When it comes to global logistics and container shipping in general, the industry is so wide and diverse that it can be difficult to keep it running smoothly and without fault. In fact, it could very well be impossible. Freight forwarders face problems every day within their businesses and the global logistics industry in general, and so we’ve decided to look into some of the biggest problems that container shipments face.
Communication
Communication between not only businesses, but customers and their freight forwarders can altogether cause more problems than it might solve – at least, when there’s a lack of communication. In a world where constant tracking updates are common and customers like to know everything that is happening with their shipments at every stage of the journey, communication is key and an almost vital part of the industry. Similarly, communication about a shipment from business to business or port to port is also vital for ensuring a smooth and trustworthy service.
Security
Security is a growing concern in the freight industry due to the volume in which goods are being passed between providers. A single delivery could go from a local trucker, to a warehouse, then from the warehouse through to another truck to take it to a port and so on. It can pass through upwards of five or six pairs of hands in long-distance shipments and so while each company might boast the best security, they will all have their own way of practicing this. All of this movement becomes a security risk, especially if even only one of the parties involved in the shipment breaks a security procedure.
Delivering on time
There is no denying that we are living in a world of high expectations when it comes to delivery times. Next-day and same-day delivery services are in high demand, and so when it comes to long-distance shipments, even a week can seem like a long time compared to what we are growing accustomed to. This can be difficult in an increasingly busy times of the year. Holidays and busy ports can all account towards late delivery, which can ultimately cause problems with customer satisfaction.
Capacity
Space for shipments is a problem that is growing with every passing day. As the volume of shipments increases, the space and capacity available decreases, which can ultimately halt and cause problems for companies that might have a high volume of shipping containers to send. It can mean late deliveries if there is no room available on a ship.
Infrastructure
With the global logistics industry growing, the world is needing to change to account for the increased volume of shipments, or simply the sheer sizes of the ships that are being sent. Some ports still can’t take the sheer size of some freighters or don’t have the room to store the containers that come off of them. Infrastructure problems are especially prevalent in developing countries where delivery volumes are increasing, but the ports simply can’t take the volume.
