Members requiring assistance with shipments in Johannesburg, South Africa are invited to get in touch with the FASTPULSE TRADING 131 (PTY) LTD team.
Key Contact Names: John Evans
Members requiring assistance with shipments in Bangkok, Thailand are invited to get in touch with the SIAM KARGO LOGISTICS CO., LTD team.
Key Contact Names: Charlotte Willoughby
Members requiring assistance with shipments in Nairobi, Kenya are invited to get in touch with the NEIGHBOURS LOGISTIC SOLUTIONS (NLS) LIMITED team.
Key Contact Names: Hassan Dambi Wario
The shipping of such important and sophisticated technology is not something given to just any freight forwarder – AIRSCHOTT INC. was the perfect choice as the handling of such sensitive shipments has been the hallmark of their activities since the company was founded in 1977.
The team chose to use for the most part, POLAR AIR and HAPAG LLOYD loading the Zephyr onto airline pallets or onto 40′ flat racks with ground support equipment stuffed into 20 and 40 dry boxes.
In addition, the team arranged packing, crating and HAZMAT packing/certification and loading of containers/flat racks, much of which was done in remote desert or mountain sites.
The COOP would like to congratulate AIRSCHOTT INC. on a job well done and invite members with shipments in Washington DC, to get in touch with the team.
Fadi – Jean Zakka
Robert Rich III, President of ROAR Logistics, recently spoke with us regarding his companies’ success and told us the story behind that unusual yet memorable name, ROAR. Read on to find out more.
Q. When and how did you get into the freight forwarding industry?
A. Although ROAR has been in business since the fall of 2003 as a domestic US transportation services provider, ROAR started its international freight forwarding division 7 years ago. This service offering expanded the product portfolio and was in direct response to customer requests that the company provide a more comprehensive global service offering.
Q. Can you tell us a little of the history of ROAR LOGISTICS?
A. ROAR was founded in the fall of 2003 by myself and our current VP of Operations, Tony Barnes. We started with two offices, one in Buffalo, NY and one in Atlanta, GA as Tony didn’t want to move to Buffalo and I didn’t want to move to Atlanta.
Q. How did you come up with the name ‘ROAR LOGISTICS’?
A. The name ROAR Logistics was actually my wife’s idea. Initially, the company was going to be called “Queen City Logistics” as Buffalo, NY is often referred to as the Queen City. We felt that that name would be too regional as our vision was for global growth. She looked at the services we planned on providing (Rail, Ocean, Air, and Road) and came up with the acronym “ROAR.” I always tell people she is smarter than me, because she came up with the name.
Q. What distinguishes ROAR LOGISTICS from other freight forwarders in your city?
A. First and foremost, our people; we have an amazing team of highly dedicated and motivated transportation professionals who contribute so much to our success. Unlike other forwarders in our city or elsewhere in North America, our core business is domestic freight brokerage, including full-truckload and intermodal services. This gives our company a competitive edge on creative solutions for pick-up and delivery of international freight. We find that port-to-port moves, while easiest for a forwarder, are not always the best solution for a customer. Our network of carefully selected carriers ensures secure and timely movement of freight, from the first mile to the last kilometre.
Q. What are the main challenges facing freight forwarders in the USA at the moment?
A. Equipment and driver availability. These two issues have been a challenge in the past, but the West Coast ports’ disruption has exacerbated the problem. This is especially a challenge for small to medium shippers as the steamship lines will provide for their largest customers first.
Q. How is the freight forwarding industry tackling these challenges?
A. Many trade organizations, such as the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, (NCBFAA) as well as regional forums, advocate for resolution through influence and legislation.
Q. How is ROAR LOGISTICS dealing with these challenges on a daily basis?
A. Creative problem solving with alternate lanes, modes, and equipment management. Engaging our customers to discuss and develop strategies that will keep freight moving through lanes that are at less-than-capacity.
Q. What attracted you to apply for membership of The COOP?
A. As a relatively new freight forwarder, we were concerned with the challenges of entering a network where partnerships had already been established. Since members of The COOP are all charter members within the last 12 to 16 months, we are confident that the agents in the network will engage with us based on our service and responsiveness. Attending the first annual conference was an amazing experience and opportunity to share information with other forwarders just like us.
Q. If you have been a member of other networks in the past, how does being a member of the COOP differ?
A. This is our first network membership. We are proud to be affiliated with such a great team.
Q. What benefits are you seeing as a member of The COOP?
A. We are approached every day by our COOP partners to provide service and related pricing. For our customers, we are able to offer prompt attention to their requests. Each COOP partner is responsive, detail oriented and eager to help secure business.
The eagerness and enthusiasm ROAR displays with regards to its membership, our annual meeting and its fellow members are just the characteristics we are looking for in our members. Robert and his team have fully grasped that being proactive and cooperative is the key to success in The COOP.
We invite all agents with shipments in Buffalo to get in touch with the team.
Members requiring assistance with shipments in Sharjah, UAE are invited to get in touch with the PRIORITY FREIGHT SERVICES FZC team.
Key Contact Name: Irfan ul Hassan
Members requiring assistance with shipments in Cali, Colombia are invited to get in touch with the SIDECARGO S.A.S / SIDECOMEX S.A. team.
Key Contact Names: Jose David Zapata
Members requiring assistance with shipments in Nairobi, Kenya are invited to get in touch with the ELIGA FREIGHT SERVICES LTD team.
Key Contact Names: Anne Oting
Website: www.eligafreightservices.co.ke
Company founded in: 2010
Members requiring assistance with shipments in Warsaw, Poland are invited to get in touch with the SOLID LOGISTICS SP. Z.O.O. team.
Key Contact Name: Maria Chrzanowska
Website: www.solid-logistics.com.pl
Company founded in: 2004