What happens when you have a time sensitive project that is held by delayed cargo? Take for instance, the project that you have been pitching for is finally approved and you breathe a sigh of relief. What now?
Everything has been captured including the shipment of equipment to project site and the duration of time it will take, and you have all the confidence that you did your homework well, even adding a day or two just in case…
Then you contact the supplier and pay for the equipment and give directions to the site location, probably somewhere remote. Your agent even gives you the tracking details and assures you that in a few days, your cargo will be on site.
Two weeks later, the cargo is stuck at some border country just because some paperwork wasn’t done correctly and now you are exasperated. Or your shipment weighs 20 tons and it has to go to Praslin Island in Seychelles. The maximum weight handled there are 8 tons!
This story might sound far-fetched, but it is a regular issue in cargo movement and logistics. Several things will determine the timeliness of your cargo arrival, such as the agent you have appointed, your agent partners, the cargo carriers, agent liquidity, etc.
But the crux of the matter is that the complexities of sending and receiving cargo are such that no person should be unable to send or receive cargo anywhere in the world.
Therefore, the most important issue to consider when you are planning a shipment is the agent that you are engaging with. The points to consider when engaging an agent may be;
- Should be trustworthy, honest, and professional.
- Industry savvy, to tackle challenges as they arise.
- Understand local nuances to advise you accordingly on issues such as taxes, fees, and levies.
- Financial standing so that your shipment and its proper delivery may be a top issue, rather than the fees that you will be charged.
