International Forwarding Association Blog » European Logistics
European Logistics
Earth population growth is not expected to slow down over the next 80 years, making global sourcing the key to meeting growing demand for agricultural products. Producers, farmers, and growers market and sell commodities that are shipped to different parts of the world. There are import requirements, regulations, and guidelines, however, that EU freight forwarders must be familiar with. Documentation Phytosanitary Certificate To import agricultural produce, operators submit phytosanitary certificates for plant materials and fresh vegetables and fruits. The certificate guarantees that the produce meets EU plant health requirements, is free from pests, and has been duly inspected. Plants… Read more
Free movement of goods and people is a core value of the European Union, but this doesn’t mean that everything can be shipped. To ensure that small shipments and cargo pass customs, it is important to become familiar with the conditions under which items can be shipped between EU Member States. Alcohol The rules for shipping alcohol are different for individuals and businesses. In most EU countries, individuals are not allowed to send alcohol, whether by courier service or by post. Authorized online shops are permitted to ship light alcoholic beverages or they can be shipped as freight. Only authorized… 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
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
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
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
While many freight forwarders still use low-tech solutions and manpower, more and more services providers adopt advanced solutions to meet ever-rising standards and expectations. Here are some of the tech trends that are quickly transforming the logistics industry. Blockchain Technology for Increased Automation Many services providers have embraced blockchain technology because of advantages such as improved accident management and better accountability and transparency. Advanced solutions help businesses to automate processes, reduce costs, save time, and enhance transaction flows. This results in secure supply chains at all levels. Leveraging blockchain distributed ledger technology enables businesses to store data by different indicators,… Read more
Robots are increasingly used by European logistics companies because they help automate processes and improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Logistics robots are mostly used in storage facilities and warehouses to move, store, and transport goods. Recent Developments and Future Trends According to the World Robotics 2018 Service Reports by the International Federation of Robotics, in 2017 alone, some 69,000 logistics robots were installed in storage facilities. This is an increase of over 160 percent compared to 2016. Experts predict that businesses will purchase a total of 485,000 units between 2019 and 2021. While in 2017 some 80 percent of storage facilities… Read more
The busiest airports and ports in Europe handle large quantities of cargo thanks to their advanced technologies and strategic location. Some of the largest cargo hubs serve more than 400 destinations and ensure reliable and safe transport. International freight forwarders ship parcels and cargo from major ports and airports such as the Heathrow Airport, Brussels Airport, Port of Rotterdam, and Port of Antwerp. European Airports Heathrow Airport has a cargo hub that processes some 1.3 million tons a year, and the goal is to reach 3 million tons in 20 years. BA World Cargo is found at the airport and… Read more
Cargo insurance protects loads against risks such as theft, damage, loss, and other incidents. Unpredictable weather and local conditions, infrastructure quality, and policies and regulations make shipping and handling of cargo more complex. To this end, insurance helps protect cargo in storage and transit by compensating for the value of loads. Why Purchase Insurance The main reason is that the liability of shipping lines, airlines, and other carriers is limited. This means that compensation may be significantly lower than the value of goods in transit. Customers that opt for insurance coverage are offered compensation for the cost of damaged or… Read more
The majority of the logistics managers from the European Logistics Network are faced with multiple challenges and need to multi-task on a daily basis. This is partly due to the boost of international trade and the increasing demand for timely, cheap and reliable international freight forwarding services but there are many other problems which need to be resolved each and every day. Here are some of the main challenges which the managers from IFA are currently facing. Improvement of customer service Proper logistics management is all about supplying the proper quantity of the right goods or cargo to the right… Read more
For years, various logistics companies from the European logistics network have been using gamification as a tool for educating, motivating and improving the performance of the employees of the international freight forwarding companies. What is gamification and how it can affect the quality of the services provided by the International Forwarding Association Gamification is the implementation of game design elements or game principles in a non-game situation. Since games have the power to make people take actions against their own interests without being forced and in a predictable way, they are a great way to motivate people to improve their… Read more
The logistics freight forwarding services are an essential part of the activities of many companies and people. With the growing demand for forwarding services due to the increasingly intensifying trade, online commerce and the mobility of the people who are moving to live, work or study in different places and countries, the expectations of the customers of these services are growing too. This is not the only challenge which the freight forwarders are facing today. Here we will take a closer look at the technologies which are being implemented in logistics for faster freight forwarding services, as well as the… Read more
Logistics is inextricably linked to business. Here are several tendencies for 2018 which are expected to improve the efficiency of the freight forwarding service this year: An increase of the profits from omnichannel supply Omnichannel supply will continue to play a significant role in the international freight services and the forwarding services will be organized in a new way. By analyzing the prices of the services in depth the network of freight forwarders will not only decrease the price for the customers but will find ways to improve the shipment organization to achieve greater profits. Utilization of Cloud services Cloud… Read more
Driverless vehicles which use the combination between data from the road maps and the data from the vehicle sensors to get from one destination to another are already a fact. Most people associate this innovation with Google’s self-driving cars which work by implementing the road map and traffic data. They are made and function based on the SLAM principle meaning: simultaneous location and mapping. In the future these types of vehicles will be used not only for helping visually impaired people and others to drive from one place to another, but also for other transport purposes including for logistics,… Read more
Modern technologies are widely implemented in logistics. The Freight forwarders association is taking advantage of all benefits and facilities provided by the electronic logging devices in order to keep track of the working hours of their drivers in charge of the international forwarding of cargo and goods. What does the abbreviation ELD stand for? The abbreviation is for “electronic logging device”. Connection to the vehicle, registering and data collection This device helps professional drivers including those working for the freight forwarders to keep track of the required driving hours and the limitations for driving. The device is… Read more
The carnet de passages is an international customs declaration which is required for the temporary import of a vehicle from one country to another. It is issued in English and French languages. The import of vehicles is performed by the member companies of the European network of transportation. The Carnet de Passages is part of several UN conventions and is recognized by two international organizations This document is has been used since 1913 to make traveling with one’s own vehicle easier for tourists and other travelers. It is part of the framework customs convention of the UN for… Read more
The INCOTERMS rules are developed by the International Chamber of Commerce and are applied in international commerce. They are used for international trade deals and are also followed by the freight transport association when forwarding of goods is provided. The INCOTERMS rules clearly define the tasks, costs and risks involved in transporting and delivering goods, as well as the obligations and risks associated with them. The INCOTERMS rules – facilitating international commerce The INCOTERMS rules are applied by the governments, the legal authorities as well as by the freight forwarders from all countries, including the European ones where the… Read more
Wooden furniture is a main product of the woodworking industry and is under constant demand. Thanks to the well-developed commercial ties within Europe, as well as the logistics services for the woodworking industry which are provided by the international freight forwarders network, customers from different countries on the continent rely on the import of furniture, and the producers and distributors can rely on regular transport for their products to stores and warehouses in the different European countries. Logistics solutions for the woodworking industry The member companies of the freight forwarders association offer a wide variety of logistics solutions for… Read more
In order to best combine the freight forwarding services in Europe with the maximum care for the environment it is necessary to create routes for the shipments which have minimum negative impact on the environment, the air pollution, the earth and require the least possible amount of fuel. The European logistics companies are actively involved in providing such measures by combining forces for providing combined transport solutions. The types of transport used for freight forwarding by the European logistics companies There is an option of combining the three cheapest types of Europe for forwarding within Europe. When they are… Read more
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