Cargo Brokers Manages Constant Armada of Containers
An Interview with the CFO a Cargo Brokers customer (dual US importer)
Interview Highlights:
- Cargo Brokers serves as shipping department for this US importer.
- Accurate delivery times create better customer service experience for end clients.
- New ports and new ISF regulations are no problem.
- “They are mostly an extension of our business here,” said CFO on how Cargo Brokers fits into their dual companies.
Imports are absolutely essential to both businesses. One company is an importer of cabinet supplies, like drawer slides, knobs and pulls. One of their most popular items is a plasma TV electric lift.
The other company sells adjustable desks. Workers can sit or stand at one of the height adjustable desks for healthier posture. Cargo Brokers bring these over by the container load for them from Italy and China, as part of a logistics relationship that has grown for over a decade.
Getting their products into the country, then out to their clients requires complicated logistics. According to the customer, Cargo Brokers streamlined their imports. They said, “They create efficiency for us, and timely delivery of our goods.”
Knowing exactly when their shipments will arrive allows this importer to provide better customer service to their primary clients, office furniture dealers.
”If a shipment is hot, I need to convey to our customer what the actual date it will arrive is. I can always trust what Cargo Brokers tells me about timing for when a shipment docks. They have good relationships with truckers. If they tell me a shipment has been released, and they tell me it will be here Tuesday at 8 a.m., it will here at Tuesday 8 a.m.”
It’s a big contrast from the other freight forwarders that they have used. She said, “We’ve worked with three other brokers. One promised the world. They never were on top of their game as far as notifying us that a shipment is in. You lose so much time with that. It seemed like they put the plan together when the ship docked. So our shipments were delayed three or four days.”
They continued, “On shipments from Poland and Denmark, I don’t have a choice on my broker. It’s the shipper’s directive. It’s only one shipment a month. It’s a hassle. The trucking people they use aren’t as reliable. I constantly get telephone calls that the truck broke down. They miss a lot of delivery times.”
In her eleven years of working with Cargo Brokers, she hasn’t had the same headaches. “It’s amazing how reliable the shipments have been. Cargo Brokers get our goods here on time. They are good communicators with personalized and detailed service.”
Because of Cargo Brokers, they do not have to worry that the ISF filing is accurate or that the right forms are getting filled out for China exports. The Cargo Brokers, Charlotte office communicates with them, and helps to avoid any possible fines (some up to $5000).
Cargo Brokers also helped this customer also to navigate exports to Canada and Mexico and handled a hot direct-to-client shipment to California amongst many other destinations.
The customer went on to explain that during the whole timing of their shipments, we are relying on Cargo Brokers’ expertise, their people and relationships. It’s important that the moves run like clockwork or close to it, not only for us but also for our end user, an office furniture dealer.