International Forwarding Association Blog »
Many ask freight forwarders if they can safely ship pets internationally as this can be a stressful experience for cats, dogs, and ferrets. Depending on final destination, some countries allow pets after a quarantine period while others may not allow them at all. EU Member States also have special requirements when it comes to required information, vaccinations, and other specifics. Specialized transportation may also be required for some domestic animals, including road and air shipping. What Documents Are Required If you plan to import pets from non-EU states, they must come from authorized countries and territories. State authorities require an… Read more
The coronavirus pandemic hit vital industries across the globe and disrupted supply chains due to restrictions and stay-at-home orders. The pharmaceutical supply chain has also been affected by lockdowns and restrictions imposed in India and China where major pharmaceutical producers operate. Drop in Supply due to Over-Reliance Supply from pharmaceutical manufacturers in China has dropped significantly over the last couple of months. This is a source of concern in light of estimates by the WHO that China produces about 1/5 of active pharmaceutical ingredients used by producers. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency announced that this figure could… Read more
Major ports across the globe are increasingly digitizing processes to ensure efficient workflow and keep contact to a minimum during the coronavirus outbreak. The global pandemic already caused major disruption to the global supply chain, with workers ordered to stay home and falling ill. Experts predict that ports may experience staff shortages due to the fact that certain processes require physical handling and interaction. Ports That Already Make Use of Automation and Digitalization The Port of Rotterdam has already introduced digital tools to reduce costs, improve safety, and ensure efficient workflow. Software tools speed up handling of inland vessels, trains,… Read more
Europe is now facing coronavirus drug shortages due to reduced freight capacity and more specifically air freight capacity. As many countries have imposed lockdowns, travel bans, and other restrictions, airlines are forced to have their aircraft grounded. Experts predict that the demand for drugs will continue to increase as the pandemic spreads all over the world. How Aircraft Grounding Affects Supply Last month Medicines for Europe Director-General Adrian van den Hoven warned that drug chain supply from countries such as India and China is essential for European states. Shipping drugs across the globe is critical and should be done fast… Read more
New rules have been implemented to ensure the safe shipping of cargo as to enable trade on a global scale to continue. These are of interest to European logistics operators carrying cargo across borders. Air Cargo Airlines are increasingly transforming their fleets into cargo planes, shipping medical equipment, supplies, and medications. Those shipping cargo from affected areas are asked to follow WHO guidelines as to prevent further spread. Special handling is not necessary but workers must wash their hands frequently and maintain good hand hygiene. IATA advocates the view that cargo crew must be exempt from quarantine and travel… Read more
To ensure that essential goods are shipped across Europe, the European Commission asked Member States to create green lanes or internal border crossing points. These green lanes on the trans-European transport network will be used by cargo vehicles transporting goods across borders. Why Green Lanes? Land cargo makes for some 75 percent of all cargo shipped across borders. However, cargo shipping has been seriously affected by restrictions imposed by Member States, including restrictions on truck drivers and bans at border crossings. Many vehicle drivers face wait times of over 48 hours, including trucks shipping medical supplies. How It Works For… Read more
Intermodal logistics or the use of combined transport to ship cargo is especially important during the coronavirus outbreak. According to experts, it is one of the safest modes of transportation. This is because cargo is shipped by freight trains over long distances and then shipped by trucks over short distances. Rail transport can be used to ship medical equipment and supplies, food, household goods, and other types of cargo. Why Use Intermodal Transport One of the main benefits of using intermodal transport is that freight trains have the capacity to ship large quantities of goods across Europe. Controlled and fixed… Read more
More and more retailers in North America and Europe are shutting down, which may lead to a significant decline in shipped volumes. This is mainly the result of social lockdowns that are enforced in many countries. How Maritime Shipping Is Affected Analyst Sealntelligence Consulting explained that a 10 percent decline in shipments is expected, resulting in just 80 million teu processed in ports and 17 million teu shipped by fleets across the world. In addition to stores shutting down, restrictions in place at ports have further impacted global container shipping. Some ports have even banned ships from countries with coronavirus… Read more
US President Donald Trump suspended all travel from and to Europe on 13 March, and many European logistics providers wonder whether cargo will be affected. What Trump Said about Cargo Initially President Trump announced that the restrictions also apply to cargo shipped from Europe to the United States. He then tweeted to say that the suspension does not apply to freight and trade and only to people. He also clarified that the free flow of goods between the EU and U.S. is an economic priority. His initial comment that cargo falls under the travel ban caused anxiety and confusion among… Read more
European countries have implemented different measures and restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which to varying degrees have an impact on the logistics and transportation sector. Some of these measures specifically apply to ports and may be of interest to European logistics providers. France The French authorities ordered a sanitary watch for several ports, among which Le Havre and Rouen. In case that Masters of vessels notice any symptoms of infection among crew, they are required to submit a health maritime declaration form and notify their agent without undue delay. Masters submitting a maritime declaration of health… Read more
Waste is shipped by sea, railway, and road transport across borders, and the goal is final disposal or recycling. Hazardous waste is also shipped from generator sites to processing facilities that can store, treat, and recycle shipments. Regulations In the European Union, freight forwarders that are shipping waste are subject to the ADR and IMDG regulations, EU Directive 1013/2006, and the Basel Convention Regulations. Directive 1013/2006 states that all shipments must take place in such a way as to protect human health and the environment. The directive governs shipments in transit, to and from third countries, and between EU Member… Read more
The coronavirus outbreak and associated civil and health protection measures may have a serious impact on the EU economy. The EU Commission and other institutions are closely following developments in different sectors, including tourism, trade, transportation, and manufacturing. Impact on Sea Transport According to the International Chamber of Shipping, shipping by container vessels from China has dropped by 1/3 during the last month alone. Companies have already begun to cut the number of vessels sailing from various destinations around the world. This is especially true for China, the second largest economy where major industries have been seriously affected. Keeping… Read more
Demand for beauty products is constantly on the rise, including shower and bath products, deodorants, sun care, fragrances, and oral, skin, and hair care. What Counts as Cosmetics Beauty products that help alter or enhance appearance count as cosmetics. This category includes a wide range of products such as face masks, hair dyes, makeup, perfumes, shampoos, and hair sprays. European logistics companies also ship products such as putties, styling gels, mousses, whitening products, mouthwashes, and toothpastes. Packaging Adequate packaging is important when shipping beauty products and includes cushioning materials, thermal bubble wrap, and cardboard boxes. Leak-proof, sealed containers are usually… Read more
Freight forwarders often transport fish products across Europe, including dried, salted, live, and fresh fish. Factors they need to account for include type of product, distance, and transportation costs. Products and Shipping Requirements Fresh Fish Different factors play a role when transporting preserved and fresh fish. Fresh fish must be shipped to a distribution or holding facility as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. The goal is to deliver high quality, fresh products that meet consumer expectations. Some species require additional processing such as cooling, packing, and canning but the period from catching fish to delivery is important to preserving quality…. Read more
Shipping medical devices and equipment requires careful packing, crating, and unloading by following safety procedures as to avoid damage. European logistics companies often ship medical equipment for research and medical facilities, manufacturers, private practitioners, clinics, and hospitals. Types of Medical Equipment Hospitals and other healthcare facilities use different types of medical devices and equipment such as gastroscopes, ultrasound, X-ray units, oxygen concentrators, and patient monitors. Surgical units require instruments such as Bonney and tissue forceps, skin glue, rake and malleable retractors, and linear cutters and staplers. Hospitals need specialized equipment such as energy systems, clips and staplers, cystoscopic equipment, and… Read more
Trucking on with the third generation of hauliers Managing succession from one generation to the next is a process that all family companies must periodically face. For road haulage and logistics specialist Corneel Geerts Transportgroup NV in Belgium, 2020 is the year that the third generation takes over the reins and is entrusted with steering the company’s future course. Departing CEO, Marc Geerts, has every confidence that his three sons are more than capable of rising to the challenge of helming a family company with three strategic hubs in Belgium, 200 employees and annual turnover of 25 million EUR. … Read more
The Brexit deal is already a fact and transforming the logistics supply chain across Northern Europe. While retailers and consumers expect fast and efficient fulfillment of orders, movement of goods across borders may lead to delays in stock replenishment. What Brexit Means for Forwarders During the transitional period, freight forwarders may need to obtain international road haulage permits (ETCM permits) for some shipments. Such permits are valid when presented together with a certificate of roadworthiness, certificate of compliance, or ETCM logbook. All drivers are required to carry a GB sticker and vehicle logbook when travelling abroad. Other documents to bring… Read more
There are different types of warehousing facilities for storage and distribution, including transload or bulk terminals, cross-docking facilities, distribution centers, warehouses, and sortation centers. Transload Terminals Transload terminals operate as distribution facilities for bulk products such as petroleum, grain, and lumber. The goal is to transport commodities between different types of carrying equipment. Transload facilities are equipped with cranes to lift and move and load and unload ships and railroad cars. Conveyors, loaders, car dumpers, cranes, and other types of equipment are used. Intermodal Terminals Intermodal terminals are used to transport air and marine containers and truck trailers between different… Read more
The maritime shipping industry has been a major polluter for decades and now faces new regulations that will soon come into effect. Maritime Transport and Environmental Pollution Reports by the UN International Maritime Organization show that over 90 percent of cargo is transported by sea. The main reason is that this is the most cost-effective way to ship raw materials and commodities all over the world. At the same time, shipping large volumes of goods is destructive for the environment as demonstrated by a 2014 IMO Greenhouse Gas Study. Ships release about 940 million tons of carbon dioxide a year… Read more
Autonomous cars and trucks are expected to transform the logistics industry, and many freight forwarders are willing to use autonomous technologies for shipping and other logistics processes. The main reason is that businesses are increasingly faced with a demand for quicker deliveries coupled with a high labor shortage. Experts also estimate that the use of autonomous vehicles will reduce shipping costs by 45 percent. What the Near Future Holds in Store Industry experts point to the fact that fully autonomous vehicles will not be available for 50 years or even longer. Semi-autonomous vehicles will only help drivers to avoid traffic… Read more
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