/ By TJ China Freight / Logistic

HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD FREIGHT FORWARDER?

When you engage the services of a freight forwarder for your global shipping and business needs, what you expect to enjoy is the relationships they already have with various carriers such as ocean liners, truck companies, airline carriers. You should also benefit from their intricate knowledge of how export and import work in different countries. Moreover, they will be able to smoothly handle customs clearances for your goods, and track the status of the shipment as it makes its way from the supplier/manufacturer to you.

What is a Freight Forwarder?

A freight forwarder is an agent or business within the international trade industry that handles the shipping and transport of goods from one part of the world to another either by land, sea, or air. They are involved in the process of getting goods from suppliers and manufacturers, storing them, and facilitating the transportation logistics to end-users and consumers or some other distribution point. For instance, if you wish to ship freight from China, your best bet will be to hire a China freight forwarder to help you handle the daunting and complicated process of moving your freight either through ocean shipping,air freight, road or rail transport, or some other means.

Tips on how to choose a good freight forwarder

Nowadays, there are so many agents offering freight forwarding services. So, it may be difficult to find the best freight forwarder for your business. To that end, here are tips on how to choose a good freight forwarder that’s perfect for you.

1. Do your homework and know what you need

The very first thing that will help you secure the services of the best freight forwarder that will move your goods across international supply chains and trade routes is to do your homework. This means knowing what exactly you need. Ask yourself what kind of freight you want to ship in terms of volume and size. You should not expect exactly the same procedure when shipping goods like automobiles when you’re shipping commodities like foodstuffs.

You would also have a preferred mode of transport you wish to use, so it’s good for you to figure that out before contacting a freight forwarder. Moreover, some goods are fragile and require special handling procedures while others don’t. So, for such special shipments like dangerous or hazardous goods, you would expect the shipping process to be slightly more complicated.

When you clearly identify all your internal requirements, then you will be prepared for the hunt for the right freight forwarder to make the process smooth.

2. Consider the freight forwarder’s experience and network

This is non-negotiable!

The years of experience that the freight forwarder you’re looking to hire has is very crucial to the success of your business relationship. If they’re experienced, that means that they would have dealt with different situations that come up during the shipping process.

Examples of common situations are cases of port shutdowns, strike action by dockworkers, customs issues, cargo rerouting, warehouse problems, etc.  Here is where TJ China Freight comes in with more than a decade of handling and promptly and effectively resolving international shipping and logistics situations for customers all over the world.

With experience also comes an expansive global reach and sustainable business relationships. This manifests through good connections with various suppliers, local handlers and experts, trucking companies, and agents at numerous destinations. That’s how you can be sure your DDP shipments, FBA shipments, or any other freight will be handled well when they arrive at the destination country.

3. Find out the services they offer

By now, you know your shipping needs. However, you don’t want just any freight forwarder with experience. Instead, you need the best freight forwarder that offers the services that will meet handle your shipping requirements. That’s why you have to confirm the services that the freight forwarder offers. These services can range from preparing import and export documents, booking shipping space from air and sea carriers, packing and storing shipments, customs clearance, freight consolidation, tracking shipments, insurance, and many more.

When you know the services that the freight forwarder provides, then you will know if they can make your international shipping process go smoothly.

4. Inquire about their permits, credentials, and certifications

Before shipments can be transported from one part of the world to another, the freight forwarder in charge of the logistics requires permits and documentation to show that they can handle the cargo. Your company may wish to ship sensitive products such as hazardous materials. To handle these shipments successfully, the freight forwarder will require special licenses. This is why you need to verify if the freight forwarder has these credentials. It will show that they have taken specialized and required training to do the job well.

Another important consideration is whether the freight forwarder is a member of reputable associations such as >WCA. To be a member of such bodies, freight forwarders are required to be financially stable, operationally efficient, have integrity, and pass many other strict vetting requirements. The best freight forwarder will always ensure they are part of such associations to stay in touch with the latest developments in the profession and remain relevant and valuable to customers.

5. What risk management procedures do they have in place?

It is not uncommon for problems to arise during the process of international shipping. There are lots of conditions that can destabilize the transportation of your cargo, whether at the origin, during transit, or at the destination country. So, it’s important for you to verify whether the freight forwarder has procedures in place to manage risks. Freight forwarders that are proactive are the best in handling any issues and proffering solutions to problems as they arise.

A common risk management procedure that you can ask about is cargo insurance. The insurance cover is valuable if anything happens to your shipment, whether it’s a case of loss, damage, or theft. Your mind will be more at ease during the entire shipping process if you know that you’re covered by insurance or any other valid risk management policy. Your freight forwarder should be your partner when there is a crisis.

6. What is their customer service like?

Good customer service is the backbone of any business! All the credentials, experience, network and connections in the world amounts to nothing if a freight forwarder does not treat their customers well.

Imagine going through the process of securing your shipments from the supplier or manufacturer only for you to be unable to reach the freight forwarder handling the logistics and transport. If you have inquiries about freight rate or any other issues related to international shipping and the freight forwarder takes forever to respond to your inquiries, would you be willing to do business with them? This is why it’s important to verify what the freight forwarder’s customer service looks like.  You can ask about who the contact person is, who to talk to when a problem arises, how you will be contacted, and also check the reviews from previous customers.

Because international shipping can be tricky, these details are important, which is why clear communication between you and your freight forwarder is very crucial to the success of the endeavor. Great customer service even extends beyond when your shipment arrives. TJ China Freight is a tested and trusted China freight forwarder that offers unbeatable service to all its customers.

What about pricing and rates?

You may be wondering by now why there was no mention of pricing and rates in the tips on how to choose the best freight forwarder for your international shipping needs. Yes. It was deliberately left out. Why? Because deciding which freight forwarder to hire based on price alone is misleading and often has dire consequences.

For example, going with a freight forwarder because they offer the lowest rates on a shipment may lead to you having to pay more on subsequent shipments. This is because the freight forwarder would want to make up for the low price that they offered initially. Another possibility is that such freight forwarder that’s offering a low rate may have hidden some charges in the terms and conditions. All in all, low prices are often linked to dishonest dealings. You don’t want to fall victim, do you?

What your main focus should be while you are in search of the best freight forwarder for your business is whether your professional shipping needs will be precisely and promptly met. This is not to say that price is not important. Rather, it should not be your deciding factor on who to choose.

How to ask for shipping rates from your freight forwarder

Now that you know what you need to do to hire the best freight forwarder to handle your shipments, you should know the details you require to get the accurate quote and shipping rates for your products. This will help you prepare adequately and also help the freight forwarder serve you well.

To request for a quote from TJ China Freight, the information required include:

1. Product name.

The name of the product is required. Also, is the product with or without battery? Is it magnetic? Is it liquid? Are they dangerous goods?

2. INCOTERMS or Terms of Sale.

Incoterms refer to your International Commercial Terms with the seller, supplier, manufacturer or factory. Are your incoterms EXW (Ex works), Free on Board (FOB), or Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF)?

3. Weight and Volume information.

If you have the goods packing lists, that’s the most preferred. Alternatively, you can send the gross weight and volume information of the shipment.

4. Address of the supplier or factory.

If your contract price term is EXW, then we have to arrange the pick up from your supplier or facotry, so the address of the supplier or factory will be needed for us to check the pick fee.

5. The destination address or port of destination.

For Express shipping or any type of door to door delivery, we will need your exact destination address and post code to check the exact cost, and for Air freight or any type of shipping to Port only, then your port information will be required.

6. Your preferred shipping method (air freight, express freight, sea freight, or train delivery).

The shipping cost is very different for the air freight, express freight, sea freight or train delivery, so pls let us know which shipping method do you prefer.

7. Your preferred time of delivery – how quickly do you want the shipment to be delivered.

If you don’t know what shipping way is more suitalbe for you, pls let us know your preferred time of delivery, we will try to recommend the best shipping method that can meet your demands.

TJ China Freight, your best freight forwarder in China

As a leading China freight forwarder that specializes in shipping goods from China to other parts of the world, TJ China Freight offers a broad range of freight services like express shipping, warehousing, drop shipping, FBA shipping, and many more. We partner with many reputable organizations such as DHL, UPS, Emirates, etc. to make sure your shipments arrive on time and in good condition. Contact us today for a quote and open the door to an amazing business relationship.

/ By TJ China Freight / Shipping

Best Freight Forwarding Services Providers in 2020

When goods are transferred around the world, they rarely go from departure to destination locations in one step. In fact, they may switch between air, ocean, land, and rail carriers before they reach their destination.

Freight forwarders do the work of organizing, planning, and optimizing global trade routes and logistics solutions to facilitate the movement and storage of those goods. They rely on an expansive network of transport vehicles, warehouses, and intermodal points to streamline the movement of goods and cargo across the whole world.

Freight forwarders and logistics companies gather information from shippers, warehousers, truckers, and more to plan the route cargo will take. When they need to incorporate a shipment, an optimized route is already available and ready to utilize.

International Freight Forwarding Services
International freight forwarding services helps ensure an uninterrupted supply chain for international shipping partners. International logistics include foreign customs, duties, regulations, and fees, that are constantly changing and being updated.

It is important for freight forwarders and logistics companies to carefully handle such processes and stay up to date on issues related to global transport. These things can change from day-to-day, and shippers should be aware of cost fluctuations, new regulations, or procedures at both destinations and departure points.

Cost
A shipping company handles transportation services for you, but an industry-leading freight forwarder can help you optimize your time and money. Freight forwarders incorporate your supply chain into an existing and strong network of shipments.

Asiana USA provides door-to-door transportation and logistics services that are meant to reduce overall costs. Our advanced and integrated shipping network allows us to optimize the movement of goods around the United States and the world.

Services
Freight forwarding services include tracking inland transportation, document preparation, warehousing, negotiating fees, insurance, cargo consolidation, and shipping. These services greatly improve shipping for the shipper, receiver, and freight forwarding company.

Ideally, you should seek a partner who can perform all of these services. If you use more than one or all of these services, this will optimize your supply chain and shipping experience overall.

Mode of Transport

The best freight forwarding service providers make use of all modes of travel. Optimizing shipping routes using land, rail ocean, and air freight allows for an extended network of travel to and from multiple intermodal drayage points.

Drayage shipping means that cargo is moved between major intermodal points using high-volume transport such as a ship or train. Then, smaller vehicles will move them to the cargo to its final destination.

Trucks are an efficient way to move cargo and single containers between drayage points. While long-haul trucking has often been used to transport containers long distances, this practice is being replaced by drayage trucking, and other modes of transport are used for longer transport.

This is a safer alternative and more efficient, as truckers can make multiple trips daily. Additionally, truck companies have been incorporating new technology to further optimize the trucking experience, such as automatic transmissions and multiple cameras.

Rail transport is a far more efficient way to move multiple containers long distances. Instead of one driver per truck per container, a train can move over 200 double-stacked containers, use far less energy, and require far less personnel to operate.

It’s a safer, more effective way to move large goods long distances. Using one train where 100 trucks would have been needed also creates less pollution.

Air freight is used for more time-sensitive shipments. As transporting cargo by air poses weight and size restrictions, it is better used for smaller cargo. Due to high demand and higher fuel costs, air travel may be less suitable for heavy supply chains.

However, when cargo needs to travel far overnight, air freight can usually be the best option. Other situations where air freight is preferable is if you are shipping perishable, sensitive or hazardous items where special handling is required.

The majority of shipping occurs via the ocean. Ships carry large container loads and optimize shipping routes between major global trade ports. Transporting large amounts of cargo between major ports all over the world by ship allows for the rest of the shipping industry to flourish.

Over 11 million containers arrive yearly at different ports in the United States, many of which continue their journey by land to different parts of the country.

Final Thoughts
Choose a freight forwarding service that helps your business perform better by optimizing your supply chain, reducing your shipping costs, and deals with complicated international paperwork for you.TJ China Freight provides the best solution and the timely feedback for all kinds of shipment from every city in China by sea, by air and by railway, and we can provide the competitive price based on the best service, meanwhile we can also provide the other best service, including customs clearance, pick up & delivery service, shipping to Amazon FBA, warehousing & Distribution, cargo insurance, container loading supervision and Express,In a Word, everything you want to ship from China, TJ China Freight can always help.

Contact Info

Tel: +86-755-25117540
Fax: +86-755-25117540
Phone:+86-18928445749
E-mail: info@tj-logistics.com.cn
Website: www.taijielogistics.com
Address: 7/F,Cunjin building,No.3005 Dongmen south road,Luohu district Shenzhen,Guangdong,China

/ By TJ China Freight / Shipping

Congestion in West America worsens!

Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

Recently, a cold wave swept the United States and quickly plunged the southern state of Texas into disaster. In this unprecedented cold wave, more than 4 million people in the United States have suffered power outages, countless power plants have been destroyed, and electricity and natural gas prices have skyrocketed. ; At present, the price of electricity in Texas has increased by more than 100 times, up to 9,000 US dollars per megawatt, and the price of natural gas has skyrocketed by more than 160 times, reaching US$500, compared with only US$3 in the past; it is jaw-dropping.

Except for Texas, which is in a serious disaster, other states in the United States are not doing well. There are about 168 million people in the United States under the threat of this cold wave. Numerous airports have been suspended. According to data from the flight monitoring website "flightaware", Dallas and Houston , Austin area airports have cancelled more than 2,000 inbound and outbound flights on the 15th . Coupled with the new crown pneumonia crisis that is still raging across the United States, the United States is really miserable.

In terms of shipping, the Southern California anchorage is full of container ships, and the congestion continues to worsen ! The latest video released by the U.S. Coast Guard provides intuitive evidence of the congestion levels in Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. From the picture, a large number of container ships are moored at the anchorage in San Pedro Bay, California.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring
U.S. Coast Guard aerial scene

Data shows that the historic container ship congestion in California ports has not really eased. There are currently 63 container ships in Los Angeles and Long Beach, and 32 container ships are waiting for berths at anchorages. (On February 1st, the highest record of 40 container ships anchored at anchorage)

The Port of Los Angeles announced the number of berth days for a particular container ship through its Signal platform last week. Data shows that some ships stay at anchorage and wait for almost as long as they sail across the Pacific Ocean . For example, as of last Thursday, the 6332TEU container ship "Ever Envoy" has been parked for 11 days. As of Tuesday, the 9,400TEU "MSC Romane" has been parked for 12 days. And the three container ships of 11356TEU "CMA CGM Andromeda", 8452 TEU "Ever Liven" and 4888TEU "NYK Nebula" also berthed for 11 days as of last week.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

As of the end of 2020, the number of container ships at anchor has increased to 30; since then, it has remained between 20 and 40. At the same time, the number of vessels at berths in Los Angeles and Long Beach remained at around 20 and 30. Kip Louttit, executive director of the Southern California Shipping Exchange, said: "We seem to have adapted to the new normal of about 30 container ships waiting in line every day. I don't know if this situation will continue."

As of Tuesday, the average time for ships docking in Los Angeles was 8 days , up from 7.3 days at the beginning of last week. From the information on the waiting time of ships provided by the platform from January 27th, the waiting time for ships to berth has been maintained for about one week, and the data for the last two periods has been extended to 8 days.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

　　The latest data from the Signal platform: 20 ships at anchor, with an average anchoring time of 8.0 days. There are 14 ships waiting to be pre-anchored.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

What caused the blockage? The extended berthing time of ships forced some shipping companies to cancel multiple voyages this month. This is not due to lack of cargo demand, but due to lack of available vessels to handle these services. Delays on land have also caused congestion at sea: extremely high inbound volumes and complex logistics inside and outside the port have caused delays on land. One of the challenges facing the port is the new crown virus infection of dockers and a serious shortage of labor.

Despite productivity gains last month, terminal operators at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach said the ports may have to wait until the end of spring to get rid of the ship backlog and congestion that have plagued them in the past six months . The near-record number of containers will continue into the spring of this year, but the backlog of ships at the port and the fully loaded inbound containers at the terminal should disappear sometime between April and June.

The managers of SSA Marine, Yusen Terminals and Fenix ​​Marine stated that in order to alleviate the congestion in the port, two projects to be developed are necessary. First, the COVID-19 vaccine must be widely distributed among dock workers to alleviate the recent labor shortage. During the Lunar New Year holiday this month, container traffic has declined moderately, which should also enable shipping terminals to remove the backlog of fully loaded imported containers from their facilities.

"The terminals are full and there is no place to put these containers. We deliver 35% less cargo (to truck drivers) than usual," said Ed Dannick, president of SSA Containers.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

According to data from the HarborTrucking Association, the average truck stay at the terminal in January improved from 93 minutes in December to 88 minutes, but it was still much higher than the record low of 58 minutes in June. Imports peaked during the recovery period after the first wave of COVID-19 lockdown.

The backlog of ships in Long Beach, Los Angeles, is increasing unabated. According to statistics from the Marine Exchange of Southern California, there are currently 63 container ships in the Port of Long Beach in Los Angeles, of which 32 are at anchor waiting for berths and 31 are at berths.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

The latest data released by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) shows that in December last year, the average container stay time at the 12 terminals of the Port of Long Beach in Los Angeles was 4.99 days. This is twice the average length of stay (approximately 2.5 days) recorded by PMSA in the first half of 2020.

“The longer the container stays at the terminal, the more serious the congestion will be. When the container piles up like a mountain, the congestion creates additional and inefficient handling requirements,” said PMSA’s government affairs manager jessicaalvarenga.

The new crown epidemic hits labor in the port

According to the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the West Coast port employers' Association and the International Terminal and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the new crown epidemic has severely affected the labor force along the Los Angeles-Long Beach Port. As of January 17, The International Terminal and Warehouse Union (ILWU) reported that 694 of its members tested positive. By January 25, this number jumped to 803.

PMA stated that there is a particular shortage of skilled equipment operators, who need to remove containers from trucks, and then move them into and out of the container yard, which is critical to the operation of the terminal. As a result, the joint committee of PMA and ILWU, which is responsible for allocating workers to the docks on a daily basis, cut the allocation share.

"It boils down to the labor issue at the terminal," said Scott Weiss, vice president of business development at Port Logistics Group, which has a large number of truck and warehouse operations throughout Southern California. "Containers still have bottlenecks in and out of the terminal."

The latest information released by the Signal platform of the Port of Los Angeles shows that due to the new crown epidemic, the productivity of coastal labor has decreased, which has caused ship delays and the average delay of port facilities is 8.0 days .

These ports are working with trans-Pacific shipping companies to reduce Southern California's load until the volume returns to normal. Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said that he is working with shipping companies and terminal operators to "measure" imports until the port catches up. Hapag-Lloyd (Hapag-Lloyd) has announced the opening of a structured route to Southern California in February, and CMA CGM will remove Los Angeles from the trans-Pacific route and use Oakland as the first port of call from Asia. , Followed by Seattle-Tacoma.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

The terminal operator said that when workers throughout the supply chain are vaccinated and imports drop, the congestion in Long Beach, Los Angeles, will disappear.

Spring recovery?

Alan McCorkle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Yusen Terminals in Los Angeles, said that in the past six months, the container throughput of these terminals was close to record levels, but there was no overall congestion. This fact shows that if the peak season does not last for six consecutive months, they will have Ability to handle peak season cargo volume. He expects to return to normal in May or June.

Scott Schoenfeld, general manager of Fenix ​​Marine Services in Los Angeles, said that Fenix ​​is ​​showing signs of improvement, so he is optimistic that congestion may be eased as early as April . The density of containers in the yard is not as high as late last year, and more truck drivers are able to transport containers every day.

However, container traffic is still rising, and as overloaded ships continue to arrive in Southern California, this trend will continue until at least next month. NVOCC consultant Jon Monroe said that the eastbound transpacific shipping company has deployed or will add 10 additional loading vessels in February, all deployed at the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach. Judging from the latest data from the Los Angeles Signal platform, there was another peak in the surge in volume in the eighth week.

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

Volume surged in the eighth week

 

Congestion in West America worsens! Aerial photography of Southern California full of container ships! Terminal operators expect to get rid of the dilemma by the end of spring

 

 

Jon Monroe pointed out that although more Chinese factories will continue to maintain at least part of their business this month to clear the backlog of merchandise orders compared to previous years, the total volume of the East Pacific trans-Pacific region should be greater than the previous six months. Months are less.

Scott Weiss, vice president of business development at Port Logistics Group, said that the 1.8 billion square feet of industrial and distribution space throughout Southern California is not fully loaded, just like last fall before the holiday season merchandise was transferred to stores across the country. However, the availability of space in warehouses and distribution facilities has been mixed. "Some warehouses are in a mess now, others are working well. I think the ratio is about 50-50,"

Scott Weiss said that productivity has generally declined, and warehouses across the region are experiencing labor shortages due to the new crown epidemic, but at the same time, freight volumes are still exceptionally strong. "Everyone I contacted is experiencing record sales and growth, but everyone is working hard to cope."

Weston LaBar, CEO of the Port Transportation Association, said that the current truck capacity is tight, and the availability of workers at both ends of the truck driver's route, the terminal and the distribution warehouse, has been challenged . However, when workers feel safe, they return in large numbers. LaBar said: "The most effective thing we can do right now is to vaccinate."

/ By TJ China Freight / Shipping

5 Tips on How To Choose a Freight Forwarder

Last week we looked at the question, “Can anyone be a freight forwarder?”

how to choose a freight forwarder Hariesh commented on our blog, as well as mentioning in his own, that “any Tom, Dick, or Harry can call themselves a Freight Forwarder.”

Of course, you don’t want any Tom, Dick, or Harry handling your imports and exports. It’s important your freight forwarder knows how to handle your international shipping.

With all the freight forwarders that are out there, and the surprising ease to call yourself a freight forwarder, how do you go about choosing a freight forwarder whom you can be confident in?

Well, today’s blog covers just that. Here are 5 tips on how to choose a freight forwarder.

1. MAKE SURE THE FREIGHT FORWARDER HAS EXPERIENCE.
This could almost be the whole list. Experience, experience, experience.

It might be fairly easy to start a freight forwarding company, but the international shipping industry is not the easiest business sector in the world and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you won’t last long.

During TJ China Freight’s 27+ years as a freight forwarder, we’ve seen many, many company’s come and go.

Years of experience means your freight forwarder has dealt with different situations like dockworker strikes and port shutdowns, needs for rerouting cargo, smoothing out customs or warehousing issues, and so on.

Experience usually means your freight forwarder will help you avoid customs, warehousing, and routing problems before they even start so your international shipping will go smoothly.

Experience also gives time for a company to form and cultivate business relations around the world from which you will benefit. Which brings us to…

2. ASK ABOUT THE FREIGHT FORWARDER’S NETWORK OF AGENTS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE COUNTRY YOU’RE EXPORTING TO OR IMPORTING FROM.
This is obviously important for the local handling of your international shipments.

Your freight forwarder should have a strong network around the world, but you need to know that they have the connections in the countries/cities of origin and destination for your imports and exports.

If you’re exporting and importing to and from Germany, it doesn’t matter how good the freight forwarder’s connections are in China.

TJ China Freight has a very large network and ships to and from almost anywhere in the world; however, you may have noticed a key word in there: almost. There are a few places in the world TJ China Freight does not ship to or from.

You may have found a freight forwarder who is great for shipping to the Philippines, but don’t have the connections or experience to do a great job handling your imports from China. So make sure you ask about your freight forwarder’s connections and experience in the specific locations you need.

Business partnerships around the world also allow your freight forwarder to offer additional services, which brings us to…

3. MAKE SURE THE FREIGHT FORWARDER OFFERS THE SERVICES YOU NEED FOR YOUR SHIPMENT.
Look at the services the freight forwarder offers.

A freight forwarder should be able to handle more than just the air shipping or ocean shipping part of your import or export. They should also be able to handle the rail and/or trucking portion of your international shipping.

I guess if you only need port to port services instead of door to door shipping, you wouldn’t find it a big deal whether or not the freight forwarder offers this service; however, if they do not have a trucking option, that says something about the freight forwarder’s network.

However, there are more services you may want from your freight forwarder. For example, TJ China Freight partnered with TOLL to offer Supply Chain Value Added Services. This means we can help you with things like warehousing, distribution, etc.

Of course, cargo insurance better be among their services and shipment tracking is nice to have if only for your peace of mind.

4. MAKE SURE THE FREIGHT FORWARDER HAS GOOD REFERENCES.
This is good advice when you’re looking for any kind of service, not just freight forwarding.

If there’s no one willing to say a freight forwarder did a great job taking care of their imports and exports, that’s a big red flag.

 

5. MAKE SURE THE FREIGHT FORWARDER HAS GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
This is hugely important.

How fast does the freight forwarder get back to you on your freight rate request or on answering your questions?

If you’re new to international shipping, are they able and willing to walk you through what you need to know and do to make sure all goes well with your imports and exports?

Your sales person at a freight forwarding company may not have all the answers to your questions as they might be new to the company or even the industry, but they should be able to get the answers for you from the experienced team they’re working with.

How good your freight forwarder is at taking care of your individual needs speaks a great deal about their ability to give the needed attention to your shipments.

Notice, I didn’t even put freight rates in this list as much more important is your freight forwarder’s ability to take care of your shipping needs professionally and precisely.

One freight forwarder may offer shipping rates well below the rest of the competition, but you’ll usually find yourself paying for choosing them in additional costs, delays, and very poor customer service.

But if you follow the five tips above, you should find a freight forwarder who has the contracts and network which allow them to offer competitive rates.

/ By TJ China Freight / Shipping

The port in South Asia is in chaos and congestion.

It is reported that the Port of Colombo has a backlog of 50,000 teu of cargo, causing South Asian transshipment cargo into chaos.

In the past few weeks, the Sri Lankan capital has been locked down due to the epidemic, and since the beginning of October, the city’s container terminal labor shortage has caused serious congestion.

Today, this dilemma is affecting the supply chains of neighboring India and Bangladesh.

 

According to Rohan Masakorala, CEO of Shippers' Academy Colombo, the Port of Colombo has reduced the number of employees by about 30%, which has dealt a major blow to the efficiency of crane production and trucking between freight stations.

"The backlog of orders and goods is very large, and it may take six to eight weeks to clean up."

"Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) mainly focuses on transshipment, while the other two terminals are responsible for feeder ships, so there is an urgent need for transshipment between terminals." He said.

"The lack of truck drivers means that containers are starting to accumulate in the storage area of ​​the port. This also means that it affects feeder ships, sometimes waiting for more than a week, and then even the mainline ships have to be delayed by one to two days."

 

▲Colombo port congestion: a backlog of 50,000 TEUs caused delays and increased freight rates

Masakorala said that given that Colombo handles approximately 600,000 TEUs per month, regional feeders and connectivity are being severely damaged, and carriers are forced to ship containers to India, Singapore and Dubai.

He added: “Of course, Colombo is not the only port affected by the new crown epidemic, but as a transshipment hub, the impact is much greater and the entire region will be affected. Even now, there are still 23 ships waiting for berths, and Usually the port receives 12-16 ships every day, so there are quite a lot of ships waiting at the window."

He explained that it is inevitable that Colombo’s freight has doubled, and shippers need to book eight weeks in advance to get a seat.

 

Masakorala said: “Some shippers have been waiting in Colombo for four weeks and two weeks in Singapore.” “Freight forwarders have been severely affected, so some urgent cargo must be transported by air or to a third port, which increases Cost and shipping time."

He added that, given that ports in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are fully operational, there are now concerns that the port’s reputation may be damaged. Sri Lanka is ambitious and hopes to become a global shipping and logistics hub as famous as Dubai and Singapore. However, Mr. Masakorala said that the LCL loading and unloading and customs clearance and consolidation operations of FCL have been "seriously affected."

Recently, foreign trade forwarders who transshipped through this port have mainly paid attention to it, for fear of delays and additional costs.

Colombo handled 7.2 million TEUs in 2019, but Mr. Masakorala believes that the port’s throughput will drop by 10-20% this year.