International Forwarding Association Blog » Cargo Moving
Cargo Moving
There is nothing worse than inspecting your freight only to find concealed damage. It will not only incur significant financial losses but can hurt your reputation, customer relationships, and company growth. Knowing some of the common situations that cause freight damage is your best weapon so that you are able to properly inspect cargo upon arrival. If you are on the shipping side, there are some preventive measures to take protect and ship cargo safely. How Does Cargo Get Damaged? Some damages are unforeseen while others can be prevented by proper handling. Common reasons for freight damage include:… Read more
There are different ways in which manufacturers and suppliers can suffer from cargo damage during transit. First, damaged items are typically returned for replacement or full refund which not only incurs additional costs but can have a negative impact on both the carrier’s and the seller’s reputation. Second, the components, parts, and equipment that are damaged often result in wasted time. This is why, carriers need to ensure that tools, equipment, and other cargo are protected from damage, taking into account factors such as handling, humidity, temperature, contamination, vibration, impact, and static charges. Physical Damage Physical damage occurs… Read more
The shipping industry needs to reduce carbon emissions so that temperature increases are kept below 1.5 °C. Using alternative fuels can help reduce pollution and keep temperatures below the threshold. This means halving carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving zero emission targets by 2050. At present, the shipping industry accounts for about 3 percent of carbon emissions globally. If it were a state, this would make it the world’s sixth biggest polluting country. So, if we are aiming to reach emission targets over the next decades, carriers need to adopt greener fuels produced from renewable sources. There are several alternatives… Read more
The turnaround and shipping of cargo was deemed quite efficient before the pandemic. While there are no easy ways out of the crisis, experts say it may be another year before the situation gets better. Last week alone, 87 commercial ships queued at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, most of which arriving from China and carrying clothes, electronics, consumer goods, perishable foodstuff, and raw materials for manufacturing plants. Major ports in Europe, including Felixstowe and Rotterdam are facing the same problem. Why Port Congestions Occur In such numbers, it takes weeks before cargo vessels get a berth… Read more
The cost of transporting cargo from China to Europe has skyrocketed in the past two months because of a significant shortage of empty containers amidst the pandemic. Long waiting times at airports forced airlines to charge extra for container shipping which also contributed to rate hikes. Why Rates Soared This is due to global supply chain disruptions causing the cost of a 40-foot container to increase to over $9,000, up from $2,000. According to consultancy SeaIntelligence expert Lars Jensen, it is companies fighting for containers that is driving rates up, turning them into a limited resource. Shipping lines cancelled… Read more
There are certain freight documents that forwarders must be familiar with, including letter of credit, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, bill of lading, and packing list. Even a seemingly small error while filling in paperwork can cause significant shipping delays, thus disrupting the supply chain. Bill of Lading This is a type of freight document that works as a contract between the cargo owner and shipper. The exporter and importer details must be filled in, including information such as number of packages, list of goods, dates of arrival and departure, ports of destination and departure, and consignee and consignor names…. Read more
In 2014, the European Commission released its best practice guidelines on securing cargo for road transport, prepared by the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. While the guidelines are not binding, the methods and principles outlined there are intended to improve safety in transport operations by road. Securing Cargo The guidelines offer instructions and advice to freight forwarders and carriers regarding the securing, unloading, and loading of cargo. To ensure safety during shipping, cargo must be secured as to prevent rotation, serious deformation, wandering, rolling, tipping, or sliding. Methods that can be used include lashing, blocking, locking, or combinations of the… Read more
Advanced technologies can make rail transport safer, more efficient, and cost-efficient. New practices such as speed restrictions and more rigorous track inspections help improve safety. Freight car defect detectors are also increasingly used to monitor sound, temperature, force, and other indicators and identify defects. Infrastructure and Track Inspections Multiple studies have shown that broken welds and rails are the main culprits for derailment and fatal accidents. Track geometry, including elevation, gauge, and alignment also lead to train derailments. To overcome this problem, operators now use geometry vehicles to perform inspections. Some carriers also use ground-penetrating radars and ultrasonic systems to… 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 vehicles… Read more
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