The Best NVOCC for Your Supply Chain

The ultimate success of your supply chain is dependent upon the seamlessness of your logistics planning. Therefore, if you use a non-vessel owning common carrier (NVOCC) to plot your logistics movement, there are elements you’ll want to keep in mind before you enter into a contractual partnership. Some factors to consider during your search for a NVOCC include customer service, communication and flexibility, all of which are embodied at the highest levels by the freight forwarder and licensed NVOCC, CAF Worldwide.

Here are three reasons why CAF Worldwide is the best NVOCC for your supply chain:

1. Customer Service

Choosing the right NVOCC for your supply chain will depend on how much tonnage you’re looking to move per year. For example, the biggest NVOCCs may have the best access to optimal carrier rates, but it may come at the cost of poor customer service for all importers who are not their top customers. They’ll be too busy with larger shipments to give you the time and attention a smaller, albeit well-established NVOCC can deliver.

2. Communication

Responsiveness and overall communication has become all the more relevant since digital forwarding services stepped onto the scene. The convenience of a digital platform may be tempting, but when something goes wrong—and it will—there is no designated teammate to reach out to who will go to bat for you to get your shipments back on track in a timely manner. That’s why relentless, around-the-clock customer support is one of the things setting CAF apart from all other freight forwarders and NVOCCs. CAF also maintains close contact with all associated carriers and partner agents, to guarantee continued transparency into your supply chain.

3. Flexibility

The importance of flexibility in logistics planning cannot be overstated, especially in the current shipping climate showing a distinct trend of moving all,  or pieces of, supply chains out of China, in favor of more cost-effective options in Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh. The trend has been gaining speed for several years, but tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump throughout the now-longstanding trade war with China have sped up the shift.

Many NVOCCs and freight forwarders operate almost exclusively in China, and it is a mistake to assume they have the resources and relationships necessary to successfully make the transition into these markets, whose manufacturing infrastructures are significantly less developed.

Movement out of China is not the only reason to seek a flexible logistics provider. International shipping is astoundingly complex, and any number of things can go wrong, at any stage of the supply chain. Inclement weather, issues with customs clearance, and congested ports are just a few potential curveballs that can and will challenge the proficiency of your supply chain. When these things happen, you’ll want an NVOCC with an extensive list of tricks up its sleeves to mitigate the issue with as much grace, speed and cost-efficiency as possible.

So, when vetting candidates for NVOCC partnerships, be sure to consider the diversity of their logistics network. For example, with decades of relationship building in Southeast Asia under their belts, CAF Worldwide specializes in moving goods from the now-booming region. All other things created equal, an established forwarder such as CAF is a shipper's best chance at succeeding in new, underdeveloped markets. In addition to strong relationships in emerging areas, CAF Worldwide also has longstanding alliances with a slew of trusted trucking companies to ensure domestic capacity for your full truckload, or less-than-truckload cargo, even when port congestion strikes.

CAF Worldwide is a full-service logistics provider with more than 30 years of international freight forwarding and customs brokerage experience. To find out more about how CAF Worldwide can help you improve your supply chain, give us a call today at 516-444-3700, or send an introductory email to info@cafworldwide.com.