quality. This includes the storage location of the parts, quantity

smart barcode scanners via the use of smart gloves.

or price information. For example, it is possible for the glasses to detect which parts are missing or in short supply and

Industrial wearables often pursue one goal: the employee should

automatically trigger the ordering process. Augmented Reality

have his hands free. But they also allow for decentralised data

(AR) provides the employee with computer-generated additional

and information approaches to be followed. This is particularly

information or virtual objects. In this way, fitters can have the

important in the interaction between man, machine and

next work step displayed directly in their field of vision or call

automated processes. Currently, data is often still entered and

up additional information to provide assistance.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at proglove.com

Audio systems: Interactive headsets for clear

glove come with distinct advantages: the device fits naturally

work instructions and communication

into human movements and workflows and, with a weight of

Another useful wearable feature is interactive "pick by voice"

40 grams, often weighs only a fifth of what ordinary scanners

audio systems, which are mainly used in picking. Using a headset,

weigh. This weight reduction can quickly lead to savings of up to

the employee receives clear work instructions and can answer or

1.5 tons per day and can be particularly effective for employees

request additional information via the integrated microphone. In

in high-frequency scanning areas. Wearable barcode scanners

this way several orders can be processed in just one operation.

that also feature a display provide additional information such as

However, operational capability should be tested in advance. Not

storage location, notification of deliveries or security warnings.

all audio systems are suitable for high pick density, as they scatter too much information and thus require additional concentration

Production 2025: a combination of wearables

from the employee during the execution of the task.

In the logistics and supply chain environment, smart gloves, glasses and audio systems are increasingly becoming a part of

Smart barcode scanners: Ergonomic working

the standard repertoire. But in many cases, the networking

and additional information at hand

of systems and the necessary flexibility can still be expanded.

In numerous industries, data acquisition via barcodes is widely

Some manufacturers are therefore deliberately entering into

used. It is fast, secure and any amount of information can be

cooperative ventures in order to coordinate wearables and their

stored in the barcode. Stationary barcode scanners offer

data flows and to store and process the information collected in a

too little flexibility. Conventional pistol scanners often cause

central system. The goal over the next five years will be to create

ergonomic problems in addition to unnecessary gripping times,

a complete network between humans and digitalised production

they break down quickly or are inadvertently sent in a package.

by intelligently combining different wearables in order to ensure

Barcode scanners that are integrated directly into the work

efficient process flows with maximum occupational safety.

WILL INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY 2025 BE

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O

about – whether it’s purchasing groceries, pet supplies, or meal kits. But,

2

how do you take that first step towards moving your business online?

steps to your planning process:

How do you let your existing customers know that you’re open for

• Determine your optimal delivery strategy

rdering goods and having them delivered to your home is second nature to most consumers. It’s one of the biggest changes to shopping habits that the digital age has brought

Set up a delivery workflow

To begin with deliveries, consider setting up some of the following

deliveries? Where do you get your drivers and delivery vehicles?

» Work out the cut-off time for ensuring same-day deliveries

How do you keep track of all your deliveries and make sure your

» Or, only offer next day delivery:

drivers get to where they are going, and on time?

GO FROM ON-PREMISE TO ONLINE IN 3 STEPS Here are three easy steps you can take today to successfully transition your business from on-premise to online.

1

Let customers know you’re open for delivery

◊ Your routes will be more packed with orders ◊ Meaning fewer drivers, less driving, fatter margins » Make weekly deliveries available for bulk orders ◊ Scheduling several days in advance vastly improves the number of orders a single driver can serve. This is doubly true if you use powerful route optimization software like OptimoRoute • Bag items ahead of time » Disposable cutlery in delivery bags » The most popular grocery items » Offer ready-made ‘essential groceries’ packs • Organize delivery personnel

• Start with Facebook business page and/or Instagram business page » Publish your price list and post it » Include delivery information with each post • Use Wix, Squarespace, Shopify to make a landing page at a later stage

» Use existing staff » Hire drivers • Keep customer data organized in a list » Phone numbers, emails, and delivery addresses

» Add an online ordering form

» Previous orders, favorite meals, etc.

» You can also use Google forms to start

» Use an Excel spreadsheet to keep things organized

• Open communication channels with clients » Direct messages over social media » A dedicated phone number

• Arrange deliveries based on vehicle size » Use bikes or motorcycles for small packages » For big orders and rush deliveries, use cars and trucks

» Email

• Establish a maximum service distance from your store

» Text messages

or restaurant

• Advertise delivery with a poster in your store window • Delight customers with accurate and timely delivery » Notify customers with exact time of day or day of the week delivery windows

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Once everything is ready to be delivered, learn how to manage delivery routes and keep efficiency high.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at optimoroute.com

3

Taking payment from customers

There are many payment methods available, the following are some best-case practices across different businesses: • Use a POS (Point of Sales) system • Or online payment platforms like Amazon Pay, Checkout, 2Checkout or PayPal • Ask for credit card information over the phone • If you’re using cash – make sure your drivers have enough change This article originally appeared on optimoroute.com.

STEPS TO MOVING YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE & STARTING A DELIVERY SERVICE TODAY

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s the government prepares to reveal its strategy

There’s also the added cost and inconvenience for consumers

to start lifting lockdown measures within the

buying on the high street: travel, parking etc.. But with consumers

UK to enable people to go back to work and the

becoming increasingly more cost-conscious – especially those that

economy to click back into gear, online retailers, brands

may be furloughed or made redundant – they will try to save money

and ecommerce businesses will continue to see a huge

any way they can. And if they can purchase the same products

surge in demand. So, what factors do businesses need to

online, at a lower cost and get them delivered cost effectively when

consider now in order to cope with the rise in ecommerce

and where they want – why wouldn’t they shop online?

and home delivery? And how can they remain competitive within an increasingly crowded online marketplace?

Jonathan Bellwood, VP at Descartes, explains...

HUMAN & AUTOMATION COLLABORATION

AN IRREVERSIBLE SHIFT

So how can online retailers become more efficient to cope with the

The imposed lockdown restrictions initiated an irreversible shift

workforce numbers. The impact from Coronavirus has meant that

towards ecommerce as high street stores shut and people had no

huge numbers of staff from the travel, hospitality and retail industries

choice but to turn to online ordering. Online retail was booming

have been left without employment and will be willing and needing

before the crisis, but the impact of Coronavirus has caused many

to work once they are permitted. There will, therefore, be a large

to change their shopping habits – probably for good.

talent pool of potential recruits available to fill up warehouses to

potential surges in demand? One crucial element will be boosting

support ecommerce companies with peaks in demand.

Online grocery shopping is expected to increase by 33% during 2020. The uptake may have started with Coronavirus, but one

Some large retailers, particularly in the groceries industry, rely

reason it will continue is that even once lockdown ends, people

on automation and robotics to meet demand. But the reality is

will still remain risk-averse and want to continue social distancing

that automation is programmed to produce a consistent output

to remain as safe as possible. They will see going to stores as

and has a threshold of how much it can push out; it’s not as

an unnecessary risk, especially when they could easily have the

simple as telling the machines to produce or pick more products,

items they need delivered to their home.

faster. Automation certainly has its place, but not for processes that need to scale on a regular basis.

In addition, with some businesses unable to survive the fallout of Coronavirus, once lockdown ends, the high street may no

For warehouses that have adopted a semi-automated process,

longer be bustling with stores and shoppers. The experience of

the collaboration with human workers means that in times of

the high street is no longer what it once was, and is certainly

peak demand, they can quickly employ more staff that can be

not what consumers are looking for anymore. Retail has become

trained up to accurately pick customer orders and send them

more transactional, with consumers only buying what they need

out. Those businesses that have an optimised Warehouse

rather than spending time browsing.

Management System (WMS) can rapidly increase usage on

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at descartes.com

the system and bring in employees to operate it – humans

Consumer preference and priorities have now dramatically

can upscale and downscale very quickly to adapt to changing

shifted and companies like Amazon have set the standard for

demands and economic conditions. But you can’t just bring in

the ecommerce experience. Consumers don’t want or need to

more staff without a WMS in place.

visit the high street for their shopping needs – people are time poor and will pay for the convenience of having what they need,

Those without a WMS that are clinging on to paper pick lists,

delivered where and when they want it. Customer experience still

manual processes and other unscalable warehouse practices will

reigns supreme, but the emphasis has changed to convenience.

not have benefitted from the surge in online orders so far because they weren’t in a position to cope. In the hyper competitive online

This is why in the modern retail landscape, fulfilment delivery is

retail ecosystem, failing to meet customer expectations with slow

now a key differentiator for ecommerce businesses – especially

or inaccurate order fulfilment means losing a customer for life. But

for those that rely on third party logistics providers. Loyalty is vital

despite the volume of information an e-commerce WMS handles,

for all businesses and the impact of a poor delivery experience can

both in set-up and use, implementation is far from complex. With

significantly alter consumer perception of the brand, potentially

rapid turnaround remote solutions, warehouse management

causing them to shop elsewhere in the future. The use of technology

software can be deployed without having to physically visit a site

to optimise delivery efficiency has never been more important.

to get up and running. If warehouse facilities are available, a logistics platform can be rolled out in a matter of weeks, not months.

CATALYST FOR CHANGE

DEATH OF THE HIGH STREET

One of the few positives to come out of the crisis is that

The decline of the high street has been well publicised for many

adoption to the new vision of retail. Any businesses holding

years, with footfall decreasing and retailers shutting down

on to old ways of working and more traditional systems are

increasingly year on year. The Covid-19 crisis has now accelerated

unlikely to survive through the pandemic. We may still be living

that decline, so with stores having no option but to close their

in an economic climate that is changing day by day, but there is

doors and consumer habits changing for good, we could be

a clear trajectory for retail that is well underway – businesses

witnessing the death of the high street sooner than we thought.

need to adapt now or risk failure.

it will be the undeniable catalyst for businesses to embrace

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f it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, goes the well-worn saying. Monitoring

Top Features of Interest

employees working hours using traditional clocking in/out systems

Time & Attendance system have been around for a while but there

that are recorded manually to a spreadsheet is a case in point.

are many new features and functionality being added all the time.

It seemingly works well, so why go to the expense and upheaval of

Rather than detail them all, here’s the latest features that are proving

implementing a Time & Attendance software based system? Well, the

most popular with users in the logistics sector.

cost of a Time & Attendance system is low and return on investment (ROI) fast; there’s really no upheaval involved if you pick your system

Mobile app: remote workers, including drivers, aren’t able to clock

and supplier well; plus, you get a host of added benefits.

in/out through an onsite reader, so extending the Time & Attendance system to them through a mobile app has been hugely popular.

What is a Time & Attendance System?

Employees can not only enter in their times but also their exact

Time & Attendance systems automatically calculate employees’

location and any tasks they are carrying out. Depending on the

attendance hours, overtime, holidays and absences - all exportable

sophistication of the app, they can also request holidays and perform

to payroll in minutes - and provide evidence in proof of compliancy

other functions quick and simply.

with working time regulations.

Cost centring: for companies that require job costs to be allocated A basic system will include a terminal/readers and software.

to a specific project or budget, or to be invoiced out, a Time &

The terminal/readers are used to capture the individual employee’s

Attendance system is now almost essential as it provides details of

clocking in/out data and are available in card or fob and biometric

the true cost and not just to the nearest hour or so (plus there’s

formats, depending on your requirements and the nature of the site

evidence to verify it). This has proven especially popular in logistics.

and activities. The software, which makes all the relevant calculations, is either placed on your computers or can be browser-based.

Presence Indicator Panel: this shows in real-time who is currently present and who’s not, which is ideal for fire role call.

It Pays to be Accurate By far the greatest benefit of moving to a modern Time & Attendance

Automatic Payroll reporting: as well as calculating employee hours in

system is accuracy. Individual employee data is monitored and

real-time, Time & Attendance systems also come with full reporting

calculated in real time down to the second, including hours worked,

and exporting features, enabling you to interface with your external

breaks, overtime, absences and allowances. Every type of work

payroll service provider.

pattern and schedule can be recorded, including flexi-time.

Cost Concerns In logistics, drivers frequently work outside of office hours. You either

When taking into account the improved accuracy and the time, and

have to take their word for when their shift ended or you need to

subsequent cost, saved from manual entry, we estimate that ROI is

give them access to a clocking off facility inside the building, which

around ten times the cost of the system. We provide an easy to use

compromises your security and is inconvenient all round. Employing

calculator on our website - www.stanleysecurity.co.uk/resources/

a modern Time & Attendance system enables the driver to clock out

savings-calculator - if you want to check to see what the ROI could

through an external electronic reader; quick, simple, accurate!

be for your business.

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A further option is to finance your system through a rental scheme,

Time & Attendance systems may not be new, but the increased

such as our own STANLEY Assure. Rather than purchase the

functionality that has been added to them over recent years has been

system outright, you rent the system, which is good for cash

a real driving factor in their uptake. A manual approach to Time &

flow and removes the need to justify and raise capital outlay in a

Attendance is like being on a winding country lane – it’s nice, but takes

depreciating asset.

a while to get to your destination - when your business could be on the highway to arrive in half the time and without any wrong turns!

ABOUT STANLEY SECURITY

James Evans, Senior Account Manager at STANLEY Security

STANLEY Security is a market leader in the provision, installation, finance and maintenance of integrated Time & Attendance, access control, payroll, job costing and HR solutions to all sizes of business. www.stanleysecurity.co.uk/ services/time-attendance

IF IT AIN’T BROKE…

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EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS NEWS

27 AUGUST 2020

LOGISTICS UK LAUNCHES

VIRTUAL FUTURE LOGISTICS 2020 F rom zero-emission vehicles to self-driving trucks, 5G

Mark Griffin, CEO of ITT Hub, is excited by the prospect of the

to smart cities, the shape of logistics in the UK is set to

new event:

transform dramatically in the coming decades. To give

of the COVID-19 pandemic, meant we were unable to share the huge

delegates an opportunity to hear from thought leaders and experts

flagship industry conference programme we had planned. However, this

on some of these critical topics, before the main ITT Hub event and

new event will give our audience the opportunity to gain insights from

conference next year, the organisation is launching Future Logistics

leading names across the industry, and should whet appetites for the

2020, a virtual conference and exhibition which is free to attend for

rescheduled ITT Hub show and full Future Logistics Conference which

all, sponsored by Brigade Electronics.

we have rescheduled for May next year at Farnborough International

The postponement of ITT Hub in May this year, as a result

Exhibition and Conference centre. With so much innovation happening To be held on 13 November 2020 on a state of the art, immersive

every day across transport and logistics, Future Logistics 2020 will

live events platform, the one-day event will feature leading voices

showcase some of the developments and thinking which sets our sector

from across the logistics and transport sectors, who will explore

apart from the rest. It’s one not to be missed.

the forces set to shape the industry of tomorrow, covering topics as wide ranging as data, vehicles, fuels, Brexit, communities and business

Future Logistics will also offer delegates the opportunity to engage

strategies. As with a physical event, there will also be an extensive

with leading logistics industry suppliers online in the Exhibition Hall.

exhibition space for attendees to visit as well as opportunities for

Visitors will be able to download brochures, thought leadership

1-1 networking with other delegates, sponsors and exhibitors. The

content and whitepapers showcasing the latest technical innovations;

event is also sponsored by the AA and Bott Ltd.

they are also free to ask exhibitors questions via text or video chat.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed the tide of technology. Self-

ITT Hub, an industry led event showcasing the best in transport

driving trucks, zero-emission vehicles, smart cities, and drone technology

innovation and technology, has been postponed to 12 and 13 May

are all evolving fast and logistics professionals must be prepared to adapt

2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on the

to this new landscape. And, with the uncertainties of the UK’s future

event, due to be held at the Farnborough International Exhibition &

trading relationship with the EU – along with the long-term implications of

Conference Centre, please visit www.itthub.co.uk

COVID-19 – this important event will help logistics businesses understand what lies in store for logistics in the coming months and years.

To book your place at Future Logistics 2020 please visit

David Wells, Chief Executive, Logistics UK

logistics.org.uk/future-logistics

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EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS NEWS

24 AUGUST 2020

FREIGHT ASSOCIATION

YOUNG FORWARDER NETWORK SHORTLISTED FOR AWARD

T

he British International Freight Association's (BIFA) Young

From the lockdown caused by Covid-19, the YFN was re-launched

Forwarder Network has been named as a finalist in this

online and holds virtual events every two weeks for one hour. In June,

year’s Talent in Logistics Awards in the Collaboration in

it had a record attendance at any YFN event, live or digital, with 71

People Development category.

attending a virtual port tour of DP World London Gateway. When we launched the YFN, there were no professional networking groups for

We are absolutely delighted that we made the finalists’ shortlist,

young people within the freight forwarding sector. The judges recognised

although we face some strong competition from some blue-chip

that the YFN enables participants to build-up their own professional

freight industry brands that have entered this category.

network and develop their skill sets in many ways, whilst participating

Carl Hobbis, Training Development Manager, BIFA

in events that are fresh, interactive, engaging and sociable.

BIFA’s Young Forwarder Network (YFN) was launched in March 2019

YFN members have an influence on its direction , with local committees

to provide a platform for those new to the industry to develop their

helping to organise events both in advance and on the day. This experience

knowledge and professional skills, within a sociable environment.

enables them to develop many skills at an early stage within their careers.

The YFN enables participants to enhance their career prospects by

Within the structure of the YFN, employer governors are appointed in

providing opportunities to support their professional development

each region, to provide support and guidance. One of them, Ian Mallon,

through access to exclusive events, boosting knowledge, sharing

managing director of Neon Freight said:

skills, advice and experiences from industry professionals and

initiative for the future talent of the freight and logistics industry. For

providing visits to places of industry interest.

years, the industry has perhaps suffered from an inconsistent funnel

The YFN is a fantastic

of future recruits, and this helps to ensure new starters are given In the first year, the YFN held more than 20 events, which have

opportunities to learn new skills, and try out networking for the first

carried on in a virtual format since the lockdown commenced, and

time. I am proud that this initiative has been recognised by the judges of

welcomed over 400 individual participants.

the Talent in Logistics awards and hope that it will be named winner of the category when the winners are revealed at the annual awards event, which will take place online on the evening of October 1, 2020.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at logistics.org.uk

I

nspecting and maintaining vehicles and trailers effectively in

Vehicle technologies in logistics are evolving constantly with

a today’s increasingly technological world is becoming more

an increasing number of new applications and different vehicle

challenging for commercial vehicle engineers. To help those

configurations making fleet management a more complex engineering

responsible for the maintenance of fleets of all sizes, Logistics UK

task. With these technological developments coming in thick and fast,

will be holding its first virtual Fleet Engineer Conference on 21

it can be challenging to stay ahead of the game. Logistics UK’s Fleet

October 2020.

Engineer Conference 2020 will focus on how engineers can inspect and maintain vehicles & trailers effectively – embracing new and evolving

Using a cutting edge, immersive conference and networking platform,

technologies, but without losing sight of the basic, most essential

the one-day event will provide delegates with exclusive opportunities

practices. And, thanks to cutting-edge virtual conference technology,

to hear about the very latest developments in commercial vehicle

delegates can enjoy the event from the comfort of home or work.

technology, maintenance legislation changes and best practice advice

Phil Lloyd, Head of Engineering Policy, Logistics UK

from leading names from across the sector. Sponsored by Brigade Electronics, Clarios, Continental Tyres, ExxonMobil, Logistics UK

Continental Tyres is delighted to sponsor the inaugural Logistics

Recovery and Schmitz Cargobull, the event will be ideal for those

UK Fleet Engineer virtual event. These are challenging times for

with responsibility for specifying commercial vehicles, ensuring

the road transport industry, and this event offers Continental the

roadworthiness, compliance and maintaining vehicles.

opportunity to meet and engage with industry colleagues, to provide the tools and solutions fleets need to help, now and in the future.

ABOUT LOGISTICS UK

We look forward to exploring how the latest tyre technology can

Logistics UK (formerly FTA) is one of the UK’s leading business

Mat Wilkinson, Commercial Director, Continental Tyres

serve fleets, to drive down emissions, and maximise efficiency.

groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.

LOGISTICS UK’S FLEET ENGINEER CONFERENCE 24 AUGUST 2020

IS BACK FOR 2020 FORWARDER magazine

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CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

Documented permission to pass that a national customs authority grants to imported/exported goods so that they can enter/leave the country.

Related topics Bonded warehousing Customs brokerage Duties & taxes

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CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

NEWS

21 AUGUST 2020

GIVE US TIME TO ADAPT TO THE

NEW SMART FREIGHT SYSTEM ASKS UK LOGISTICS SECTOR

I

n response to the government’s consultation on Operation

Logistics UK is urging the government to provide the logistics industry

Brock enforcement, which closes Sunday and relates to road

with visibility of its Smart Freight System as an urgent priority; user

usage at Channel Ports, particularly across Kent, after the end

confidence in the platform is vital to ensure it is successful in keeping

of the EU transition period, Logistics UK raised several concerns...

traffic moving through Kent. Our members are ready and willing to make a success of the new border arrangements for freight, but –

Whilst it is sensible to have a contingency measure in place to minimise

as with any new technology – we need time to trial, test and adapt

disruption on the road network in Kent, Operation Brock will not,

to the new system. With the immense pressure of the Christmas

itself, remove friction from the border crossing. Furthermore,

planning period approaching – in addition to existing strains on

government must also make sure the system, while trying to manage

capacity due to the pandemic – we need concrete reassurance that

international traffic, will not create extra disruptions for hauliers

logistics businesses will be given enough time for testing ahead of

making local deliveries.

the implementation date of January 2021.

The Smart Freight System, which will complement Brock to remove

When it is fully operational, the new Smart Freight System will be

pressure from Kent, will be one of the many systems hauliers will

the mechanism international bound operators will need to use to

have to interact with. In total, international transport operators may

know if they are considered ‘border ready’ and able to access the

have to use no less than eight different systems. This is a tall order

channel ports, which should help keep traffic moving through Kent

and the least they can expect is to be given appropriate support and

by preventing trucks that are not ‘border ready’ from accessing the

sufficient time to get familiar with these platforms.

county’s road network. However, in itself it will not stop friction at the borders. This can only be achieved through measures such as reaching a free trade agreement and coordination between authorities on both sides of the border; we will continue pressing the government to secure a deal.

Chris Yarsley, Policy Manager for Road Infrastructure, Logistics UK

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at descartes.com

D

escartes Systems Group (Nasdaq: DSGX) (TSX:DSG),

Ensuring that our day-to-to logistics business remains accurate

the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in

and efficient for our customers is top priority, so it was absolutely

commerce, provides worldwide logistics service provider;

crucial to find a solution that could enable us to cope with the huge

KLG Europe, with its e-Customs solution to support with the

extra volume of customs declarations that will be required post

impending compulsory customs declarations processes post Brexit.

Brexit. The customs declaration process is complex, and so the added value of Descartes’ training and knowledge on this has been

Freight forwarder KLG Europe’s operations have been predominantly

paramount since deploying the e-Customs solution. Additionally,

conducted within the EU, meaning that prior to Brexit, customs

it has the capability to integrate with our other current systems,

declarations have not been necessary for the organisation.

eliminating duplication of work. While many Brexit deadlines have

And for its 5% of import and exports to non-EU countries, the

come and gone, we’re now confident we will be ready to deal with

customs declarations were previously outsourced to agents. With

the 100% increase in customs declarations that will be required from

the impending deadline of Brexit, and the reality of EU customs

us from 1st January 2021.

declarations increasing from none to an estimated 28,000 per year,

Jamie Wood, General Manager, KLG Europe Bradford Ltd.

it became commercially clear that KLG Europe needed a solution to successfully manage this volume of customs declarations in-house.

For businesses like KLG Europe, that are going from processing

Ensuring its business remains efficient and compliant is critical for its

zero customs declarations to tens of thousands, and in some cases,

clients. After seeking advice from Descartes and with the help of the

hundreds of thousands overnight, the complex process of managing

Government’s Customs Grant Scheme, KLG Europe has been able

in-house customs declarations may not seem appealing. But, as KLG

to deploy Descartes' e-Customs solution and has undergone training

Europe realised, it made more sense for their operation to develop

with Descartes – ensuring the complicated customs declarations

inhouse expertise. Deploying Descartes’ e-Customs solution along

process will be as straightforward as possible, once the Brexit

with expert training helps to simplify the customs process and

deadline passes.

ensure businesses remain both compliant and efficient.

Pol Sweeney, VP Sales & Business Manager UK, Descartes

13 AUGUST 2020

KLG EUROPE DEPLOYS

DESCARTES’ E-CUSTOMS SYSTEM IN PREPARATION FOR BREXIT FORWARDER magazine

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FORWARDER magazine ISSUE56 126gerlach-customs.com

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We develop tailor-made concepts and solutions for your industry specific requirements.

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We ensure fast processing without delays and daily operational support from a single source.

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27 countries

170 offices

750 customs experts127

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INDUSTRY SERVICES

Organisations and bodies that provide essential support to the freight and logistics industries.

Related topics Warehousing Insurance & legal Vehicles & equipment

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INDUSTRY SERVICES

NEWS

POSITIVE OUTCOMES 31 AUGUST 2020

IN SPITE OF NATIONAL LOCKDOWN

I

t’s not all doom and gloom as Tony Farley, Director of Sales at

Logistics and distribution companies were the backbone of UK

temporary building manufacturer and installer Lauralu leads the

industry helping businesses to continue to operate and deliver goods

post lockdown positive news stories.

to customers and stores throughout lockdown, so we are thrilled to be able to supply the temporary buildings and canopies that will

We’re not here to rub salt into the wounds of companies that haven’t

help them to cope with demand in 2020 and beyond.

had such positive outcomes but myself and the team here in the UK have been pleasantly surprised by the robustness of the marketplace.

Long-term 375sqm loading bay canopy

It’s not a pat on the back to ourselves but more a great reflection of the UK’s keep calm and carry on attitude. Additionally its testament to the desire of these businesses to maximise opportunities expand.

Since we returned to full operational capacity back in June we have worked on the site of two growing UK based hauliers as well as a third party logistics company based in the Midlands and North West to install 2500qm of additional loading and storage space.

Fast installation times; on-site build; short-, mediumand long-term rental available

ABOUT LAURALU Lauralu is a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of temporary buildings with hubs in the UK, France and Spain. If you need more space but are worried about the risk involved in building larger premises talk to Lauralu about their hire and lease packages. Email enquiries@lauraluindustry.co.uk or call one Long-term 375sqm storage warehouse at Midlands-based depot

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of their professional team on 01827 215 217 – alternatively you can download an information brochure at lauraluindustry.co.uk

Fast, Cost Effective, Temporary Buildings to Rent or Buy

Lauralu is a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of temporary buildings and canopies to rent or buy.

Lauralu offer bespoke designed building solutions, with flexible hire or buy options and flexible payment plans. With locations across Europe, we cover the whole of the continent and we pride ourselves on our speedy installation. What our clients use our buildings for:

Warehousing & Storage | Warehouse Extensions | Workshops | Manufacturing Facilities Loading Bays | Passenger & Freight Airport Buildings | Logistics and Transports Hubs.

Contact Lauralu UK on 01827 215217 Lauralu - Offices in UK | France | Spain E: enquiries@lauraluindustry.co.uk www.lauraluindustry.co.uk

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INDUSTRY SERVICES

NEWS

3PL & SOCIAL CHAIN 6 AUGUST 2020

ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

3

PL, has been appointed by Social Chain to provide

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with 3PL as we expand

ecommerce order fulfilment solutions as the Manchester-

our offering into the European market. Their experience in delivering fully

based company continues to scale globally.

integrated, end-to-end fulfilment solutions, coupled with their in-house data platform, made 3PL the perfect fit for Social Chain. 3PL provides each

The partnership with the Wigan-based logistics provider will see

of our brands with a unique and tailored fulfilment solution, facilitating

3PL provide ecommerce order fulfilment and incorporate inbound

Social Chain's ambitious growth goals in 2020 and beyond.

receiving, storage, handling and delivery for a number of brands

Anna Graham, Ecommerce Director, Social Chain

recently acquired by Social Chain.

The first brands to be rolled out under the partnership are

ABOUT SOCIAL CHAIN

Hempamed, one of the largest cannabidiol brands in German-

The first integrated social media company The Social Chain

speaking regions and viralProtect, a new personal protective

AG combines social media and social commerce. Social Chain

equipment brand.

is a pioneer in the creation, development and scaling of social media brands. The company's headquarters are in Berlin with

3PL will store products, pack and ship orders and handle returns for

offices in Manchester, London, New York and Munich. The

all UK and European orders from its 75,000 sq. ft fulfilment centre

company has a total of around 500 employees. The Social

in Wigan.

Chain AG shares are traded on XETRA and several German stock exchanges. Learn more by visiting www.socialchain.de

The announcement comes as 3PL continues to grow rapidly in the UK, with Social Chain joining a growing list of companies based in the North West that have agreed order fulfilment partnerships in

ABOUT 3PL

recent months.

Based in Wigan, 3PL offers multichannel ecommerce fulfilment and logistics for growing brands. As an end-to-end fulfilment

We are delighted to welcome Social Chain on board at 3PL. As a

solution, 3PL operates from over 250,000 sq. ft of shared user

dynamic and ambitious company and fast-growing leader in their field

warehousing in the UK, supported by access to a network of

with a global outreach, they are an ideal fit for us. We look forward

International warehouses to support global expansion for its

tremendously to providing quality fulfilment and logistics services

clients. Its fast-moving operations house over 16 million items

to Social Chain and their expanding portfolio of exciting brands.

of stock, and dispatch across some 32,000 product lines. Learn

John Scully, Business Development Manager, 3PL

more by visiting 3p-logistics.co.uk

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INDUSTRY SERVICES

NEWS

10 AUGUST 2020

LABELMASTER LAUNCHES

DANGEROUS GOODS INDUSTRY’S FIRST DIGITAL COMMUNITY L abelmaster, the leading provider of products, services

What You Will Find in the Community

and technology for the safe and compliant transport of

The DG Exchange provides a range of opportunities for members

dangerous goods (DG) and hazardous materials (hazmat),

to engage, learn and connect around the key trends and challenges

today announced the launch of the DG Exchange—the dangerous

impacting the dangerous goods industry.

goods industry’s first digital community. The DG Exchange brings together supply chain and business professionals to share ideas,

• Groups: Discover resources, members, events and

learn and collaborate in order to navigate dangerous goods issues,

conversations centered on key dangerous goods topics—

challenges and trends—empowering them to positively impact their

regulations, training, lithium batteries, technology in the supply

businesses. The community offers a wide range of opportunities to:

chain and supply chain management.

• Events: Attend live virtual events throughout the year or view

• Access insightful content and share resources • Attend educational events and training sessions • Engage with peers through open forums and other networking opportunities

on-demand webinars on a wide range of supply chain topics.

• Resources: Access articles, blog posts, infographics, podcasts and more to stay up-to-date on the latest DG issues, trends and best practices.

• Forums: Engage with other members by asking questions and

Shipping Dangerous Goods is complex and high risk, leaving professionals at various levels of organizations looking for

participating in ongoing discussions about specific hazmatrelated topics.

information, searching to find answers to questions or simply

• Member Directory: Find and connect with community members

trying to stay on top of the latest trends, challenges and regulatory

located in specific regions of the world, who have specific areas

changes. The DG Exchange is a one of a kind place where the entire

of expertise or similar job roles or focus areas.

supply chain can exchange ideas and information related to hazmat in order to improve supply chain performance, compliance, safety and profitability.

Robert Finn, VP Marketing & Product Management, Labelmaster

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INDUSTRY SERVICES

EXPERTS

A

s the consequences of the near-worldwide Covid-19

What many don’t realise is that the forwarding company or

lockdown retain their relentless grip on global and local

logistics service provider is often the party that has performed

supply chains, some South African parastatal companies

its part of the agreement and paid for freight, duties, VAT

are invoking 'force majeure' as a provision for not being able to

and other statutory land-side charges on behalf of the client,

fulfil client-service provider agreements. This, in turn, is further

regardless of where the goods are currently sitting, and this just

constricting the ability of local supply-chain and logistics firms to

compounds our difficulty to operate at capacity.

deliver, with challenges and detrimental impacts mounting.

Some are questioning the boundaries of an obligation to fulfil Force majeure is a common clause in contracts that covers

payment terms during force majeure, and Erasmus emphasises

extraordinary events or circumstances beyond the control of

that force majeure comes into effect only when it is objectively

either client or service provider, such as a war, a strike, an 'act

impossible, not just difficult, burdensome or economically

of God' (a natural hazard, such as an earthquake or tsunami) or,

onerous, for either party of the agreement to fulfil their

indeed, an epidemic, which make it impossible for either to fulfil

obligations –

their contractual obligations.

a direct link to the pandemic and explain why it is or was

And the party needs to prove this by providing

impossible to fulfill their obligations.

We’re seeing disruption across various stages of the supplychain process because of lockdown restrictions. Harbours and

When assessing whether to invoke force majeure or not,

and their functionaries, for instance, are battling to operate

Erasmus notes that this will depend largely on the interpretation

because certain goods are prohibited from moving because of

of the client-service provider agreement.

regulations. The same applies to ground transport: it might

as it’s your roadmap between you and the other party for the

be illegal, again because of regulations, to move goods, so

transaction in question.

Always refer to it,

delivery is interrupted.

Advocate Christo Erasmus,

In some instances, where the force majeure clause isn’t specified

head of legal, Bidvest International Logistics

in an agreement, a party may be able to rely on the common-law principle of 'supervening impossibility of performance.'

And, despite a very slow easing of restrictions, the challenges seem to be mounting. With harbours not performing properly,

But, again, the same applies: you need to prove that it is or

the movement of certain goods has ground to a halt, or slowed

was impossible to fulfil your obligations by providing a direct

to a snail’s pace, while unnecessary extra demurrage costs are

link to Covid-19 and why it prohibited your ability to fulfil

increasing. Airports are running out of space as clients are unable

your obligations.

to distribute goods, making warehouse storage and physical space a real problem. At the same time, supply-chain/logistics firms’ warehouses are filling up as goods remain undelivered.

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WHAT IS ‘FORCE MAJEURE’

& WHEN DOES IT APPLY? In establishing whether force majeure applies to your

How long after the pandemic parties can continue to invoke force

circumstances, Erasmus advises looking at four aspects. First,

majeure remains to be seen, Erasmus says.

ask yourself if it is objectively impossible (not just difficult)

over, and we’re allowed to go back to normal, whatever normal

to perform your duties. Then try to establish to what extent

may be, Covid-19 will no longer prevent a party from performing

the impossibility can be attributed to Covid-19. Then look at

its obligations. But the question then should be, if Covid-19 is

how long your inability to perform will last, and at short-term

over, but as a result of its impact on a party’s business, the party

solutions such as a repayment plan, amended obligations or an

is unable to perform its obligations, will force majeure still apply?

extended performance timeline. And, finally, work out if there

There’s no blanket approach, and this is something that will have

are any other avenues available to mitigate your or the other

to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Once Covid-19 is

contracting party’s loss.

Erasmus stresses the fact that a party’s obligations may change through the various stages as the country moves from level 4 to level 1. In some stages, performance might be illegal and impossible, while in others it may not be, so continual re-evaluation is needed to assess whether force majeure can be invoked.

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Specialists in FREDDs cargo screening +44 (0)7967 204840 info@k9acs.co.uk www.k9acs.co.uk

THE LEADING BODY REPRESENTING THE UK INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT SERVICES INDUSTRY

Join the RHA The Voice of Road Haulage

Call us on 01733 261131 Email us at headoffice@rha.uk.net

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RECRUITMENT & TRAINING Organisations and bodies that provide and train staff for the freight and logistics industries.

Related topics Certification Organic growth Safety awareness

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RECRUITMENT & TRAINING NEWS

11 AUGUST 2020

MANTRA LEARNING PROVIDES

COVID-SECURE FORKLIFT TRAINING WITH ETRUCK UK

M

antra Learning is now delivering Novice Lift Truck

Through an engaging and memorable training experience, eTruck

Operator theory training online thanks to a new tool

increases training effectiveness, helping learners to retain information

from RTITB. eTruck UK is an eLearning tool that

and become better prepared for the workplace,

explains Laura Nelson,

ensures Instructors and Operators are safe, with Covid-secure

Managing Director for RTITB, the UK’s leading workplace transport

theory courses that do not need to take place in a classroom.

training accrediting body.

For novice operators, eTruck can also reduce

training time. It can typically reduce what would be a 5-day operator

As an RTITB Accredited Partner, when the Covid-19 pandemic

training course down to just 3 days, freeing up Instructors’ time.

lockdown began, Mantra was able to quickly acquire training licenses for eTruck UK from RTITB, so that disruption to Novice Lift Truck

As learners could prepare for practical training online, time required

Operator training was minimised.

on site at Mantra’s training centres can be significantly reduced overall. During Covid-19, this was important for improving candidate

By using eTruck, Mantra was able to continue to deliver Lift Truck

safety. Mantra’s Instructors also had extra capacity to deliver

theory training, but with no risk of infection or social distancing

practical lift truck training. This helped training delivery from falling

challenges to overcome. This was important as Novice Lift Truck

too far behind schedule, even though courses could initially only be

Operator training accounts for around 30% of the Mantra Learning’s

delivered on a 1:1 basis for safety reasons.

training business, usually in a classroom.

Mantra’s team of 10 Instructors all completed eTruck themselves as eTruck, which is available in the UK and Ireland only from RTITB,

refresher training, as well as to experience the benefits first-hand.

is a completely unique digital storytelling tool for forklift theory

Further guidance was available from RTITB over the phone wherever

training. Candidates learn online by following a story that tackles

needed. The eTruck system is also designed to support Instructors,

real issues relating to lift truck operation and safety and is designed

providing detailed progress and performance information for

to create real behaviour change, looking at the reasons behind

each candidate, ensuring they can cater to trainees’ strengths and

operator behaviour as well as the relevant theory. With eTruck,

weaknesses in practical training.

learners can complete the training at their own pace, anywhere Find out more at www.rtitb.com/etruck-uk

and anytime they can get online.

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Your strategic growth partner

The leading management consultancy for the freight industry and has a range of services to assist freight companies with their growth strategy.

Our aim is simple...

• Partner with our clients and agree a clear growth strategy • Provide the marketing platform to produce the right type of enquiries at the right pace

• Source market leading talent to ensure maximum conversion on all enquiries generated

• Present any suitable acquisition targets to ensure a higher level of guaranteed growth

• Offer a tax efficient, effective exit strategy for owners aiming to sell their freight business

Our mission

To be the globe’s leading strategic growth consultancy for the freight forwarding industry. Forming valuable partnerships with our clients and offering them an effective growth strategy at any stage of their journey.

Sourcing market-leading talent.

www.headfordgroup.com

Please get in touch today +44 (0)1454 628771 • +44 (0)7760 484848 FORWARDER magazine ISSUE56 143 craig@headfordgroup.com

RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

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The leading job board for the global freight industry

Reimagined.

Redesigned.

Relaunched.

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RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

VACANCIES

SEAFREIGHT SUPPLY CHAIN SPECIALIST

• Ensure customer communication is precise and received

BIRMINGHAM, UK FIXED-TERM CONTRACT GB11644

• Maximise profitability on all shipment files, keeping

info@forwardingjobs.com | +44 (0)1454 275 937

Job Overview Are you looking for a career in a freight forwarding and want to work for the world’s number 1 sea freight forwarder then we have an excellent opportunity at our Birmingham Branch to join our International Supply Chain team.

Your role We are currently recruiting for a Seafreight Customer Care Specialist on an initial 6 month contract to join our International Supply chain management department who will be responsible for providing best in class customer service to our customers managed by the supply chain team every day.

As part of your role as a Customer Care Specialist you will be liaise daily with internal and external customer ensuring this is carried out in a timely and professional fashion.

Your responsibilities • Provide excellent customer service all day, every day to our

customer base.

• Seeking ways to add value to their business and communicate these effectively to the relevant parties to change processes for the better • Build a close and robust relationship with our customers to guarantee that they will turn to us when they require help and will trust us with potential other business opportunities • To ensure that all shipments are undertaken to meet, as a minimum, or exceed the customer’s expectations in terms of the standard of service provided, cost agreed and specified time frames • Communicate effectively with all overseas offices to arrange importation of freight based on customer-specific requirements. This includes but is not limited to Customs clearance, deliveries and import documentation control.

• Utilise our customer solutions teams to put relevant and informative reporting in place to show important value added areas for improvement • Monitor and report on shipments and communicate any updates /or non-conformances to the affected parties, i.e. customer, customs team or Intermodal team

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in a timely manner. Damage/claim reporting, TIP reporting.

operational errors to a minimum and alerting management to potential problems.

• Be responsible for accurate accounting across your customer base and conforming to the current • To attend customer/supplier visits where required and ensure that all reporting must be accurate and delivered according to agreed deadlines

Your skills and experiences • Previous experience in customer facing/service role ideally

in a logistics/supply chain environment would be advantageous • Excellent written and oral skills and confident liaising with customers and colleagues • Previous Seafreight experience is advantageous • Ability to work to deadlines, and under pressure in some situations.

• Good organisation skills and able to work on own initiative and as part of a team.

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office – specifically Word, Excel and Outlook.

Good reasons to join If you would like to become a valued member of our team then we will also make sure that you’re rewarded for your commitment and expertise. We are offering a competitive salary and 23 days holiday plus bank holidays and life assurance.

You will also have the opportunity to join the contributory Kuehne+Nagel pension plan and benefit from our Route 2 Rewards scheme which offers discounts and savings on a wide range of high street or internet goods and services.

About Kuehne+Nagel With over 82,000 employees at some 1,300 locations in over 100 countries, the Kuehne + Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics companies. As an employer, Kuehne + Nagel stands for equal opportunity and we are committed to diversity in our teams with regard to people with disabilities. We believe that you can make a valuable contribution to Kuehne + Nagel and look forward to receiving your application.

VACANCIES UNITED KINGDOM

OPERATIONS MANAGER CHESTER

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

CHESTER, UK GB11467

MANCHESTER, UK UP TO £65K BASIC, PLUS BONUS, PLUS CAR matt@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787

info@forwardingjobs.com | +44 (0)1454 275 937

Your role This role will be accountable for all departmental activity including Health & Safety, achievement of business KPIs, labour, training, team development and engagement, quality, environment and security.

Your responsibilities • Responsible for managing cost performance in line with

forecast / budget ensuring appropriate measures are in place to manage variation • Devise and implement operational and financial KPI targets to ensure business and customer requirements are achieved • Develop strong relationships with internal and external customers to better understand key business drivers and devise tactical improvement plans to support continued growth / success • Promote a culture of Continuous Improvement by capturing and leading CI initiatives / projects and developing support structures through CI training workshops • Identify resource requirements for each department based on forecast activity and devise tactical plans to manage shortages / surplus • Interrogation and approval of departmental spreadsheets / reports as required to ensure the integrity of KPI data • Operate and interrogate Warehouse Management Systems (WMS, GRIP) to identify potential improvements • Conduct regular customer and supplier reviews

Your skills and experiences • Strong PC skills including Microsoft Office applications • Good knowledge of creating and interrogating spreadsheets

• Ability of interpreting data • Experience of managing large teams • Managing costs against a budget • Development and understanding of KPIs • Health & Safety legislation • Appraisals and disciplinary

• Global freight forwarder • Outside sales / BDM role, working in and around Manchester and the North West • MUST have experience in freight forwarding, with provable GP of at least £100k p.a.

• Car, bonus / commission, pension, life assurance, health insurance

INSIDE SALES ANTWERP, BELGIUM TO £50K, PLUS BONUS & AMAZING BENEFITS PACKAGE matt@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787

• Freight forwarding inside sales • Warm desk worth €300.000 per annum • Financially secure global freight forwarder, 900+ staff • Smart offices, great team atmosphere, healthy business

EXPORT AIRFREIGHT OPERATIONS CLERK COLNBROOK, UK £COMPETITIVE, D.O.E., HOLIDAY: 22 DAYS MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9AM TO 5PM (SOME EVENING & WEEKEND WORK, OVERTIME PAID) vac@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 951

Working in a team of 3, the successful applicant will be responsible for day-to-day operations of export airfreight department based in Colnbrook, working within the AOG department.

Must have minimum 5 years' operational experience working within airfreight exports. Experience with aerospace and ships' spares would be an advantage but not essential.

RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

VACANCIES

EXPORT MANAGER, FREIGHT FORWARDING COLNBROOK/HEATHROW, UK FULL TIME: MON TO FRI 9AM–5.30PM SALARY: £38,000–£43,000 BASIC D.O.E. PROFIT SHARE COMPANY CAR FOR CLIENTS VISITS vac@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 951

We are working on behalf of a freight forwarder who requires an export manager in a full-time role based in Colnbrook/Slough.

Job Description The focus of the job entails that objectives are established for the storage and/or distribution of products to maintain product safety, quality and legality in accordance with the quality policies of the BRC Standard.

• To manage the export department and staff • To arrange the export of cargo by air, and ocean • Liaise with airlines • Liaise with HMRC, Port & Plant Health and other

government bodies • Organise export clearances, and correct documentation relating to the movement of cargo • Create export documentation required for the shipping of cargo • Provide a high level of customer service • Liaise with overseas offices, partners and agents • Strong Administration skills • To sort, filter and distribute documentation, and create and maintain job files in an accurate and timely manner.

• Arrange the X-ray screening of cargo in line with CAA/DFT regulations • Arrange bookings with airlines, shipping lines and transporters

Compliance duties • Control and maintenance of quality management system and procedures • Management of internal audit program • Undertake warehouse hygiene inspections

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OCEAN IMPORT OPERATOR LEEDS, UK £COMPETITIVE matt@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787

I am recruiting for a well known, local and independent freight forwarder looking to add to their expanding team in Leeds.

This has client has been operating for over 30 years assisting their clients with their logistics requirements from a wide range of industries including aerospace, manufacturing, engineering, events and exhibitions, chemicals and oil and gas.

The position is for an experienced Air and Sea Operator with customs experience.

Responsibilities • Liaising with clients / overseas partners / agents.

• Speaking with customers and clients on a regular basis, negotiating rates and providing quotations.

• Contacting clients, making sure all information

and paperwork has been received for the shipment.

• Working on key accounts and general imports (LCL/FCL) from global destinations.

• Dealing with import documentation from start to finish including customs entries.

• Making sure all documentation is processed and input into the system.

Export duties • Management of export operations • Administration of warehouse systems (WIRES) • Management of internal controls • Forward planning of resources to ensure effective delivery of products and services

• Assisting with BRC documentation • Ensuring compliance with relevant EU legislation • Member of Food Safety / HACCP team

VACANCIES UNITED KINGDOM

NETWORK CONTROL GROUP SUPERVISOR – TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT

COLNBROOK/HEATHROW, UK SALARY £29,000 BASIC + £4,000 SHIFT ALLOWANCE SUNDAY TO THURSDAY, 7:30PM TO 4:30AM 22 DAYS ANNUAL LEAVE, RISING TO 26 IN TIME ACCESS TO COMPANY BENEFITS PORTAL STAKEHOLDER PENSION EXCELLENT PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES vac@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 951

We have an opportunity for a Network Control Group Supervisor with one of the biggest freight forwarders in the world.

This is a Management role, based at the Southern Distribution Centre in Colnbrook. Managing 6 direct reports of varying experience levels, we are seeking a proven manager with experience in transport management and analysis of technical data. The NCG team are responsible for monitoring all fleet vehicles to ensure timely delivery of shipments and customs clearance of shipments in the air to ensure our time definite delivery services can be achieved.

We are seeking a candidate who has experience working with Customs systems, transport or warehouse management systems, technical ability is key for this role and proven experience working with and training staff on complex IT systems is a necessity.

Role

• To implement and support departmental strategies. To assist in managing the day to day operation and staff within the NCG, in order to effectively monitor all elements required for successful network operations. Reporting any detriments to service, highlighting root cause and analysis with short/long term solutions. To monitor and communicate all departure and arrival times within the SDC/ Customer Collections/Deliveries.

• The Network Control Supervisor is responsible for the performance of his shift or function within the network group.

He/she must ensure that all operational problems are resolved/ or escalated to direct report, so that customer expectations are achieved and resources optimised, within operational cost performance, agreed budgets.

• Must be able to lead, manage, motivate and communicate effectively to all areas and levels of operations staff within the team.

• Key focus on achieving service excellence within agreed cost parameters while maintaining a strong customer facing position and driving improvement in customer satisfaction.

• • Must be organised and facilitate staff Rosta coverage as well as holiday/Overtime approvals.

• Successful candidate will be required to work flexible hours around the operation to ensure departmental needs are satisfied.

• Successful candidate must be committed to travel away on management training courses and events.

• Skill/Experience required • Minimum 3 to 5 years of man-management experience within or a similar industry.

• Higher level of education with additional qualifications specific to this role.

• High level of Microsoft office knowledge/experience.

• Dangerous Goods by road and by air • Health and safety • Man management • Knowledge of the UK Road Maps would be an advantage

RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

VACANCIES

FREIGHT & LOGISTICS OPERATIONS OPPORTUNITIES CALIFORNIA, USA jason@headfordgroup.com | +1 (657) 352 3915

Freight & Logistics Operations Opportunities: Headford Group are a freight specialist recruitment consultancy who partner with companies internationally to deliver first class talent sourcing services.

We are currently working with exceptional companies across the United States who are keen to speak with experienced operations professionals.

Headford have a high client demand in the following opportunities: • Air/Ocean Import Operators • Air/Ocean Co-ordinators • Inside Sales (Operations) • Import/Export Specialists • Logistics Co-ordinators Required Experience • Import & export experience • Multimodal freight • 3+ years industry experience • Knowledge of freight, shipping, logistics & supply chain Potential Salary and benefit expectations • Salaries between $40,000 and £$70,000 • Car or car allowance

AIR EXPORT MANAGER CHICAGO, IL charlie@headfordgroup.com | +1 (470) 558 2953

Key info • Salary based on experience • 5+ years managerial experience • Working for a top 25 global freight forwarder

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OCEAN IMPORT OPERATOR LE HAVRE, FRANCE £COMPETITIVE matt@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787

Seeking an ambitious station manager to join an international logistics organisation in Le Havre, France.

The company A well-established, international logistics organisation with expertise in specific fields. They pride themselves on providing a high-quality service. Customer service and satisfaction are at the core of all they do.

Originating in Germany, the company has grown quickly, having a presence in France since 2015.

The role • As Station Manager you will have management

responsibility for two employees, with the possibly of more in the future. We are seeking an experienced individual with proven skills in international sea freight export and import.

• You must have experience in a forwarding agency and a solid operational background.

• Longevity as a sea freight import/export clerk at a forwarding agency is a must, as well as logistics knowhow.

• Sales contacts would be desirable, but plays a subordinate role.

• This role does not require a senior manager with longevity in management but an experienced clerk with some leadership skills and ambition to be a future managing director of a small branch.

• The main task of the new person would be the operative running of the office and communication with the higher management in head office.

• A driving licence and very good English is a must; German is beneficial but not essential.

Benefits and Package • A salary package will depend on the person but is competitive.

• 35 hours per week • 30 days of holiday per year

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VACANCIES USA

GERMANY

FRANCE

FTL PRODUCT MANAGER

LOS ANGELES/DFW/CHICAGO, USA FULL-TIME POSITION, SALARY $75K TO $100K BASIC D.O.E. & BOOK OF BUSINESS. COMMISSION SCHEME COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE, PAID HOLIDAYS & VACATION, MEDICAL matt@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787

Job Overview Over 5 year’s working experience in freight sales in air, ocean, and road.

With offices across the country, my client offers a full range of domestic and international solutions—including air, ocean, ground and international transportation The Regional Account Manager will report directly to the National Sales Manager.

The RAM is accountable for developing and securing incremental revenue and market share through promotion and sales of all services and products to establish and target accounts.

We have openings within various locations in the US.

Duties include but are not limited to: • Models and acts in accordance with our guiding principles and core values.

• Identify business opportunities and generate profitable sales

in both new and existing accounts to meet and exceed new business revenue goals, within an assigned geographical territory consisting of a major metro area and pertinent secondary markets.

• Assist in the development and implementation of sales plans that support increased sales.

• Build strategic relationships with key contacts within customer organizations to understand opportunities for creating value.

• Capitalize on value creation opportunities by working closely with the sales and operations management team to develop creative workable solutions to customer needs.

• Cross-sell the company’s suite of products and services in a global team environment.

INTERNATIONAL

• Monitor and review customer sales activity and make

strategy adjustments as needed. Facilitate regular meetings with clients and relevant operations staff to evaluate performance and receive updates from clients on challenges and future plans.

• Work collaboratively with the operational staff at multiple sites and locations to ensure customers’ needs and expectations are met.

• Assist in development and reporting of competitive market analysis.

• Administrative functions in a timely manner.

• Maintain a high level of expertise and knowledge of products and services.

• Maintain minimum sales levels set as expectations for this role as laid out in the sales plan.

• Support and promote company core values.

• Comply with Company C-TPAT and TSA security procedures.

• Regular attendance is required.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Other requirements: • Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) and a

minimum of five years of sales experience to include two years of domestic and international freight forwarding experience. However, a combination of experience and/or education will be taken into consideration. Ability to read and interpret complex business and/or technical documents.

• Ability to write comprehensive reports and detailed business correspondence.

• Ability to work with managers or directors

Please contact me if you have the relevant sales experience for the above position

Fill your vacancies

Back oďŹƒce

Let us assist with your company's growth...

Finance

Europe +44 01454 275 932 john@headfordgroup.com

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Operations Sales Management

USA Sourcing market-leading talent.

www.headfordgroup.com

Your strategic growth partner.

Executive Search • Branch Startups • Senior Appointments • Mergers & Acquisitions • Media

Considering a change?

More responsibility?

Fairer pay?

Better commission?

Send us your CV today...

Asia +44 01454 628 778 charlie@headfordgroup.com

Middle East +971 (0) 45 015 675 simon@headford.ae

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MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS The consolidation of companies or assets through various types of financial transactions.

Related topics Contracted partnerships Management buyouts Valuation

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MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

NEWS

7 AUGUST 2020

LOGISTICS UK & CBW TO UNVEIL RESULTS OF

COVID-19 M&A SURVEY A re you a logistics professional interested in understanding

Mr Wells will be joined on the webinar by Philip Bird, Head of

how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact M&A activity

Logistics and Corporate Finance at the accountancy firm CBW,

over the coming months and years? If so, make sure you

and Kevin Appleton, Strategy Advisor & Executive Chair of global

attend Logistics UK’s webinar on 10 September 2020, M&A Logistics

logistics provider, Yusen Logistics (UK) Ltd.

Survey Results 2020, where the business group, in partnership with accountancy firm CBW, will share the exclusive results of its survey

The webinar, which is free for Logistics UK members to attend, will take

and present the outlook for M&A activity across the sector, with

place at 2pm on 10 September 2020. For more information, including

the support of expert panel speakers.

how to sign up, please visit logistics.org.uk/events/cbw-webinar

Throughout summer 2020, Logistics UK, in conjunction with CBW and Analytiqa, surveyed senior logistics professionals from across the sector

ABOUT LOGISTICS UK

to identify the economic impact of COVID-19, the main difficulties faced

Logistics UK (formerly FTA) is one of the UK’s leading

by logistics companies, and the changes their senior managers intend to

business groups, representing logistics businesses which

make to their business models as they plan for the future. The survey

are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven

will also offer insights into the industry’s behaviour following the UK’s

million people directly employed in the making, selling and

recent departure from the EU and the possible effects this will have on

moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology

valuations and transactions moving into 2021 and beyond.

and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics

Between the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty

has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK

surrounding the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the M&A landscape

supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics,

is set to change rapidly over the next 12 months. Using insights from this

and is the only business group which represents the whole

ground-breaking research, we will arm attendees with the knowledge

industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air

they need to review their current and future M&A strategies effectively,

industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as

while gaining a greater insight into wider industry behaviour.

retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the

David Wells, CEO, Logistics UK

efficient movement of goods.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at dpworld.com

D

P World, a global infrastructure-led supply chain solutions

global trade and cultivating the business environments closest to their

provider, and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

operations. Alongside CDPQ, a steadfast partner whose long-term vision

(CDPQ), a global institutional investor, have announced

we share, we look forward to working together on new investments that

the expansion of their ports and terminals investment through a new

will connect key international trade locations worldwide.

commitment of US$4.5 billion (CA$6 billion), that will increase the total

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO, DP World

size of the platform to US$8.2 billion (CA$ 10.6 billion). DP World holds 55% share of the platform, and CDPQ the remaining 45%.

Building on the success of the first collaboration with our strategic partner, DP World, a world-class leader in ports and marine terminals,

Since its launch in December 2016, the platform has invested in 10

the enhanced platform will seek investments in high-quality port and

port terminals globally and across various stages of the asset life cycle.

terminal infrastructure assets that will help design the future of smart

The enhanced platform will continue to target assets globally, but with

trade and logistics. As we take the next step in our partnership, we

an increased scope to broaden its footprint in existing geographies, as

will further diversify our geographic reach and look to seize new

well as new regions such as Europe and Asia Pacific. The investment

opportunities in a sector that, even during a uniquely challenging

platform will pursue its deployment and diversification objectives by

period, is driven by long-term fundamental trends.

expanding across a wider part of the integrated marine supply chain,

Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive VP & Head of Infrastructure, CDPQ

such as logistics services linked to terminals.

Despite the impacts of COVID-19 and shifts in the global supply The partnership between DP World and CDPQ has been very

chain landscape, the ports sector has demonstrated a fair degree

successful, and we have benefited from each other’s expertise. The

of resilience. Through recent strategic investments in automation

opportunity for the port and logistics industry is significant and the

and digital technology, DP World has strengthened its logistics

outlook remains positive as consumer demand triggers major shifts

capabilities, combined with their maritime services operations and

across the global supply chain. Best-in-class, well connected ports and

worldwide network of ports and terminals, to provide a full suite

efficient supply chains will continue to play an active role in advancing

of end-to-end smart supply chain solutions. As such, DP World is well positioned to face the current challenges experienced by the industry and to continue to provide innovative solutions to their customers worldwide.

3 SEPTEMBER 2020

DP WORLD & CDPQ EXPAND INVESTMENT PLATFORM TO

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MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

OPPORTUNITY

TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY

OVERVIEW

Buyer seeking an acquisition

A leading global supply chain business looking to acquire an established customs broker / clearance company in Benelux.

LOCATION/S

The ideal company will have a warehousing / cross dock

Belgium, Germany or the Netherlands

documentation.

facility and be experienced in Fiscal procedures and

It would also be a distinct advantage if the directors

OPERATIONS

were either looking to remain or have a clear succession plan for exit.

Customs clearance Warehousing

KEY FEATURES SOUGHT

Distribution

• Customs clearance • Brokerage Fiscal documentation warehousing facility • Established & profitable • Directors looking to remain or for clear succession plan

For further information, please get in touch...

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craig@freightmergers.com • 01454 628 771

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M&A for the global freight & logistics industry enquiries@freightmergers.com +44 (0)1454 628 771 Freight Mergers are specialists in selling owner-managed freight forwarding, transportation and logistics businesses. For most company owners, selling their business is the most important financial transaction of their life. Therefore, we tailor our services to each individual client’s needs, utilising our mastered, proactive approach to selling businesses that connects strategic buyers with sellers who are aiming to realise the value of their business.

We have over ten years of experience in the sector and, due to our specialist approach and unparalleled network, we can put you in touch with international and domestic trade buyers.

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F R E I G H T

Are you planning to buy or sell a freight forwarding company?

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MEDIA & MARKETING

The promotion and dissemination of knowledge and information about products and organisations both externally and internally.

Related topics Website design Social media Promotional techniques

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MEDIA & MARKETING

A

WITH

s digital life accelerates, with entire industries learning

Owning the digital shelf

to adapt to our new virtual world – and screens

What this means for brands

become a fundamental access point worldwide –

development of how we experience brands and businesses

The following five key areas integrate and influence digital

through e-commerce has become essential.

culture, maximising brand presence on the digital shelf:

now making 54% of their purchases online (Source: UPS),

1

the influence of digitally native Millennials and Gen Zers are

purposes and formats. There is now greater expectation being

continuing to increase.

placed on brands to innovate and open up new levels of interaction,

The real opportunity lies in brands not just starting their digital journey, with a digital-first mindset, but truly focusing on understanding their consumers’ lifestyles. With Millennials

ADAPTED PACKAGING How is digital culture affecting the pack?

Packaging in e-commerce must keep evolving to meet new

personalisation and streamlining of the digital experience within With 11,250 US stores going dark in 2019 and last year being dubbed

our digital and physical worlds and touchpoints.

as a retail apocalypse in both the USA and UK, the start of 2020 had a lot to prove. The systemic effect of the global pandemic will be

Good Pair Days is a personalised monthly wine club. With a

felt by brands and businesses for years to come with more previous

deliberately pared back website that does the heavy lifting of

buoyant sectors being affected and well-known names being forced

communication and tone of voice, the brand seamlessly offers

to close their doors on a temporary or permanent basis. Ad spends

a more tailored experience by introducing customers to the

alone are now reported to have hit their lowest since the 2009

perfect wines for their palates. Demystifying the complex world

crash (Source: The Drum).

of wine, it provides a very intuitive and encompassing way to match its brand ethos of opening up the world of wine discovery

Brands will inevitably have to work even harder to keep pace with

to everyone.

change and ensure their relevance within this rapidly evolving

our laptops but are thinking about the role of mobiles and

2

smart assistants as fundamental aspects of how brands behave

most valuable and dynamic assets. It is critical that brands look

on the digital shelf. The impact and uptake will be dependent

for ways to free their previous static and singular identities -

on an optimised user experience precipitated through intuitive,

through new and unique expressions, creating more adaptable

streamlined systems and differentiating design languages.

brand equities to develop flexible and animated systems.

commerce landscape. However, continued developments in VR, AR and AI – and especially the dissemination of 5G – are supercharging the digital space. We are no longer limited to

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FLEXIBLE IDENTITIES How can digital design challenge static identities?

Brands now need to consider digital presence as one of their

innovative and immersive digital expression which explores each

5

state and associated feeling through rich and reactive patterns.

to accommodate and adorn our digital life. Today, brands

3

have the opportunity to reimagine their role in the virtual

Genesis, in Beijing, is a space dedicated to exploring different states of mind. It comes to life as an inspiring museum, work-hub and fitness destination, aiming to enrich day-to-day life conveyed through an

PLAYFUL NAVIGATION How can we find new forms of digital storytelling?

DIGITAL POSSESSIONS How can brands expand their products virtually?

A new generation of products and experiences are beginning

marketplace as our work, lifestyles, and entertainment all increasingly shift online, and we begin to invest more of our time in virtual experiences.

The digital shopping experience enables a higher level of functionality and simplification. However, it also now needs to be

Puma’s latest video campaign is promoting sustainability in

regarded as a place to celebrate experimentation, revelation and

the fashion industry through the use of digital design. Having

imagination with brands embracing sensorial elements, sound

collaborated with The Fabricant – a Dutch fashion house

technologies, high definition screens and, ultimately, the limitless

specialising in digital-only fashion that can be used and traded

freedom of the digital world.

in virtual realities – Puma showcases its status as a progressive and sustainable brand of the future with a vision to significantly

One of Burger King’s most audacious, but also most successful,

reduce manufacturing and travel costs.

campaigns was its 2019 Whopper Detour promotion. Using geofencing technology, the promotion unlocked to offer

The opportunity

discounted Whoppers when users came within 600 feet of a

The digital shelf is an increasingly fast-moving and essential

McDonald’s restaurant.

platform for brands. It challenges them to expand their

4

horizons, maximise their offering and find innovative ways to

PREDICTIVE PURCHASES What is the opportunity for seamless shopping?

reach potential consumers. Digital experiences also open up an exciting world to new collaborations and partnerships, allowing brands to tap into broader, more holistic lifestyle aspirations

Algorithms have given brands the ability to create targeted and

with an opportunity to resonate across a variety of different

customised wish-lists, available with increasing levels of ease and

brand touchpoints.

convenience that make constant suggestions. Ultimately enabling us to instantly acquire products as we scroll and connect in real-time.

Above all, digital presence is changing the fundamental notion of a brand’s route to its consumer and needs to unlock potential,

Building on the success of Amazon Go, Amazon has introduced

effectiveness and the freedom of exploration and imagination. The

it’s ‘Just Walk Out’ system, keeping track of purchases in a

successful brands of the future need to fully realise the evolving

virtual cart with credit cards charged on leaving, increasing the

potential of their digital presence, ensuring their digital engagement

scope of Amazon’s reach and meeting the increasing need for

seamlessly integrates their brand world into their consumers’ lives.

convenience in a time-pressured world.

Pearlfisher

THE DIGITAL SHELF

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THE LAST WORD...

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CRAIG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TIM DESIGNER MOHIT SOCIAL MEDIA LUKE SALES MANAGER DOM ADVERTISING RICHARD ADVERTISING

A FINAL WORD FROM

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Thanks to your support, we are helping communities to combat COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Uganda, we have provided advice, cab sanitisation materials and PPE to keep HGV drivers safe, reduce transmission rates and build community confidence in the logistics sector.

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