APL Logistics, the supply chain services arm of Singaporean transportation and logistics company NOL, and freight forwarder Con-way Freight joined forces and last month started a new service called "OceanGuaranteed" to provide fast, port-to-door delivery of less-than-container load (LCL) shipments from China to the US.OceanGuaranteed was launched in response to increasing customer demand for an ocean LCL/domestic US less-than-truck load (LTL) service that offers day-definite delivery in a more cost-effective manner than air freight, a statement from APL Logistics said.The programme provides service from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen to all continental US destinations served by Con-way Freight's trucks, via Los Angeles as the US port-of-call for customs clearance and deconsolidation."We have created an entirely new service category for our customers that responds to their demands for a premium, day-definite ocean service with transit times and delivery reliability that far exceeds traditional LCL products," said Brian Lutt, president of APL Logistics.
For C-TPAT certified customers, shipments tendered under OceanGuaranteed are segregated in dedicated C-TPAT-only containers to allow these cargoes to be "green laned" by US Customs and Border Protection. OceanGuaranteed shipments also receive expedited handling, including late-gate privileges at origin, "last on, first off" loading/unloading, and priority shipboard stowage for rapid discharge at the destination port.APL Logistics serves as the overall programme manager and the carrier of record for shipments tendered on APL Logistics through bills of lading. Operationally, APL Logistics handles all in-country China shipment management services. Ocean carriage will be provided by APL Logistics' sister company, APL, the release said. Con-way will manage receipt of ocean containers and deconsolidation in Los Angeles, and delivery of cargo as LTL shipments to the customer's door in the US.