The companies from the European network for transportation are well aware of the responsibility of handling high tech products with ultimate care and attention.

The various members of the freight transport association are experts in providing completely secure, cost-effective and innovative solutions for the specialized transportation, the packaging, and the storage and distribution of sensitive goods and high tech equipment.

Some of the steps which the members of the freight transport association have taken include offering special climate controlled warehousing and transport, as well as securing the transport and products, choosing the safest and optimal roots and many other tasks necessary for the safe and timely transportation and delivery of high tech products like mobile phones, TVs, networking equipment and many others.

Thanks to the years of experience of the employees in the international freight forwarding companies, they are well aware of the specific requirements of handling high tech equipment and products, and many even have technical or medical training as well. Plus, the companies from the International Forwarding Association organize regular product training courses, in order to continuously improve the quality of the services provided in the area of high value and sensitive technology and products.

The international freight forwarders are also experts in the different types of high tech products, including medical equipment, IT products, telecommunication technology, and others.

The employees in these companies can provide the following services to ensure that the high tech goods get to their destination in time and in the best condition as possible:

• Complete storage and distribution management
• Vehicles for specialized transportation of small goods as well as complete loads with temperature control when needed
• Strategical positioning of the high tech products allowing for quick delivery
• Packing and unpacking services when necessary
• Return of packaging for recycling or waste disposal
• Customizing labels to meet legal requirements and the demands of the customers
• Accurate and fast serial number tracking and scanning
• Inspection, repacking and other RMA services
• Climate controlled storage in specialized warehouses
• Efficient warehouse and transport management systems allowing for quick and easy identification of the status of each product
• Facilities with increased and reliable security
• Additional staff for holidays when the demand for high tech products is high
• Handling returned goods

In today’s world when people are choosing to shop online to buy just about anything including high tech products and equipment, it is essential for the manufacturers and retailers to have a reliable logistics partner providing national and international freight services.

In order to stay ahead of competition, these companies need to be able to deliver the high tech product as quickly, safely and as cheaply as possible to the end customer, and this can only be done via a reliable, experienced and dedicated logistics company like any one of the members of the freight transport association.

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Here are the common traits which the members of the European logistics network pay the closest attention to when interviewing and choosing candidates for work:

1. Experience

Naturally, all companies from the European network for transportation are looking for people with previous experience in the field, especially when seeking employees for management positions and for more specific jobs like European groupage services, specialized transportation, green logistics, humanitarian logistics, hazardous goods, air freight in Europe, contract logistics and others.

The recruiting companies and personnel of the freight forwarders network always ask for any previous experience in similar organizations, in the same organization, as well as any projects completed in the field, the responsibilities held, as well as any awards they have won and skills they have gained in the process.

2. Work culture and ethics

As in any other industry or business, each company from the list of logistics companies has a different work culture. Finding an employee who will fit perfectly in the work culture of the freight forwarders company may not be an easy task, but it is essential in order for the person to fit in without any trouble, and the work to go on without problems.

3. Progression in their career

All international freight forwarders prefer to hire employees who have shown a steady rising progression in their career so far. This is essential for setting a clear path for the future. Also, for many jobs within the companies from the freight forwarders directory, it is beneficial if the employee has had previous experience in other logistical jobs as well.

4. Adaptability

Since the logistics industry is constantly developing and evolving, it is important for the employees of the international freight forwarding companies to be able to easily adapt to change such as implementing new software, adding new services and so on which all are necessary moves in this competitive business and the advancement of technology.

5. Commitment

Of course, every company in the world want their employees to be 100% committed to their jobs. This is why the companies from the freight transport association prefer to hire candidates who do not have mixed priorities, and who are ready to go that extra mile to make sure they are hired.

6. Honesty

When hiring new employees, the international freight forwarders from IFA prefer to discuss both the strengths and the weaknesses of the candidates. Talking honestly about one’s weaknesses is a sign of honesty which is highly appreciated by the recruiters.

7. Passion

Last but not least, passion is something which is absolutely necessary especially in a dynamic and fast-moving profession as logistics and transport. Employees of the European logistics companies must feel passionate about their work so that they can do their best even in the most difficult situations which often arise in the European logistics business.

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The use of cross-docking also reduces the need for storage space for the products, because in most cases they are delivered to the loading dock directly and prepared by outbound delivery by the members of the International Forwarding Association.

Implementing effective cross docking solutions by the list of logistics companies allows for faster deliveries to the end customers which is often goal number one of a perfectly optimized supply chain. But keep in mind that such solutions also carry some risks, which need to be taken into consideration before implementing cross-docking.

The advantages of cross-docking offered by the European logistics network

• A reduction of labor costs because there is no need for handling the products physically and sorting them in the warehouses
• A reduction of the delivery time, as the products are delivered as fast as possible directly from the production plants to the clients
• A reduction of the need for more storage space offered by the freight transport association

The different types of cross-docking

The type of cross docking used by the freight forwarders Europe largely depends on the type of goods being shipped.

1. Manufacturing cross docking – this involves the receipt of the inbound and purchase products needed for the production. The warehouse can receive them and prepare sub-assemblies based on the production orders.
2. Distributor cross-docking – this is when the inbound products from different producers are consolidated into special mixed pallet shipping deliveries and are combined by the international freight forwarding companies into one shipment for a certain customer.
3. Transportation cross-docking – this is when different items and different shipments from various carriers are combined in small shipments in order to save money for transport and delivery.
4. Retail cross docking – this is the process of the members of the European network for transportation receiving various goods from various vendors, and sorting them in outbound trucks for retail store delivery. This popular method was first made popular in the 1980s by Wal-Mart.
5. Opportunistic cross-docking – this can be implemented in any warehouse and involves the direct transfer of the products to the outbound shipping dock from the receiving dock without being handled in the warehouse at all.

Which products are suitable for cross-docking

The companies from IFA are aware that some items are more suitable than others for this practice, including:

• Perishable goods which need to be shipped immediately
• High-quality goods which don’t require inspections during receipt
• Pre-tagged and pre-ticketed goods
• Promotional goods
• Pre-packaged customer orders from other warehouses or production plants
• Staple products which are in a constant demand

Overall, if the warehouse staff is trained properly to keep the inventory in perfect control during cross-docking, this can be a very profitable, time and space saving warehousing and delivery procedure for producers, the end customers and for the members of the freight forwarders directory.

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On a global level, the cargo high jacking of sea vessels has led to a loss of millions of tons of oil, fuel, and chemicals which have been sold at the black market.

The tendency for cargo theft from trucks used by the international freight forwarders has been growing as well.

One of the main reasons for the increased risk of theft of cargo is the advanced technology which is helping not only the freight transport association but is also helping the criminals as well.

Preventing the theft of high-value cargo as well as the being transported on the roads of Europe by the European logistics network is a number one priority of all of the companies from the International Forwarding Association.

Here are some of the precautions which the European network for transportation is taking in order to prevent the hijackings on the road or while the cargo is in the warehouses of the freight forwarders association for storage and distribution,  or as part of the contract logistics services being provided by the freight forwarders network.

Limiting the information available online

Naturally, all of the companies from the freight forwarders directory discourage their truck drivers from discussing their upcoming trips, routes and type of cargo they will be driving, especially on social networks, and even in personal online chats with others. Such information which is readily available on the Internet can attract thieves and criminals.

Implementing safety technology

The companies from the European network for transportation are implementing immobilizing technologies in all of their trucks. These can be controlled and can be switched on remotely in case there is a suspicion that a truck is being hijacked or is about to be robbed.

This type of technology prevents the thieves from stealing the complete loads along with the vehicle and also stops them from being able to take the cargo and goods if they don’t have their own means of transportation.

Keeping the truck drivers educated

The forwarders throughout Europe are well aware of the importance of keeping their truck drivers aware of the potential risks of theft. This is why they are continuously being trained and assessed for their ability to assess the risks on the road and their abilities and knowledge on how to curb these risks while providing transportation services.

Parking in secure areas

Since most thefts of cargo occur while the truck is parked, the freight forwarders association is doing its best in promoting parking only in secure areas when possible.

Using low-tech security equipment

Even with the advance of smart technologies, it is still essential to secure the loads with mechanical means as well. This means that the drivers from the international freight forwarders association use all of the best locks, rear door locks, landing gear as well as cuff locks, to ensure that the cargo or goods being transported is as safe as possible during the shipment and while the truck is parked.

Overall, the list of logistics companies from the European network for transportation is taking all preventive measures and precautions as possible to keep the cargo of all customers safe on the road and to ensure it reaches its destination without any losses.

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With the globalization and the rapid growth in international trade, the supply chain and all its members are no longer contained within the borders of one single country. Rather, it includes customers, manufacturers, and vendors from different countries.

Today, China has become a leader in global trade and economy, and with the shifting markets, the global supply chain is becoming more complicated and complex as well. This means that the companies and members of the supply chain need to adapt to these changes and incorporate them into their business.The list of logistics companies from the International Forwarding Association can help their customers and all supply chain members with the difficulties which some inexperienced or ill-equipped companies have operating on an international level and extending their global supply chains. Thanks to the experience of the companies from the European logistics network, now these companies which are new to international trade can successfully expand their businesses and services.

Part of succeeding when entering a new market is understanding the specific cultural differences of each region. Thanks to the fact that the European network for transportation has members in all countries of Europe which are well aware of the local business environment and specifics. The employees of the forwarders throughout Europe experience with dealing with customers and companies from around the world, and can help companies which are interested in entering new and unknown markets to do so successfully.

Here are some of the services which the member companies from IFA can provide to new customers who want to expand their supply chain globally

International freight forwarding

The companies from the freight forwarders network can organize the forwarding of the goods for these companies. They can handle small shipments, complete loads, sea freight in Europe, specialized transportation as well as all kinds of transport services at the best price possible. Thanks to the close cooperation between the logistics companies from the freight transport association the best routes, the cheapest and most efficient transportation can be found for each shipment. In many cases, the companies will decrease the forwarding price even more by combining intermodal transportation services or by using their regular European groupage services. The forwarders will handle all the documentation, the payment, and the carrier selection.

Packing, storage and distribution and contract logistics

The companies from the international freight forwarders network can also provide the appropriate and most cost-effective export packing services to companies which are not familiar with exporting. They can advise them about the best types of packaging to be used, the design, as well as provide pallet shipping and minimize the packaging to maximize the number of goods exported at the lowest price possible.

The companies from the international freight forwarders network also have local warehouses and storage facilities throughout Europe, where they can store and manage the distribution of the goods for the customers too. The international freight forwarders network also offers contract logistics which can help a new customer enter one of the European markets successfully and at a very good price too.

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The Bill of Lading

This is the sole most important transport document for all international freight services provided for the forwarding of goods handled by the European logistics network.

Lading stands for a contract for the international freight forwarding of any kind of goods and cargo.

This essential document which the experts from the European network for transportation can help you prepare includes all of the information necessary for the European logistics companies to transport the goods. It contains the transportation contract terms, the shipment origin and is required before the forwarders throughout Europe can proceed with the shipment.

The bill of lading must include the name and address of the consignee and the consignor, and may contain routing instructions for the freight forwarders. It also includes a description of the items and goods being shipped, their exact quantity as well as the class and rate of the goods.

Since it is a contract between the consignor and the company from the International Forwarding Association, the bill of lading needs to include nine terms:

• Common carrier liability
• Delay of transit
• Freight not accepted
• Extraordinary value
• Explosives
• Recourse
• Substitute bill of lading
• Alterations
• Claims

The Freight Bill

This is the invoice issued by the international freight forwarders to the buyer for all charges incurred by the carrier. It includes the forwarding and shipment details, the goods being shipped, the consignee, their origin and the destination of the shipment and the total weight and charges incurred.

In some cases, the carrier may ask for an advance payment in the cases when the value of the goods being shipped is smaller than the total expected charges for the freight forwarding. In case they are not pre-paid, then the company from the freight transport association will present the freight bill or invoice upon collect, or in other words – on the day of the delivery of the goods.

FOB Terms of sale

FOB stands for Free on Board, and FOB terms of sale define which party will be liable for all the costs incurred or the costs for shipment incurred by the European logistics companies from the freight forwarders association, as well as which of the sides is in charge of the shipment of the goods, and at what point the control and title is passed on to the buyer of the goods.

In case the terms of sale are that the items are FOB Delivered, this means that the forwarder is responsible for all costs incurred by the carrier for forwarding the goods. If these terms of sale include a FOB Origin, this means that the buyer will take control over the goods as soon as they are shipped and that he will be responsible for all of the transportation costs.

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In the meantime, a number of companies from the European logistics network are choosing to bring back in-house the services and activities which were previously outsourced.

Here is why the outsourcing is being brought back in-house by a list of logistics companies

Even though finding a reliable outsourcing service can be a painstaking process, many companies from the European network of transportation are looking towards bringing these competencies back and insourcing them. The reasons for this tendency which is becoming evident among more forwarders throughout Europe include:

1. The expectations of cost savings are not met

One of the main reasons why any of the companies from the freight forwarders network chooses to outsource a particular service is saving money.  But over time, they may come to realize that the cost reductions fail to happen, or that the price has increased and is no longer economically efficient. The cost may fail to cover the expectations due to added costs for the partner selection, the time and the resources needed to hand over the operation, and the cost of redundancy payouts.

2. The level of the service provided is not as expected

Unfortunately, it is common that the services provided by the outsourced partner do not meet the requirements and the expectations of the companies from the international freight forwarders network.

3. Customer complaints and pressure

Like in any other industry, the customer plays the leading role in the implementation of the contractual relations. Naturally, there are cases when a customer is not satisfied with the international freight forwarding, the storage and distribution or by other distribution or transportation services being provided via an outsourced partner.

4. Public relations and politics

There are cases when the forwarders throughout Europe are forced to give up outsourcing due to political pressure or public relations issues. The current trade wars between the world’s leading industries are one great example for this type of pressure, especially the embargo on Chinese products in the US which has caused a number of logistics companies to withdraw from their outsourcing partnerships in China.

5. Other forces in the outsourcing market

Other reasons such as wage inflations have caused a number of freight forwarders to give up outsourcing their services such as providing specialized transport, refrigeration transport, forwarding of hazardous goods or oversized cargo, and to bring them back in-house.

6. Problems in the outsourcing relationship

Just like in any other business or personal relationships, a fall-out between the partners can happen for one reason or another. In these cases, some companies from the international freight forwarders association start looking for new partners, but others choose to bring these services in-house instead.

7. Concerns about provider security

Occasionally, in logistics especially, a client company’s management may feel it has no option but to bring outsourced work back in-house because of security problems within the provider’s operation.

8. Other reasons

There are many cases when incompatibility between the integrated IT systems for logistics management and for distribution of the freight forwarders and the outsourced partner can become the reason for the separation between partners. In others – security concerns are the primary reason.

Whatever the reason why many companies from IFA are giving up outsourcing some or all of their services and bringing them back home, they need to take advantage of this experience and use this as an opportunity to enhance their performance and strengthen their business strategies.

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Although these self-driving vehicles are still are in a very early stage of development, they are perceived as having a serious impact on the future of all of the European logistics services provided by the international freight forwarders from IFA.

It is a matter of time when the forwarders throughout Europe will begin using self-driving trucks for their international freight forwarding, specialized transportation, refrigeration transport, European groupage services and all other services provided.

The members of the international freight forwarders association are well aware that the autonomous vehicles have a true potential of changing and revolutionizing all services provided by the European network for transportation.

Already, autonomous vehicles are being used by some freight forwarders for the storage and distribution of the goods and cargo in the warehouses and container terminals of the freight forwarders network.

It is a matter of time when such self-driving vehicles will be used for long-haul international freight forwarding, as well as for last mile distribution and delivery services by the members of the freight forwarders association. 

What are the potential benefits of using self-driving vehicles by the freight transport association?

Today, the international freight forwarders network is faced with problems with a shortage of drivers, especially for specialized forwarding services, such as the transport of hazardous goods, humanitarian logistics, and others.

Also, the payment for the drivers from the European logistics companies makes up for 30% of the cost for the freight forwarding services provided.

By deploying autonomous vehicles, both of these serious problems which the freight forwarders Europe are facing can easily be solved.

Another benefit of using self-driving vehicles by the list of logistics companies is that they can travel at a higher speed, and reach the final destinations faster, as there are no 24/7 driver bans or driving time regulations which the human drivers face.

The autonomous vehicles will help improve the green logistics as well, as they can be programmed to drive as economically as possible.

Potential problems with deploying self-driving vehicles

By adding autonomous vehicles to the fleet of the freight forwarders directory, there will be a need for trained and specialized dispatchers who have to monitor multiple vehicles and apply timely remote control in various traffic situations. This can be quite complicated especially when it comes to intermodal logistics which involve combining intermodal transportation services.

Special platforms will need to be implemented, as well as new types of platooning of the vehicles for their proper management and tracking during the transport.

When will autonomous driving become a reality for the logistics business?

It is still early to give an exact prognosis when the deployment of the first self-driving trucks for forwarding will happen. There are a number of obstacles which need to be passed first. Number one is the advancement of the technology of these self-driving vehicles, until they become safe to use on the European roads, no matter the traffic or weather conditions.

Let’s hope that we will be able to see the first self-driving vehicles on the roads of the Old Continent pretty soon!

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