Quest for Quality -FREIGHT FORWARDERS: Foreign policy titans
-- Logistics Management, 8/1/2008
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Year after year it seems that we report that globalization—and now the growing shift to near-shoring—will continue to paint a pretty rosy picture for the world’s freight forwarding community. This past year was no different.
According to a recent report by the U.K.-based analyst firm Transport Intelligence (TI), the freight forwarding market has been the single biggest beneficiary of an increasingly global world economy, and it should continue to reap those benefits even as shippers continue to see the emergence of mega-forwarders and a growing interest of the private equity market to leap into the business.
Despite sky-rocking fuel and freight rates, a slowing U.S. economy, and the fact that the true-cost benefit of off-shore manufacturing is coming under tighter scrutiny, the age of the extended supply chain is still upon us and should be for the foreseeable future.
In turn, it’s led to solid year-over-year growth for the world’s leading freight forwarders, especially those that can provide some of the world’s savviest companies with a high-level of communication, clean data, and a commitment to meeting demands in an increasingly cost sensitive environment.
Even though the cost and complexity of global logistics has become downright daunting for shippers, we’re pleased to announce that this year’s survey finds 11 freight forwarders beating out the overall weighted average of 32.51—in fact it’s the first improvement in the overall average in this category in four years. Leading the pack in 2008 is Nippon Express USA, posting an impressive 36.30, a notable 1.56 point jump from last year’s point leader. Nippon took top scores in On-time Performance (11.88) and Value (8.84).
While Nippon took this year’s top spot with a solid overall performance, it’s good to see key attribute accolades being dispersed among the other top vote getters. Ringing up top honors in the all-important Information Technology category this year is UPS SonicAir with an impressive 5.34; Lynden Air Freight took first in Customer Service with a 7.50; and Nippon and FedEx Trade Networks tied for honors in Equipment & Operations with a 3.89.
Overall, we find another impressive list of perennial favorites populating the category in 2008. Expeditors International of Washington, the 2007 point leader, posted a noteworthy 33.93 score this year, down slightly from last year’s overall score, yet the company saw subtle improvements in their Value (7.71) and Customer Service (6.80) scores. Shippers also welcomed 2007 winners Kintetsu World Express (32.75), Schenker (32.61), and BAX Global (32.56) back to the winner’s podium this year.
It’s important to note that shippers have also voted in a couple service providers that missed the cut last year. SEKO Worldwide Express (33.91) and YRC Logistics (33.47) will also be collecting Quest for Quality gold this year.
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