Global logistics companies are constantly faced with political and economic changes that can turn the process upside down overnight. As shipping routes open and close, new software comes online to streamline global transportation logistics and new markets open for trade, you must keep up with the most current news to stay competitive and to keep your products and services running smoothly through the logistics chain.

Read global transport logistics headlines to follow the news that affects your day to day operations. Include long-term planning articles and trend pieces that can help you decide which new platforms to purchase for your operation and what lines of trade you may need to explore in the future. Watch for new global logistics management training and informational conferences to keep your team up on the latest developments too. Round out your information by getting global logistics news and trends from a variety of sources.

1. Read global logistics company articles to keep up with daily international developments.

2. Check with reliable sources for news that will affect global logistics firms in the future.

3. Get information from trade groups for global logistics services.

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Stay ahead of the international logistics trends

Review your global transportation logistics operations regularly to make sure you're taking advantage of the latest trends in automation and IT. These can streamline your business and allow you to make important global deals, as well as move your products efficiently through the various channels.

I recommend: The Journal of Commerce provides readers with the top headlines from around the world that cover all aspects of the logistics process. Register for news updates, trend articles and important news alerts at Supply Chain Digest.

Find the best sources of news for worldwide transport logistics

Find a good source that gives you the news that follows both the national movement within the global logistics management industry and what your competitors are doing as well as news affecting international trade developments. Spread the responsibilities for news gathering among your staff so that each manager covers his own area of expertise with current information at hand.

I recommend: Logistics Management covers all aspects of the supply chain to keep you in the loop and make the best business decisions. You can get national and global news as well as strategic analysis of the industry at Outsourced Logistics.

Join groups to network with other global logistics companies

Trade groups are great places to hear about the latest global logistics systems and how other companies are incorporating them. Trade groups attract vendors and suppliers that can provide you with the newest warehouse and transportation solutions as they emerge.

I recommend: The Reverse Logistics Association provides a wealth of industry specific information, committees and work groups that you can get involved with to network with other logistics professionals and keep up with the trends. The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals offers members a number of publications, including Supply Chain Quarterly, to help keep everyone informed of the latest trends and how to stay ahead.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get current worldwide logistics news from suppliers and contacts in other countries that may not have reached the local media and trade groups so that you can make necessary adjustments in time rather than just react to news.

When dealing with worldwide transport logistics, you want to work with a company that is experienced and up-to-date on all of the customs and country-by-country regulations of your destinations. Your global logistics company will be your main contact for both exporting your product out of the U.S. and for bringing necessary items into the U.S.

Global logistics can turn out to be more complicated than you can imagine. You need to make sure that you are fully aware of the requirement of your ship-to country and to allow yourself enough time to have your package make it through their customs systems.

To be in the know on global transport logistics:

1. Be aware that when dealing with global logistics, there are more costs involved than just the shipping rate.

2. Budget accordingly to make sure that it is even worth it to begin to ship internationally.

3. Find global logistics providers online.

4. Make contact and ask a lot of questions of your potential worldwide logistics providers. How long have they been in business? Who are some of their biggest clients? Are they licensed and certified? What services do they offer that set them apart from their competition?

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Know the global transportation logistics lingo

When speaking global logistics companies, know the terms and definitions of the possible items you will be discussing.

I recommend: A carnet is your merchandise’s passport. Global logistics companies will help you secure one if your merchandise will only be in a country temporarily, as would be the case if you are taking equipment into a country to do an event, or you are renting your equipment to someone in a foreign country. Your freight broker or forwarder is the person who acts as your liaison at your ship-to country. Your global transport logistics company should be able to either arrange for this person, or handle this person completely for you. This broker/forwarder will grease the wheels to help your shipment past customs and to its final destination. Tariffs, duties, and import fees are the taxes and costs that the incoming country places on your items. This is done to make them less competitive against the market of the import company.

Hire an international logistics company that will give you personal service.

Work with a company who gives you a person on the phone line to answer your questions and help you in a time of need, not just an automated phone message.

I recommend: Check out AIT Worldwide. Their staff is fantastic and can offer you quality service.

Choose a global logistics company that is fully licensed and certified

Utilize a company like Argents Express Group that is licensed, certified, and insured.

I recommend: Argents Express Group comes to you certified as both a U.S. and an international forwarder on top of being certified as a U.S. Customs House Broker with the International Air Transport Association and certified with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission as an Ocean Transport Intermediary and Non-Vessel operating common carrier; the U.S. Transportation Security Administration as an Indirect Air Carrier; U.S. Department of Transportation as a commercial goods broker; Hazmat transporter, and freight forwarder; and with U.S. Customs Border Protection Agency.

Look to the big dogs of global transportation logistics

FedEx and UPS are two of the biggest names in the shipping business. DHL should also be considered as an up and coming option as well.

I recommend: FedEx offers you specialized services designed for shipments weighing 150 pounds or more. UPS offers you a multitude of global air freight services. DHL offers you a company that services over 120,000 locations in 220 countries worldwide.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you ship temporarily into a country, make sure to have the appropriate paperwork stamped with customs to prove that you brought it back to its country of origin.

A global logistics company works with manufacturers throughout the country and also the world to provide the best solutions for trucking, air, and ocean freighting. Global transport logistics works with the supply chain to get products from the factory to the warehouse and finally to consumers. Global logistics companies need to work with the latest transportation technology as well as having good management skills to organize logistics services.

Those who work for global transportation logistics companies will have to learn how to assess risk, manage multiple types of employees, and keep ahead of the latest changes in the industry. Global logistics education and training can come from:

1. Seminars hosted by global logistics services experts.

2. Attend training courses to learn about many topics related to global logistics.

3. Earning a certificate through an accredited program.

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Attend seminars to learn about the latest trends in global logistics firms

Because global logistics covers a wide range of topics, there are many seminars each year that can be specific to one type of transportation system, or sessions that cover a topic affecting overall function on global logistics systems. These seminars are often hosted by global logistics associations and organizations.

I recommend: Global Logistics has many seminar listings relative to the industry, including a seminar hosted by APICS that will cover the topics of green supply chains in global logistics. The U.S. Commercial Service is another source of global logistics seminars covering tax, shipping, and other international issues.

Take training courses to learn how to work with global logistics management

Companies with expertise in global logistics can provide training courses for those who want to explore different areas of this field. Common topics for global logistics training courses are industry basics, customer development, and supply chain management. These courses are available in person or online and only take a few hours to a few days to complete.

I recommend: Rasmussen & Simonsen International provides three courses that range in topics from fundamentals of the industry to advanced sales techniques for all positions at global logistics firms. California State University offers a program that teaches all aspects of global logistics and management.

Study for certification in international logistics

While not all positions with a global logistics firm will require certification in global logistics, it is an asset to those who want to work as managers in this field.

I recommend: The American Society of Transportation and Logistics provides certification in supply chain management, transportation and logistics, and logistics professional. The International Society of Logistics also provides certificate programs for logisticians.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Those looking to work with international transportation logistics companies should also seek additional training in topics such as international logistics, trade law, and customs issues.

If you're in the manufacturing business and you're looking to expand into a global market, you'll benefit from learning global logistics key terms. Whether you'll be shipping by air, sea or land, you'll find global logistics has a language all its own. From what the term logistics means to documents you'll need to be familiar with in relation to global logistics, such as air waybill, commercial invoice and bill of lading, you'll find there are many global logistics key terms you'll likely use on a regular basis.

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Logistics

Logistics refers to the entire process of the shipment of goods. It includes the transportation and storage methods of these goods and shipping services available.

I recommend: Logistics World provides several definitions of the word logistics as it relates to the shipping and receiving of goods.

Air waybill (AWB)

An air waybill, or AWB, is a tracking document used in the shipment of goods. In addition to tracking purposes, an air waybill also serves as an invoice in overseas shipments and as a receipt of shipment between the shipper and the carrier.

I recommend: IQ Global Logistics has an extensive explanation of an air waybill and how and why it is used.

Bill of lading

Much like an air waybill, a bill of lading is a document that lists what is being shipped. It acts as a proof of contract between a carrier and a shipper. A bill of lading is used for goods shipped by land or sea.

I recommend: BusinessDictionary.com offers a definition of bill of lading, including a list of information that is required on this document.

Commercial invoice

Whenever goods are shipped internationally, a commercial invoice is required. This is a document that accompanies a shipment and must contain certain information about the contents of the shipment, including description, quantity and declared value.

I recommend: DHL thoroughly explains what a commercial invoice is and even provides an example.

Bonded warehouse

If your shipped goods need a place to be stored while you're awaiting payment of customs duties or for payment for the shipment by the receiver, you'll need a bonded warehouse. A bonded warehouse is a place where shipments can be held until necessary payments are made.

I recommend: World Trade Distribution explains what a bonded warehouse is and how it operates.

Free Trade Zone (FTZ)

Many international shipments are subject to custom duties and tariffs. However, some areas are free of these restrictions. Goods may be shipped, stored and even manufactured in these areas and no customs charges are paid. These areas are known as a Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

I recommend: Find a detailed description of what a Free Trade Zone is, and even a list of those places around the globe which are FTZs, at EconomyWatch.