Logistic services providers move different types of freight, from oversized cargo and dangerous goods to standard and special goods. Different modes of transportation are used depending on the class assigned, including air, sea, inland waterway, rail, and road. Dangerous goods Dangerous goods fall in different categories, including corrosive substances, radioactive material, and infectious and toxic […]

Sea transport was the main vehicle of international commerce for centuries and is still a popular mode of transportation due to factors such as high load capacity, low cost, and reliability in bad weather. Sea freight transport is also a preferred solution for shipments across long distances. Types of Goods Transported by Sea The main […]

Logistics providers face different challenges and operational and strategic risks due to factors such as instability, terrorism, conflicts, and economic downturns. Freight forwarders face logistics and transportation risks associated with increasing globalization, and it is important to develop and implement strategies to safeguard transports. Main Logistics Risks The main logistics risks that companies face include […]

Logistics services providers ship cargo on different types of vessels based on the kinds of goods to be transported. Ships come in different sizes and include reefer vessels, livestock vessels, container carriers, tanker vessels, multi-purpose vessels, and others. Size Ultra large crude carriers weigh between 320,000 and 550,000 DWT and are used to ship hazardous […]

With the advance of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics and the ever increasing automation of processes, warehouse management systems help improve efficiency, reduce costs, and effectively manage supply chain operations. Management systems help freight forwarders to streamline operations such as shipping, storage, order receipt, and inventory management and counts. Warehouse Control Systems As advanced […]

An effective transportation strategy not only lowers operating costs for freight forwarders but helps increase their customer base. Adopting good practices and developing innovative solutions help increase efficiency so that businesses gain competitive advantage. Choice of Transport The first step to developing an effective strategy is learning more about different modes – rail, road, air, […]

Logistics services providers offer and use different modes of transportation to move goods, including rail, road, air, and sea transport.  All modes have pros and cons in terms of safety, speed, reliability, cost, and risk of damages. Rail Transport Rail freight has benefits over other transportation options, one being that it is a cost-effective solution […]

With globalization and the ever increasing interdependence of European economies, cargo theft has become a real threat. Criminal groups often target high-value goods such as pharmaceutical products and mobile devices, and the number of incidents has increased during the last couple of years. Given that billions are lost to cargo theft each year, prevention is […]

Solar energy technologies have been in a constant state of growth and innovation during the last years. At the same time, businesses face multiple challenges such as unpredictability, cost of investment and fabrication costs, and storage efficiency. Services for Solar Energy Businesses   To help industry partners to achieve optimal results, we offer specialized logistics […]

Traditional retail supply chains are different from e-commerce in terms of shipment and delivery, purchases, locations, and the actors involved. Retailers choose attractive, high traffic locations to advertise goods and feature local deliveries for big ticket items. The retail location is important which explains why businesses are willing to pay costs such as rent, utilities, […]

With the huge boost in online commerce, it comes to no surprise that this has had a huge impact on the logistics services offered by the companies in the International Forwarding Association. While in traditional brick and mortar based retail, the customer is responsible to go to the retailer to purchase something and is actually […]

The companies from the International Forwarding Association are well aware of the importance of the storage and distribution services they provide for the different businesses in Europe. Warehousing is a must for the majority of businesses which produce, export, import or transport goods. Although it may seem like an unneeded expense, the truth is that […]

With the advance of technology, as well as the globalization of the world and the market, specialized logistics services for high tech products and for high tech production companies have become a top priority of the list of logistics companies from IFA. The companies from the European network for transportation are well aware of the […]

Every successful entrepreneur will agree that the logistics and international freight forwarding services are of key importance for the successful business. This is because the list of logistics companies provides seamless services which answer the demands of the customers and thus allows for the company to stay ahead of the competition. No matter the size […]

The logistics and transportation industry is a highly competitive sector which is why the companies from the International Forwarding Association are doing their best to find and recruit the most suitable logistics experts and employees. Here are the common traits which the members of the European logistics network pay the closest attention to when interviewing […]

The members of the International Forwarding Association have always been working hard to provide the best and most reliable European logistics services possible because they are all aware of the importance of logistics for the overall economy, the international commerce and the wellbeing of the people on the continent. So, what is logistics, and what […]

Just three decades ago, logistics and the services provided by international freight forwarders was part of the supply chain which was never fully transparent, clear and predictable. The reason why the international freight services in the 1970s and 1980s were so uncertain and not straightforward was the lack of means to keep track of the […]

We are close to the end of the first quarter of 2019, and the freight forwarders and European logistics companies from IFA are already prepared to meet the expected trends which will likely shape the logistics and supply chain industry this year. They are all a direct result of the growing diversity and increasing globalization, […]

The member companies of the International Forwarding Association (IFA) are all specialized in logistics management. Here is an overview of all you need to know about the term logistics management and how it is implemented by the European network for transportation: What is logistics? As you probably know, logistics is the process which the members […]

The practice of cross-docking which is becoming increasingly popular among the members of the freight forwarders association and among all storage and distribution services and warehouse logistic companies involves the delivery of products from the production plant to the end customer with minimal or even no material handling done in between. The use of cross-docking […]