First, we need to understand that different types of goods require different transportation measures. For example, products such as food, clothing, toys and home decor products can be easily packaged and shipped by air or sea without additional cargo handling work. Also, we should be extra careful when transportingdangerous and dangerous goods. Dangerous goods are goods and products that require special management to be packaged, palletized and loaded. In some cases, they require special machinery, equipment and containers to be transported safely. In short, dangerous products that may pose a threat to living things.
In this blog we will discuss hazmat - how to transport hazmat safely? Let's dive into it.
How are hazardous substances classified?
Since many daily necessities are considered hazardous, it can be difficult to determine if the product is dangerous. Products such as perfumes, detergents and paints. These are classified as hazardous materials.
Dangerous Goods Classification——
The United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods classifies dangerous goods according to the hazard they pose. Under this category, each substance is divided into a category. There are nine classes in total. Some are divided into a subcategory.
Why hire a freight forwarding partner who provides cargo insurance?
Some substances fall into two categories. In this case, the class with the highest hazard class belongs to the primary class, and the lowest class belongs to the secondary class.
Points to Remember
Knowledge about dangerous goods.
Follow the rules and regulations for dangerous goods.
Follow proper packaging procedures and protocols.
Do the required packaging according to the material.
Train shippers on the handling of hazardous materials.
Make sure the MSDS certificate and other documents.
Physically check labels, signs, markings for accuracy.
Because shipping is such an important point in our global economy. Maritime transport drives global trade overseas, with more than 10 billion tons of containerized cargo being transported across the world's waters each year.
More than 90% of the world's trade takes place overseas. Nearly 50,000 merchant ships sail the world's oceans, transporting everything from food, fuel, building materials, raw chemicals and household goods.
Shipping is responsible for 2.5% of global greenhouse gases (GHGs), but without further action, shipping emissions are projected to grow by 50-250% by 2050. Shipping containers produce more greenhouse gas emissions than any small country. It's hard to imagine how much carbon dioxide the ship would emit. Because ships travel so far at sea. Not only carbon dioxide, but ships also release nitrous oxide (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx), highly toxic chemicals that have been shown to cause acid rain.
Not only gas emissions, container ships also create another kind of pollution, such as ballast water, biocides, waste, and sometimes outright oil spills, which are very difficult to clean. Pollutants have catastrophic effects on the oceans: Pollution kills more than 1 million seabirds and marine mammals each year because they cannot survive in toxic waters, while coastal states that rely on seagrass meadows, mudflats and wetlands die when aquatic vegetation dies Critical resources are being lost. In this article, we will learn about the main steps to reduce ocean pollution.
Steps to reduce ocean pollution:
Install the overflow pipe in the tank
During bunkering, if more than capacity is supplied to the vessel's fuel tanks, the fuel may flow out of the vessel through the tank vents. To prevent this from happening, install an overflow pipe in the vessel's fuel tank. The overflow tank allows the fuel overflowing from the fuel tank to flow into the overflow tank, and a flow detection sensor is set in the pipeline or a high-level alarm sensor is set in the fuel tank to detect the overflow immediately.
Use an air seal on the stern tube
The stern tube of the ship is air-sealed so that compressed air is continuously fed into the space where the propeller shaft penetrates from the inside to the outside of the ship. This creates a sealed area within the stern tube for separation of lubricating oil and seawater.
Use electric deck equipment
Ships using electric deck equipment such as mooring winches (*1) and gangways (*2) that were previously hydraulic power equipment. This reduces the risk of leakage of hydraulic oil for hydraulic drives.
1. Mooring winch: A device used to wind a rope or wire rope to moor a vessel.
2. Ramp: A ramp that extends to the dock when the car is loaded onto the car carrier and docked. It is stored during the voyage.
Indirect cooling system or central cooling system
It is a device that cools the engine and lubricating oil by indirect heat exchange between dedicated fresh water and sea water. Using this system prevents oil leaks or spills due to cooling system failures, as there is no direct heat exchange between the oil and seawater in this system.
Eco-friendly paint.
When marine life attaches to the hull, the hull resistance increases and the fuel consumption increases. This leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. When these attached marine organisms are carried into other seas during the voyage, it will affect the marine ecosystem. New ships are encouraged to use low-friction coatings to reduce fuel consumption and prevent the attachment of marine life, and efforts are also being made to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and preserve biodiversity.
Environmentally friendly fuel
Standard for zero-emission berths in ports. Ships can use waterfront electricity while in port, virtually eliminating ship-sourced SOx, NOx, PM and CO2. Alternatively, ships can use alternative fuels such as hydrogen or ammonia.
Ballast water
Ballast water is critical to the safe operation of ships. Used to adjust the overall weight of the vessel and its internal distribution to keep the vessel safe, upright and stable afloat. It is used to compensate for different cargo loads that the vessel may be carrying at different times, including during loading and unloading. It also provides stability and maneuverability during transport.
Fumigation is a form of pest control by which the disinfection procedure is carried out in a dry manner. This method, also known as phytosanitary treatment, is widely used today and is becoming more common in different market segments (especially when shipping goodsby container).
Why is fumigation so important?
Container fumigation procedures are designed to prevent foreign quarantine pests from entering the cargo. In this procedure, special products are used to eradicate or control the international spread of pests already present in the shipment.
You may be wondering what are quarantine pests?
Quarantine pests are any form of pests or parasites that, under natural conditions, cause damage to plants and animals in an area. These pests can pose a significant threat to international health when exposed to new environments. There are many types of quarantine pests, but none are as trivial as the Asian lady beetle. This beetle is commonly found in containers and woody materials used to hold loads. For this reason, it ranks among the world's worst-hit quarantine pests.
How does the container fumigation program work?
Container fumigation controls any type of pest through an efficient, safe and dry disinfection process, usually done with gas. The most commonly used gases in the fumigation process are methyl bromide and phosphine. While both maintain the same level of effectiveness, methyl bromide is more commonly used in containers. To receive fumigant, the container must be of good construction. The fumigation site must be isolated within a 5-meter radius, and a sticker containing basic information such as the start and end date and time of the treatment, as well as the information of the treatment company and technician responsible for the operation, must be affixed to the container door. The gas is injected through a probe inserted into the container. This process only happens when the door is closed. Appropriate protection of surrounding personnel must be provided with personal protective equipment, and collective protective equipment is recommended for fumigation sites. After the specified exposure time, aeration should be performed for commodity release.
What are the requirements for fumigation?
Do I need a fumigation certificate?
As you saw at the beginning of this article, any type of cargo and its wooden packaging can be refused entry into the destination country if not processed. To verify this, the Port Authority requires a written permit, certificate or other proof of processing. Therefore, every fumigation container, if done in the right way and by the right company, will be accompanied by a certificate. Fumigation is a legal requirement for the buyer, so a fumigation certificate is usually issued by the fumigator or approved for fumigation by a licensing body. This certificate, sometimes referred to as a pest control certificate, is a document confirming that any wood packaging material used in the shipment of goods has been properly fumigated. This document contains details such as purpose of treatment, fumigant used and temperature range.
How to Find a Heavy Equipment Shipping Partner You Can Trust
When shippingheavy equipment (or any cargo), working with a shipping provider you trust can have a profound impact on your experience. The right shipping partner will ensure that the entire process runs smoothly from start to finish, minimizing your work, stress, and often costs and any risk to your company.
When looking for a shippingpartner you can trust, it's easy to find and choose the wrong one.
Here are some suggestions to help you avoid choosing the wrong heavy equipment shipping partner:
Taking the time now to choose the right heavy equipment shipping provider will save you a lot of trouble
Not only look for trusted heavy equipment shipping providers, but watch out for those you don't trust.
Pay attention to the right details when vetting potential heavy equipment (and other freight) shipping partners.
Here is some information you should ask for during your initial conversation with any potential shipping provider:
Evidence of financial stability
Safety record
Insurance and authorities
Communicate
Cargo transportation knowledge
A reputable and trusted partner will have this information and be happy to order quickly. This is a major warning sign if a potential shipping provider asks questions, delays providing you with this information, or otherwise attempts to circumvent your request.
Hope you don't get lost if you choose the wrong heavy equipment shipping provider.
If you find yourself working with a shipping partner you cannot trust, then you must review your contract with them. Determine what your partner is contractually obligated to provide and be ready and willing to take legal action if necessary.
Then, look for a trusted shipping provider as soon as possible. Depending on the situation, the right partner may be able to help you with your current situation. At the very least, he or she will be able to prevent and mitigate any potential problems.
Blockchain technology: what it is and how it works
A blockchain is a linear chain of many interconnected blocks of information. In fact, it is a database that is securely protected by encryption and decentralization. This can be compared to a ledger that records transactions sequentially. Many people have only heard of blockchain in the context of cryptocurrencies, as it emerged as a technology that was used to launch Bitcoin (the foundation of the foundation, the first cryptocurrency). The concept was proposed by Satoshi Nakamoto (a pseudonym for a person or group of people) in 2008 and was first put into practice a year later. In the cryptocurrency market, blockchain has been used to ensure the privacy of transaction participants. The technology quickly caught on in other areas of activity as well.
The logistics industry has huge potential: it was estimated at $8.1 trillion in 2017 and will nearly triple by 2023, according to Transparency Market Research. Despite the positive outlook for the event, logistics companies and retailers lost most of their profits due to poor organization. Complex and lengthy supply chains, cumbersome paperwork (often done manually), high probability of errors due to human factors, intermediary costs, cyber-attacks - these are all related to logistics issues.
The main difficulty is related to bureaucratic obstacles. This is especially true for international deliveries of containerized cargo involving a large number of countries, companies and government agencies, all of which have their own rules for document maintenance and accounting. For example, in the process of shipping refrigerated cargo from East Africa to the EU, around 30 participants were involved just to obtain a transport license and stamp it. Just imagine, the cost of processing documents can be 15% to 50% of the cost of physical shipping!
According to experts, blockchain is the only(!) technology that can remove these global trade barriers by creating a reliable and secure system for storing, processing, tracking and exchanging data between participants from all over the world. According to DHL, the use of blockchain in logisticshas led to global success: it could help increase international trade by 15% and increase world GDP by 5%.
Technology is developing rapidly and taking new steps in every aspect and industry. Managing a fleet of vehicles can be a daunting task for any company that considers commercial vehicles an essential part of its operations. Adopting a telematics solution can reduce operating costs and increase the efficiency of overall fleet management operations.
Improve efficiency
Real-time communication can provide overall efficiency and effectiveness to improve overall fleet utilization. Using fleet management software can improve operations, delivery times, driver management and scheduling. Hence, this results in an efficient workforce that can take your business to the next level. Track accurate information to increase efficiency and reduce costs when necessary.
Reduce operating costs
An integrated GPS tracking device helps reduce overhead costs as it prevents fuel consumption, unnecessary overtime charges and unauthorized vehicle use. Tracking systems help you monitor driver activity more efficiently. Fleet managers can create optimal routes and also analyze the current condition of vehicles to reduce vehicle maintenance costs.
Retain/attract drivers
Telematics facilitates seamless communication with drivers as it allows them to communicate effectively with managers in any emergency. Fleet owners can identify and monitor driver performance and set a reward system for drivers who exceed their efficiency and safety goals. This is useful for retaining/attracting long-term committed drivers.
Route management
Fleet managers can help drivers find the most cost-effective routes. Minimize travel miles and make your delivery operations more viable as this will help fleet managers increase the number of deliveries. New-age GPS technology reduces operating costs and generates more revenue.
Improve safety and security
For an effective fleet management system, organizations should ensure the safety of drivers and transported goods. The best vehicle tracking systems prevent drivers from violating safety protocols, such as speed limits, emergency braking, and more. It offers drivers the opportunity to communicate during downtime as integrated telematics improves safety.
Optimize vehicle performance
You will be able to receive alerts for engine problems and other diagnostic issues. This information will also help drive fleet overhaul and replacement programs. Maintenance is known to be a critical issue, as preventive maintenance ensures that the fleet is always in top shape. Handling incident management and maintenance is an important part of a fleet management system.
Deciding to ship your products internationally can be a tough one, but the chances of an ecommerce business reaching new customers and increasing revenue often outweigh the initial process required to set up.
But if you're still on the sidelines, it might be helpful to know that now, better than ever, it's better to start shipping goods overseas, as we see a dramatic increase in the global middle-class population. This opens up new markets that were previously inaccessible in places like Asia, Africa and South America.
Determining your shipping and fulfillment process starts with understanding your business model and target market. Do you ship directly to consumers, or sell to other businesses? Do you want to handle the details yourself, or would you rather work with an expert to resolve red tape and deal with customs authorities? Based on your answers to these questions, you will be able to determine what shipping arrangements are best for your company.
D2C, B2C or B2B?
What type of company are you? What do these three-letter options mean to you? If not, don't worry - we're breaking them down for you. It all depends on who you sell your product to.
Direct-to-Consumer (D2C)
- This is a popular choice for wholesaler companies. In this business model, middlemen are removed and customers buy directly from the manufacturer. Customers generally benefit from lower prices, so many choose to do business with D2C companies when possible.
Business to Consumer (B2C)
- This is the most popular e-commerce business model and is where a business sells products to a specific niche of customers. They don't make actual products, that's what differentiates them from D2C companies. Any consumer can order directly from their website, and the orders are usually small to medium.
Business to Business (B2B)
- If you are a business, manufacturer or distributor, and you sell directly to other businesses, then you have a B2B model. The typical consumer would not buy directly from this type of business, and the order size would be much larger.
Tips for reducing friction for you and your customers when shipping internationally
We like to think that where there is a challenge, there is a solution. We show you three inevitable hurdles you may encounter when you start shipping internationally. Now, here are some tips and possible solutions to overcome the potential challenges that international shipping can present.
Always ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) whenever possible - this removes the unpredictability of customs duties and duties in the destination country. And, as mentioned earlier, it offers your buyers an added benefit by adding a level of security and confidence, as they will avoid risks during shipping.
Negotiate discounts based on quantity whenever possible. Shipping rates are usually negotiable, so if you ship a certain quantity each month, you should be able to apply for a discount, especially if you can guarantee the same quantity each month.
If you can find a reliable and well-known logistics service provider, choose a regionally focused logistics service provider. Follow the tips we covered earlier and let a regionally focused freight provider handle the details for you. The time you save is money in your pocket.
Book with your freight forwarderearly in the shipping cycle. This allows you to secure space with the airline or shipping company as early as possible. This is critical, especially in the uncertain times we are in the COVID-19 pandemic.
For several years, the trucking industry has been forced to deal with widespread problems. Rising fuel prices, a lack of qualified drivers and federal regulations including the authorization of electronic records are killing profits. Trucking companies of all sizes are looking to reduce the volatility of the freight market so they can better control their budgets. Experts say electric trucks have the ability to improve the trucking industry. But can this technology really prevent several of the problems facing the trucking industry? Take a look at the benefits of electric semi trucks to find out.
Electric Truck Market
Currently, the electric truck market is just getting started. There are currently three pre-production models of Class 8 semi-tractors:
Tesla Semiconductor
Nikolai One
Thor Trucks ET-One
Each of these Class 8 tractors are able to withstand the current weight limit of up to 80,000 lbs. Where they differ is in the specs. For example, the ET-One is an all-electric truck with a battery-powered range of 300 miles. The Tesla Semi is another all-electric semi-trailer with a range of up to 500 miles. Meanwhile, the Nikola One, a hydrogen-electric tractor, has a range of up to 1,000 miles. The new trucks are expected to enter production for the Tesla Semi and ET-One in 2019, while the Nikola One will enter the commercial market in 2020.
Improving the state of the trucking industry
The freight industry is changing rapidly thanks to advanced technologies ranging from safety features to fully electric semi-autonomous. These trucks will change the way the industry works, which most industry professionals see as a positive evolution. We can expect fluctuations in shipping and shipping rates during this period of change.
Impact on Driver Productivity
One of the biggest questions facing electric semiconductors is how this technology will reduce operating costs. Part of that involves driver productivity, because the more miles a driver can cover, the more money they can make for the company. In addition to being electric, these new trucks are also designed with flat panels in place of dials and gauges. They are also equipped with self-driving safety features. All of these features are expected to reduce the stress associated with operating large drilling rigs. Less stress and easier truck driving promise to boost productivity.
Driver salary increase
Right now, the driver shortage is creating a competitive wage market featuring massive signing bonuses and benefits. Electric trucks don’t currently fully alleviate the driver shortage, so wages remain competitive. However, we can also see that truck drivers need to be educated in advanced trucking techniques to help them operate these types of trucks. This can increase wages based on the amount of training required for the type of job.
Save money on diesel
What's the biggest part of any trucking company's expense report? Fuel tickets represent 30 to 40 percent of a driver's cost per mile. This is the largest part of trucking operating costs.
In theory, yes, but they also need to consider setup costs to run this electric fleet. On the surface, this is a huge financial gain for trucking companies of all sizes. This could save those smaller carriers or companies from debt by giving them a financial boost, but only if they can afford to adopt fully electric trucks and technology.
Improved driver performance
Ultimately, trucking companies that wisely choose to invest the extra revenue in their own fleets will have the ability to improve driver performance. With the automated safety features of these new electric trucks, operators are also finding success in the areas of driver safety and performance. These features include Autopilot, which automatically focuses the driver on the road. This helps drivers avoid collisions. The design of the new truck is also more aerodynamic. As a result, they have a low center of gravity, which helps prevent rollovers.
A freight forwarderis a service that most importers and exporters use to arrange shipments. Freight forwarders are licensed experts who understand how the end-to-end shipping process works and can do it on your behalf. Think of them as travel agencies for freight - just like travel agencies, they come in many shapes and sizes.
Some are freight companies or freight brokers in nature and are not involved in international shipping. Some specialize as ocean or air freight forwarders. Smaller freight forwarders often limit their reach to a few popular countries where they have working relationships with local logistics providers. At the other end of the scale, the larger freight forwarders offer global shipping services.
Choosing the right international freight forwarder can be a make-or-break choice for importers as international business is unpredictable. Poorly selected freight forwarders can result in government penalties, lost or damaged shipments, incorrect invoices, and inconsistent pricing.
International freight forwarders are an important part of the world economy and play a key role in every country as they are the only suppliers of goods and services to end consumers. Here are the dimensions in which they play an important role:
The internet
Freight forwarders help build and maintain friendly relationships between shippers, officials, carriers, and other freight forwarders, while facilitating fast shipments. Additionally, they limit friction between supply chain stages and add bottom-line value to it.
Negotiation
Some effective freight forwarders can easily find the balance between appeasing all trusted relationships and practicing all savvy trade deals, even if it needs to keep the business open to receive bids from other carriers.
Inventory management
It includes the most important parts of the supply chain, including the arrangement, maintenance and storage of inventory. It also includes business support in other areas, including procurement and production.
Schedule
The task of all freight forwarders is to book cargo hold in more than one mode of transport, which requires the coordination of all entities within the supply chain, including suppliers, manufacturers, carriers, etc.
Logistics companies are constantly striving to optimize their supply chains. Inventory optimization (IO) is one of the most important parts of the process. IO can be defined as "the act or process of identifying and reducing waste in an inventory system".
Key Elements of Inventory Optimization
Optimizing your inventory means you'll determine exactly how much and when of each SKU you need to order to consistently serve your customers. Inventory optimization takes into account seasonality and activity as well as supplier delivery times and schedules. That way, you'll always have the right product in the right warehouse without taking up too much inventory. This blog post will briefly describe the key elements of optimizing inventory and links to resources that will give you more details on each key concept:
1. Demand forecast
There are several ways to forecast demand, including looking at last year's or previous period's demand or a salesperson's request forecast. This works for some SKUs, but on other projects, these approaches can send you down the completely wrong track.
2. Inventory Policy
The next step is to determine your inventory policy, which means deciding which products to stock and how much to keep in each unit.
3. Replenishment
Last but not least is inventory replenishment. This is to calculate reorder points and order quantities and convert them into actual orders.
The benefits of inventory optimization in the logistics industry
Inventory optimization inlogisticsis a process designed to maximize the use of available space and time while minimizing the number of shipments. Achieving the best inventory optimization strategy depends on the supply chain, demand patterns, and inventory management systems. The main benefits of inventory optimization for the logistics industry are:
Improve customer satisfaction
In the logistics industry, one of the most important things is customer satisfaction. Not only is this because you want to keep your customers happy, it also increases your profits when they are happy with their purchase or service. It can be difficult for companies to figure out what customers are looking for. Businesses need to meet customer demand by determining how much inventory is needed and where it is located. Inventory optimization software can help solve this problem.
Reduce costs
By monitoring the time it takes for goods to move through the supply chain, you can reduce transportation costs such as storage and shipping fees. This means increasing the profit margin of your business. The logistics industry is always looking for ways to reduce costs. Inventory optimization is one of the best ways to do this because it reduces inventory levels and reduces storage and handling expenses.
Inventory management helps reduce your spending on warehouse space, labor and shipping costs. It increases productivity, thereby reducing overtime and turnover for driver-operators and customer service personnel in distribution centers. The store management course will teach you the techniques and knowledge to systematize a distribution center or warehouse.
Improve service quality
Service quality is an important factor in the logistics industry. However, achieving and maintaining a high level of service is difficult due to the complexity of managing inventory and assets in these systems. Improved service quality is one of the benefits of inventory optimization that can lead to more profits for a business like yours. The goal of any business owner should be to provide customers with high-quality service that meets their needs. Inventory optimization can help you do just that!
In conclusion
The logistics industry is one of the most important industries in the world. It is responsible for delivering goods to their destination on time and with less chance of damage or loss. Without inventory optimization, it would be impossible for these companies to effectively do what they need to do. Fortunately, implementing an inventory management solution into your company's processes brings many benefits!
