The joint less-than-container-load (LCL) ocean cargo service between the U.S. and Asia introduced by APL Logistics and truckload carrier Con-way Freight in September is being expanded to four new Asian ports.
Brian Lutt, president of APL Logistics, said LCL ocean freight customers can now ship from four additional ports in Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan in addition to the three ports in central and south China it originally offered, greatly expanding options for shippers seeking port-to-door delivery to the U.S.
“In addition, we’ll retain [the LCL service’s] simplified per-kilo, zone-based pricing structure, so customers pay the same price from any of the seven origin ports,” he added.
APL Logistics serves as the overall program manager and the carrier of record, handling all in-country shipment management services in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, with ocean carriage provided by APL Logistic’s sister company, APL, Lutt added. Con-way then manages receipt of ocean containers and deconsolidation in Los Angeles and delivery of cargo as LTL shipments to the customer's door in the U.S.
“Customers have told us they want more and better service options for managing global freight and rapidly bringing it to market— without breaking their transportation budgets,” said David McClimon, president of Con-way Freight. “Considered a cost-effective alternative to air freight, this [LCL] program is designed to speed shipments from Asia to the U.S., providing cycle time consistency and reliability with a money-back transit time guarantee.”