Most of us have had a bad delivery experience in our lifetimes.
Parcels thrown on roofs or stuffed into refuse bins… Laptop deliveries that go missing… The dark side of logistics can be a complete nightmare. And when the delivery is worth thousands, or is irreplaceable, there’s even more at stake.
Our role as freight forwarders is to minimise the risks that come with shipping goods. Here are the most common freight issues and how you can avoid them.
1: Careless Cargo
Though most shipments get to their destination unharmed, occasionally, goods get lost in transit.
There are several reasons why a shipment might get lost somewhere on its journey. Poor labelling is often the culprit, with unclear or incorrect labels causing cargo to be delivered to the wrong place or left behind.
Cargo travelling over the ocean is also at risk of going overboard during a storm, though this is a rare occurrence.
The Business Impact
When a shipment can’t be located, it’s not just a case of extra paperwork. You’ll be dealing with dissatisfied customers, serious delays whilst you work to replicate the shipment, and potentially huge financial losses to cover both the missing items and the second load of freight rates.
How Millennium Can Help
As a reputable freight forwarder, we are proud of the partnerships we have with trusted carriers and can account for their service with proven track records.
Millennium offers real-time cargo tracking throughout your shipment’s journey, meaning you can have eyes on 24/7. In the case of any issues, our communication is efficient and proactive, giving you peace of mind that we can work together to resolve potential problems.
2: Frightful Freight
More common than lost freight is damaged freight. There are several ways in which cargo can get damaged during transport.
- Physical damage
- Contamination
- Storage temperature
- Infestation.
The Business Impact
Goods that become damaged during transit are unlikely to satisfy a paying customer. Items that have perished, been contaminated or suffered an infestation may also be unsafe to pass on at all. This means that they may need to be binned, or at the very least, new goods will need to be reshipped to appease a disgruntled client.
How Millennium Can Help
No one wants to deal with cargo damage claims if they can help it. Not to mention the time and money involved in reshipments.
We offer secure packaging recommendations based on your specific cargo type to ensure your goods are safe and sound on their journey. You can read more about packaging materials in this blog.
We work with experienced cargo surveyors who oversee loading and unloading, keeping quality in check and your goods looked after. And, just in case, we can quote for various insurance options.
3: Delayed Deliveries
Delays can be unavoidable.
Whether it’s a mechanical fault that’s rupturing your supply chain management or adverse weather events, delays can cause all sorts of business issues…
The Business Impact
Delivering the right goods to the right clients on time (and in good condition) is a key part of running a successful business.
Late deliveries can see a business face penalties like a reduction in price or reimbursement of the shipping costs. They can also suffer extra costs due to potential redelivery, or even lose customers who choose to buy elsewhere after a bad delivery experience.
How Millennium Can Help
With all of the documentation and the varying rules and regs, customs can be confusing. Millennium runs efficient customs clearance processes for our clients to avoid delays at borders.
Transparent and clear communication is how we do things around here. We discuss timelines and potential risks with our clients before they agree to work with us so that everyone is on the same page. We also ensure that we have robust contingency plans in place for unforeseen circumstances.
4: Covert Costs
There are times when unexpected charges arise during the shipping process. It’s usually things like storage fees or overweight penalties. Businesses can come up against detention and demurrage charges, too… Haven’t heard of them? Read about what they are here.
The Business Impact
This one is simple. Covert costs come as a surprise and must be absorbed back into a business so as not to infuriate a paying customer. Recurrent instances can affect a business’s bottom line.
How Millennium Can Help
Most unexpected costs are avoidable.
With Millennium, you can expect upfront and transparent pricing, with all potential costs included, so there are no nasty surprises down the line. We offer expert advice on optimising packing and weight distribution, to keep rates as cost-efficient as possible for you.
5: Paperwork Problems
Unfortunately, complex international shipping documentation means there’s lots of room for potential errors. Incorrectly filled out documents, missing information, illegible handwriting, wrong certification… The list of paperwork problems is endless.
The Business Impact
Incorrect paperwork can have huge knock-on effects like delays and even shipment refusals. This eats into time and money to rectify the situation.
How Millennium Can Help
We’ve got a highly experienced team prepped to handle all customs processes and documentation so that you don’t have to. What’s more, our digital document management systems work beautifully to ensure maximum efficiency and transparency for our clients.
Millennium offers guidance on necessary paperwork specific to the origin and destination countries, as well as those your goods will be travelling through. Things like freight descriptions and the certificate of origin must be completed accurately for many shipments, so it’s important to get it right, and we can help.
6: Chaotic Comms
You need to know you can communicate with your freight forwarder if needed. There’s nothing worse than having important information and not being able to get the message across; it can be incredibly frustrating if no one replies to your emails or picks up the phone.
The Business Impact
Whilst a daily catch-up isn’t necessary, things like changes in timescales or locations need to be communicated quickly so that your forwarder can adapt your freight solution and make sure your cargo gets to its destination on time.
How Millennium Can Help
To ensure our client base receives consistent communication and updates throughout their shipment’s journey, we provide each customer with a dedicated account manager. This means that customers benefit from quick responses from an account manager who understands their business.
Each of our clients is given insight into our logistics processes so that they can know what is happening and when. Combined with real-time tracking and handy alerts, our customers are kept in the loop the whole way through.
7: Container Calamities
The global container shortage we’ve been experiencing for the past couple of years has impacted shipping times and costs.
The Business Impact
Container shortages have knock-on implications for business, including supply chain disruptions, increased costs due to competition for containers, inventory challenges due to delays in receiving goods and disgruntled customers.
Overall, container shortages can have far-reaching implications for businesses, affecting various aspects of operations, costs, and customer relationships. Proactive planning, effective communication with suppliers and customers, and flexibility in supply chain management are essential for mitigating the impacts of container shortages.
How Millennium Can Help
We are proud to hold strong relationships with multiple global shipping lines, increasing our access to containers.
Millennium uses expert proactive planning and booking strategies to secure container space in advance and has decades of experience managing alternative shipping solutions, such as air freight or consolidation, if needed.
We Make Shipping Simple
Millennium can help your business avoid common freight nightmares, including the dreaded container shortage problem.
Leaving all of the complicated logistics management to us means that you’ve got complete peace of mind and plenty of time to focus on core business activities.
Looking for a friendly forwarder who knows how to get the job done? Millennium can help. Get in contact today.