The ABCs of Import Logistics

Import and Export in Logistics

As much as people praise American-made goods and bemoan imported ones, they would be surprised to find out just how much comes from outside the country. In 2019, capital goods held the most value of goods imported at over $678 billion. Consumer goods were below that, valued at $654 billion.

Managing the logistics of the transport of these goods is essential for keeping world peace. A disruption in the supply chain could result in a big impact on a country’s economy and infrastructure.

Here’s why should invest in import logistics services and how they can help.

What Is Import and Export Logistics?

The role of logistics in supply chain management is to plan, implement, and control the flow of goods and services inside and outside of a country. That means being transparent, communicating efficiently, and making good use of automated processes.

Poor logistics may mean the packages that get shipped out more often may get stored further away from the loading platform. You may lose track of a package altogether. Without the right inbound and outbound logistics processes, your operation won’t run as efficiently as it could.

How Export and Import Logistics Services Help

Import logistics services help companies manage their international supply chain. They come equipped with various systems meant to set up processes such as transloading and take care of all the finer details.

Your company will also benefit from tracking your inventory and shipping processes. It’s hard to keep up with all the different warehouses you may utilize. One of the systems a logistics service offers that can help is a warehouse management system.

Additionally, your company can improve logistics by tracking your shipments on the move. This leads to more efficiency since you can play your shipments in advance and optimize the process moving forward. A transportation management system offered by a service provider is what you’ll need for that task.

Trade Import Logistics Tips

First of all, make sure that they have diverse experience in shipping. This is especially helpful if your products come in varying sizes that may require different shipping methods.

Ask for references. You want to hire a company that isn’t afraid to give them out. Reluctance to do so shows that they don’t trust their previous clients to speak well about them.

Even though you’re hiring another company to handle your import logistics, you should still know the rules and regulations of your country. It helps to hold both yourself and the service accountable.

Finally, make use of a freight forwarder to save time and make things easier. Freight forwarding takes responsibility for the international transport of your goods.

Get Help With Your Imports

Although your company may deal with imported goods, that doesn’t mean you have to handle all the logistics on your own. Import logistics services take on the complicated task so you can focus on what’s important.

AmerTrans provides services in logistics, supply chain, and more. We pride ourselves on our leading customer service and ability to overcome diverse challenges. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business.