Supply chain congestion is not just for Christmas!

Supply chain Congestion is not just for ChristmasShippers across the globe might have to battle the effects of supply chain congestion and record high ocean freight rates for some time to come. The question remains – when will they get relief?

The wave of congestion that is sweeping through global supply chains delaying deliveries of seasonal goods and essential commodities, stranding many shippers between meeting impossible delivery deadlines while paying record shipping rates is not set to subside anytime soon.

“This is proving to be the ‘Peak Season like no other’, just as we predicted” says the Global Shippers Forum, the voice of cargo owners in international trade.

Read more from this informative article by Multimodal >

Is this just a further reminder that we ought to be looking more to rail freight?

Related article: Rail Freight Services >

 

 

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Great service. We needed a parcel collecting from Italy - all arranged very smoothly, efficiently and a very quick delivery.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great feedback Rachel. Glad everything went well for you and that you were happy with our service.
when a friend whose first langauge is not English needed a parcel shipping to Canada at short notice the team especially Paul came up trumps and pulled out all the stops i highly recommend this company
Response from the owner:Many thanks for the great review Alan, always happy to assist.
Lots of help and advice when shipping a ceramic sculpture to Dubai. Very smooth service and speedy delivery. Will definitely recommend.
Response from the owner:Really glad you were happy with our service Emily - hope to assist you again soon.
Great customer experience all the staff are great
Response from the owner:Appreciate the kind words Declan
Had 3 pallets to bring in from Greece. Sender was struggling with UK regulations. Spoke to one freight forwarder who just said 'can't help sorry' as their agent in Greece couldn't help. Was starting to worry until I found IFS. Google reviews looked good and when I spoke to Paul he couldn't have made things any easier. Pallets here safely within a couple of weeks, price cheaper than I was expecting and great communication throughout. Top top company.
Response from the owner:Hi Tony, thanks so much for the great review, we would be more than happy to help you with any further shipping requirements you have in the future!
I was engaged for rapid deployment of contract works in Falun, Sweden which required me to ship some materials to Sweden for the works to be executed. After nothing but extreme pain from the suppliers to get my goods to Sweden, I reached out to International Freight Solutions off the back of reviewing public feedback about their services. I could not have been happier. The team I was dealing with (Jamie and Adam) went above and beyond to guide me on what I needed (EORI number and everything else), kept me updated for the entire cycle of collection, shipping and delivery that I was always up to date and never concerned. Payment and any extra fees for customs or services was all straight forward. It really is this kind of service where there are no grey areas, total professional advice upfront and continued updates maintained, start to finish. For this, it makes me comfortable that future shipping will be trouble-free and I will certainly head straight back to IFS. Thanks Jamie and Adam. Back from Sweden tomorrow. Without your efforts, this would not have even started and got off the ground!
Response from the owner:Thanks for taking the time to leave a really great and detailed review - it means a lot to us! Jamie and Adam will be pleased with the mention too! We really look forward to assisting you again next time.
I would like to give a special positive review to Catherine Gibson our account manager. Catherine's communication is great along with her speedy competitive quotes. Her communication and updates with our air / sea imports are always up to date and accurate. We have been using International Freight Solutions for well over 12 months now and look forward to many more years working together.

Keep up the good work !!!!

Dan Willerton

Healthy Step (Sensograph) Ltd
Unit E209 Warmco Industrial Park,
Manchester Road, Mossley,
Ashton-under-Lyne,
Lancashire
OL5 9AY
Response from the owner:Many thanks for your great review Dan, it really means a lot to us and especially Cath as she’s bouncing along the clouds now!!
Amazing service from Paul - super helpful, informative and really has a wealth of knowledge. It is a pleasure working with him for our business needs.
Response from the owner:Sam, thanks so much for the kind words and taking the time out to leave such a fantastic review! Looking forward to assisting you again.
Perfect to deal with and nothing is too much trouble.
Response from the owner:We really appreciate you taking time to leave your kind review - many thanks Joanne!

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With a decline in rail passengers, are small to medium parcels the solution?

Light Rail FreightAll aboard, as long as you are properly labeled and someone is waiting to pick you up at your destination station. The latest light logistics ideas propose that the sharp decline in commuter passenger traffic is the opportunity the parcels industry has been waiting for.

A published report from the Rail Innovation Group explores the potential for expanding the use of the existing rail network to facilitate the faster and more sustainable delivery of smaller and medium sized parcels.

“There is the opportunity for rail to provide long distance routes, which are much faster than the road network”, says the RIG.

The Rail Innovation Group is an independent association supporting new ways of operating within the rail industry. RIG has published a report, entitled Parcels as Passengers, proposing to make productive use of passenger rolling stock and recently vacated network capacity to support a new model of light logistics and parcels. The sector was almost completely lost to the rail freight industry in the 1990s, but some market leaders are seeking to turn niche operations into big business for the future.

This is such an innovative concept and so relevant at this point in time, how could we not share such a good post. Read more from the railfreight.com article >

 

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Can UK Rail freight be a solution to the Road Freight crisis?

Railfreight operators say they have the solution to Britain’s long-term truck driver shortage. A permanent solution to the supply chain shortfall in drivers would be a radical adjustment to make much more use of rail freight. That change could be almost immediate, thanks to capacity released by pandemic-reduced passenger travel, and rolling stock now available for conversion.

Rail Freight ServicesUK supply chain problems are making the headlines. A shortage of truck drivers has seen empty shelves at supermarkets and companies offering ‘golden handshakes’ to attract qualified recruits. However, the solution doesn’t lie in heavier lorries and higher competition for drivers, say rail industry sources.

“The truck driver shortage is nothing new to the UK”, says Phil Read of Varamis Rail, one of a cohort of companies seeking to shake up the logistics market in the UK. “It has been an issue for a generation, and this is really a traffic jam everyone in the logistics chain has seen coming.” Read has been working on a long-distance, high-speed, rail-based alternative to the convoys of trucks that snake up and down the UK motorways. Read more from the railfreight.com article >

Related article: Rail Freight Services >

 

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Do UK Feeder Ports in the North benefit from the shipping crisis?

Do UK Feeder Ports in the North benefit from the shipping crisis?Port of Felixstowe, located on the South East coast in Suffolk, Port of Southampton and Teesport in North Yorkshire are the UK’s three largest container ports. When these ports experience challenging times, you can expect the other ports in the UK to be affected.

“There are approximately seven major ports in the UK that could be impacted by the supply chain crisis and shortage of HGV drivers.”

It is reported that With delays mounting, ocean carriers are being forced to make last-minute diversions to other ports in the UK such as London gateway, with some shippers choosing alternative UK ports like Liverpool to avoid any problems.

The Port of Liverpool runs from Brunswick Dock in Liverpool to Seaforth Dock and operates two container terminals – the Royal Seaforth Container Terminal (RSCT) and Liverpool2, which opened in 2016. Liverpool2 offers enlarged terminal capacity, an absence of demurrage and detention charges and faster truck turnaround times and available haulage.

Shipping to Liverpool used to be considered not viable as any cost saving was outweighed by additional travel time (4 or 5 days). The current issues around port congestion, the shortage of HGV drivers in the industry and general disruption to services has meant that Liverpool and other UK feeder ports such as Immingham, Teeside and Grangemouth are all now becoming more attractive propositions. Could UK Feeder Ports in the North benefit from the shipping crisis, not just in these unprecedented times, but also in the future? Only time will tell.

We wanted to share this informative article by Sky News which takes a look at each of these ports.

Related article: European Short Sea Services >

 

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Are you using LinkedIn to maximum effect?

Do you know your LinkedIn Social Selling Index score? Newsflash: LinkedIn is not just for job searching. The platform’s Social Selling Index will help you improve your sales game by checking that you’re establishing a personal brand, finding the right people, engaging with insights and building relationships to the optimal level. Discover everything you need to know to boost your SSI score and make connections that pay off.

Are you using LinkedIn to maximum effect?87% of B2B buyers said they would have a favourable impression of a salesperson who was introduced to them through someone in their professional network

LinkedIn’s Social Selling Index (SSI) is designed to help you improve your sales game on the platform. Discover everything you need to know to boost your score and make connections that pay off by selling on LinkedIn. Read more >

Speaking about making connections, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are a dedicated team and are very happy to help with any freight related enquiries that you might have.

 

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