International Forwarding Association Blog »
Freight forwarders who are heavily engaged in humanitarian logistics often deal with challenges when delivering supplies to disaster-stricken zones. They must navigate damaged infrastructure, stringent customs regulations, and coordination difficulties with governments, NGOs, and local authorities. Damaged Infrastructure Infrastructure damage such as collapsed bridges, destroyed roads, or landslides can physically block routes and hinder the movement of vehicles and supplies. Navigating around such damaged infrastructure or taking alternative routes can significantly increase travel times and delay the arrival of essential supplies. When infrastructure damage disrupts conventional routes, makeshift or alternative transport methods may become necessary. Makeshift transport such as… Read more
In the past few years, major shipowners have increasingly taken steps to consolidate the logistics industry. Following the pandemic period of 2020 – 2021, container rates escalated to $12,000, up from $2,000 for a 20-foot container on certain routes. This rise resulted in substantial profits for shipowners and enabled them to expand their business holdings. Industry Consolidation and Expansion Today, carriers are actively investing in cargo airlines, establishing their own fleets of cargo planes, and acquiring stakes in port management entities. Additionally, these carriers have expanded into railway transport and are purchasing e-commerce and automotive logistics businesses. While sea… Read more
International freight forwarding ensures that specialized cargo is delivered safely and efficiently to support various special events. These range from trade shows, academic conferences, and film productions to high-value auctions, musical festivals, and major sporting competitions. Exhibitions Tade shows, expos, and conferences require the transportation of varied cargo, including exhibit boots and stands, shelving and counters for product displays, and machinery for live demonstrations. Additionally, freight forwarders may transport touchscreen kiosks, demo stations, product samples for hands-on demonstrations or giveaways, and early versions or prototypes of upcoming products. Symposia For academic conferences and research symposia, the cargo typically… Read more
Navigating the challenges of poor road infrastructure presents hurdles for cargo transportation across various regions in Europe. Key issues include inadequate road signage, a scarcity of alternative routes, and the frequent absence of essential services, each contributing to increased risks and operational costs for freight forwarders. Poor Road Signage Inadequate road signage can pose significant dangers for cargo trucks, as it may lead them into unsuitable or hazardous conditions and result in potential accidents. The Lecco bridge collapse in Italy in 2016 is a point in question. Despite visible damages and structural concerns reported to the authorities, the bridge… Read more
Handling hazardous materials at airports requires strict safety protocols to prevent accidents and ensure public safety. These measures include using designated storage facilities, specially equipped transport vehicles, and handling equipment with safety features to mitigate risks associated with hazardous cargo. Designated Storage Facilities Airports use designated storage areas to safely store hazardous goods based on the type and potential risks. For example, flammable liquids such as gasoline, solvents, and paints require storage in fire-resistant facilities equipped with high-airflow ventilation systems, which effectively disperse hazardous vapors to prevent them from accumulating. Meanwhile, explosive materials such as fireworks, ammunition, and industrial… Read more
Small cargo ships improve the efficiency of sea freight in Europe. These vessels navigate alternative routes to avoid traffic and achieve predictable transit times, dock at smaller ports to bypass congestion and speed up cargo handling, and benefit from lower docking and handling fees. Alternative Routes Small cargo ships can choose alternative routes such as smaller channels, rivers, and shallow coastal waters. In Europe, such routes include navigating through the narrow canals of the Netherlands, along the Elbe and Rhine rivers in Germany, and the coastal waters along the Adriatic and Aegean Seas. Since navigation is restricted for larger… Read more
Shipping high-risk cargo in flood-prone areas demands specialized strategies to ensure safety. Three high-risk categories that require particular attention are electronics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, and livestock, each needing distinct protective measures. Electronics Electronics like smartphones, laptops, and televisions have circuits that direct electric signals along specific paths. When these devices are exposed to water, it creates additional connections within circuits where more current can pass than the components can safely manage. This can lead to irreversible damage. To avoid such risks in flood-prone areas, special packaging is often used. This includes moisture-barrier bags which are made from materials like… Read more
Secondary airports offer unique advantages that can enhance air freight in Europe. These benefits, including competitive pricing, specialized cargo handling, shorter taxi times, and comprehensive security checks, directly impact cost-efficiency, speed, specialized service capabilities, and safety for freight forwarders. Competitive Pricing Smaller airports can offer lower landing, storage, and handling fees for several reasons. First, their location away from major urban centers means that land and development costs are significantly reduced, which makes it less expensive to build airport facilities. Second, with fewer flights to manage, small airports face less competition for resources such as runway slots and terminal… Read more
Transporting forestry products involves navigating a variety of challenges to ensure the safety and integrity of goods. Effective transportation in Europe requires careful selection of vehicles, moisture and temperature control, pest and disease management, and strategic route planning to avoid physical obstacles. Types of Vehicles The choice of vehicles depends largely on the type of product being moved. Flatbed trucks, characterized by their open sides and absence of a roof, are particularly well-suited for carrying logs and lumber, which do not require protection from precipitation, sunlight, or debris. Additionally, the accessibility of flatbed trucks enables the use of forklifts… Read more
Coastal shipping routes face many challenges not encountered by deep-sea routes. The main challenges include weather conditions, frequent port calls, navigational hazards, limited night-time operations, and the constraints of using small-size ships. Weather Conditions Coastal shipping routes are more directly affected by land weather patterns compared to deep-sea or open ocean routes. Inland geographic features impact weather in coastal waters, with valleys causing winds to accelerate and change direction rapidly and mountains forcing moist air to rise and condense, leading to increased rainfall. These geographical influences result in more frequent and intense weather events such as sudden storms, heavy… Read more
Cargo aircraft involved in air freight in Europe must adhere to stringent safety protocols to prevent accidents while in the air. These protocols include advanced containment systems, monitoring technologies, and fire suppression strategies designed to ensure the safe transport of dangerous goods. Cargo Containment Solutions Cargo aircraft carrying dangerous materials are typically equipped with fire-resistant containers and spill containment pallets to ensure safe transportation. Fire-resistant containers are used to ship dangerous goods that are flammable, explosive, or highly reactive, including materials such as nitroglycerin, picric acid, and sodium. These containers are constructed from advanced materials such as high-grade steel… Read more
Security inspections support the safety and integrity of maritime operations. These checks focus on identifying threats such as tampering, unauthorized access, and stowaways. This ensures breaches are accurately attributed, and ground forwarders are not wrongfully implicated. Tampering During inspections, security teams inspect for signs of hampering, which can include discrepancies in cargo weights, irregularities in packaging, and inconsistent stocking patterns. Other indicators might be broken seals, unauthorized modifications to container structures, and the presence of unusual odors or residues that suggest hidden or prohibited items. These rigorous inspections ultimately benefit ground forwarders, whether the issue is minor or a… Read more
Refrigerated transport in Europe presents unique challenges in maintaining temperature control. The main difficulties include the short run times of refrigeration systems between stops and challenges with load distribution which can affect temperature management. Temperature Control Challenges with Frequent Stops Consistent temperature control can be a challenge over short distances due to frequent stops and door openings that introduce bursts of external air with varying temperatures. Complicating matters, on routes where stops are close together, the engine—and consequently the refrigeration system—may not run long enough to restore the optimal temperature between stops. Standard refrigeration systems, designed primarily to maintain… Read more
Nighttime operations at airports bring a number of advantages for transporting cargo. These include better accommodation for large aircraft, improved weather conditions for aircraft performance, enhanced security measures, and optimal conditions for shipping temperature-sensitive items. Large Cargo Aircraft At night, airports can better accommodate large aircraft due to decreased passenger flight schedules. With fewer passenger flights, airports can allocate longer time slots for large aircraft that carry substantial loads and require more time for loading and unloading. Additionally, they often transport oversized cargo and irregularly shaped items, which extends the process because such cargo does not fit standard conveyors… Read more
Efficient sea freight in Europe is often hindered by severe weather conditions. Two of the most significant challenges are ice formations, which impede vessels, and dense fog, which impairs navigation and slows down port operations. Ice Formations In the Baltic Sea, winter often results in harsh conditions where portions of the sea are covered by thick ice packs that immobilize vessels. To combat these challenges, ports in Finland and Sweden deploy fleets of icebreakers – ships with reinforced hulls that break ice into pieces. These icebreakers help maintain clear paths along commonly used shipping routes such as the Gulf… Read more
Transporting goods to European islands presents logistical hurdles that impact the efficiency of transportation operations. Key challenges include limited port capacity for large ships, dependence on ferry services, volatile sea and weather conditions, and the geographic isolation of islands. Capacity Limitations for Large Ships European islands often have limited capacity to accommodate large cargo vessels. This is because they were historically developed for smaller-scale maritime activities such as fishing or passenger transport. Expanding port facilities to accommodate large vessels is a logical step, yet, many islands are characterized by rugged coastlines and limited space. This poses challenges to expansion,… Read more
Transporting hazardous materials presents unique challenges for European logistics providers that vary greatly depending on the environment. Key areas of concern include densely populated regions, areas prone to natural disasters, and regions with poor infrastructure, each presenting distinct risks for safe transport. Densely Populated Areas In densely populated areas, vehicles transporting hazardous goods face challenges maneuvering through congested streets or navigating intersections. This difficulty increases the likelihood of accidents as well as leaks and spills. Moreover, traffic congestion and the density of road networks complicate evacuation efforts and can lead to longer durations of exposure to hazardous substances… Read more
Drones face unique challenges when tasked with delivering small shipments to rural areas. Key issues include extended range, unpredictable weather conditions, and wildlife interference, each necessitating specific mitigation strategies to ensure efficient and safe operations. Extended Range In rural areas, the distances between delivery points can be extensive, far exceeding the usual flight capabilities of most commercially available drones. For example, a drone with a battery life that supports 30 minutes of flight might only cover around 24 kilometers before needing a recharge. Yet rural delivery routes can be 80 kilometers or more from a central hub to a… Read more
The evolution of packaging within the freight forwarding industry is marking significant strides towards sustainability and efficiency. Key innovations driving this change include sustainable packaging materials, high-performance barrier films, and collapsible and foldable packaging solutions. Sustainable Packaging Materials The shift towards sustainable packaging involves using materials that are either biodegradable, recyclable, or sourced from renewable resources. Materials such as corrugated cardboard, bioplastics, and plant-based packing peanuts are replacing traditional plastics and polystyrene foam, which signals a new era of eco-friendly solutions in freight forwarding. At the same time, effectively integrating these packaging solutions requires understanding of the protective qualities… Read more
European ports lead in adopting sustainable practices, spanning biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, and waste management. These efforts improve environmental health and bring predictability and cost benefits to the logistics sector. Biodiversity Conservation Today, ports are increasingly acknowledging the significance of biodiversity conservation in their operations. For instance, The Port of Antwerp, in partnership with the environmental organization Natuurpunt, is undertaking efforts to safeguard its biodiverse ecosystem, which hosts several rare species. Through the initiative ‘Port of Antwerp more natural,’ the port is implementing conservation strategies such as setting up nesting locations for sand martins, building areas for fish to… Read more
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