Managing your own containers: Why that choice may get easier, and reasons to do it.

We’ve shared a few posts about shipping container management. It may be getting easier.

Since the strains put on supply chains due to the pandemic and the subsequent surge everyone has experienced, ocean carriers are working to change how they do some of their business. Carriers in the industry are re-evaluating how they can work more with direct customers and less with a middleman, usually a freight forwarder. Its a shift to a BCO (Beneficial Cargo Owners) model. We are seeing this in the LTL and truck markets too. Shipping companies are choosing to negotiate contracts for desirable rates directly with the customer they are serving. This article describes the benefits of the BCO model.

If the shipping industry shifts to this BCO (Beneficial Cargo Owners) model, it stands to reason that customers will have more transparency with their bookings.

Risks that are out there right now: Rail strike in Canada, Possible East Coast Port Strike in October, the linked video from The Telegraph was a wake up to some people.

We manage our own containers to keep a close eye on costs, delivery time and risks to avoid. If you have any questions about how we mitigate some risks, feel free to reach out.