Importance of trust in container shipping

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. In this industry, we deal with hundreds of variables. Cargo. Customs. Compliance. Climate. Coordination. But none of these break operations like a 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦. I've seen this pattern repeat over two decades — A delay in vessel loading, a missed stuffing plan, a frustrated customer All traced back to one point of failure: 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱. We’ve built robust systems. But a system is only as strong as the conversations it carries. That’s why I insist on this one rule inside our organization:            >  "𝘜𝘯𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘺𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘬𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘩𝘢𝘯                  𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘬𝘶 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢,                  𝘜𝘯𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢, 𝘢𝘥𝘩𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦                  𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘬𝘬𝘶 𝘥𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢.                  𝘈𝘥𝘩𝘶𝘷𝘶𝘮 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢"                      > “𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩,                 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯.                 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴                 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺.                 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺.                 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵.                 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.” Most fires in logistics don’t start with mistakes. They start with people hiding mistakes. So I do what leaders must do: Step in. Speak up. Even if it means telling the customer what others hesitate to say. Because clarity builds trust. And trust is the only thing that moves faster than cargo. If you’re leading in logistics or anywhere remember: 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘖𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.  #Leadership #Trust #LogisticsWisdom #Breakbulk #ShippingExcellence #LeadWithTruth #SuccessShipping

It is good to have data, indices and reports when entering into any negotiations. However, historical or current data is not sufficient when procuring and signing mid to long term ocean freight contracts. What is needed is the ability to forecast or predict future pricing as accurately as possible. This has become a huge challenge in recent years given all the disruptions that besides other factors lead to extreme rate volatility. The days of long-term fixed rate contracts with no PSS are gone. If shippers insist on these conditions, some carriers might sign if the markets are weak, but it will take only the next disruption to render that contract ineffective as far as the ability to book against that contract is concerned. The approach of trying to save a few dollars by moving around contracted volumes in a weak spot market will hurt when the market turns, space is restricted against the signed contracts, and you are booking on sky high spot rates. All those who have been in this business long enough know that procuring ocean freight is very different from procuring non-transport related goods or services. It is not just about signing a contract. It is about ensuring the contracts are effective, space and equipment is made available, cargo moves as booked and is delivered as expected, you get priority, you get sufficient attention when operational issues come up and these issues are resolved in a timely manner, as such will always come up. For this, building and maintaining strong relationships with the ocean carriers is very important and since trust forms the basis of any relationship, keeping commitments is crucial. If you look at all this with a view of the immediate future, i.e a 6–12-month horizon this might not sound very appealing. If you look at this from a long-term perspective, this will make a lot of sense. If you take the long-term approach and look back in a few years, I am sure you will agree you took the better approach. I will still be here in case you want to want to share your experiences at that time! https://lnkd.in/eb-C8Svf

After more than 25 years in logistics, I can confidently say: Customers don’t just pay for trucks and warehouses, they pay for trust. In a world where "urgent" is the default and delays cost millions, reliability isn’t just nice to have, it’s the only way to stay in the game. Think of it like this: Would you marry someone who "sometimes" shows up on time? Of course not. Then why settle for a logistics partner who treats your shipments like a casual fling? How to be the partner clients actually rely on: Trust is built in drops, lost in buckets** – Consistent small wins > occasional grand gestures. Reliability = Predictability: Clients sleep better when they know you won’t surprise them (unless it’s with early delivery). Transparency is trust’s wingman. Bad news early is better than excuses late. At the end of the day, logistics is a people business disguised as a numbers game. The best clients stay with partners who make "dependable" their default setting. "Who’s your go-to" never sweats the small stuff (because they never let it become big stuff) provider? Tag them below! 👇 #TrustInTransit #NoSurprisesLogistics #ReliabilityWins

Trust is the backbone of booking a load. Carriers do their homework on brokers, checking credit and reviews to ensure they'll get paid. Yet, a risk of non-payment remains. Brokers vet carriers through MC/DOT numbers, Carrier 411, insurance, and inspection ratings, but still face the possibility of damaged or undelivered loads. Despite these uncertainties, trust forms the foundation of every booking. Tracking systems and written agreements add layers of security, but nothing beats clear communication. For me, the difference is stark. Having dispatch or the driver provide regular updates throughout the load process versus silence speaks volumes about reliability. Effective communication isn't just a preference; it's the cornerstone of building trust in this industry.