The manufacturing sector is a difficult one where infrastructure is everything. Complex supply chains, impatient customers and tight deadlines can make the logistics of running a smooth manufacturing business a daily headache.

Once the goods are out the door, it’s tempting to think the job’s over – but the truth is that there’s still a great deal to do. 

At Millennium Cargo, we have a few top tips that will make all the difference – as a UK manufacturer, you simply can’t ignore them.

Freight Tip 1 – Don’t Just Pick the Cheapest Quote

This is a piece of advice that’s true across the board, if we’re honest, but it has particular importance when it comes to international shipping. You should never just pick the cheapest quote without fully considering the whole picture.

Ask yourself why it’s cheaper than the rest of the options? It’s likely to be slow, unreliable and lacking the sort of support that you need to get everything done right.

Plus, watch out for hidden costs. Far too often, a budget service isn’t really saving you money, it’s just drawing you in with a seemingly cost-effective option that later piles up with extras. Of course, once you’re committed, it becomes very hard to drop out and go somewhere else, so you just keep paying…

Not even that, but the chances are something’s going to go wrong. When you pick an off-the-shelf shipping option, you end up with a ‘partner’ who doesn’t understand your industry or have the experience to navigate the issues that may crop up.

While it’s perfectly possible to find a top-quality freight forwarder with competitive pricing – just look at us at Millennium Cargo – if you try to cut corners, you could end up with a boatload of problems.

Freight Tip 2 – Use Multimodal Freight

It’s easy to assume that every logistics company is going to do things that are the most efficient, but sadly, that’s not the case. There are plenty of shipping companies that are limited in their offering – perhaps they have no air freight partners, or lack a cohesive rail transit structure. You cannot assume that the route and mode of transport are going to always be optimal – very often, that’s not what’s going to happen.

Working with a multimodal freight forwarding company, however – yes, just like Millennium Cargo – means that you’re trusting your shipment with a firm with a comprehensive network of shipping partners.

This means:

• Route optimisation that saves time and money, as well as being more environmentally conscious.
• Efficient freight systems that minimise delays.
• Door-to-door delivery, from warehouse to customer.
• Consolidated cargo for cost-efficient sustainability.

Multimodal freight with an industry-leading freight forwarder means flexibility and resilience. Rather than relying on a single option, there are backups and a team of experts smoothing the way to make sure your cargo gets where it needs to be in the most efficient way possible – and with the minimum of hassle.

Freight Tip 3 – Plan Ahead

Preparation is everything when working out complex global freight logistics. This means giving yourself plenty of lead time and making sure all the paperwork is in order – though today, it’s not truly ‘paperwork’, with digital documentation and live tracking an essential part of quality freight forwarding.

Give yourself the time to build a solid shipping plan and things run smoothly – or at least, as smoothly as it’s possible to be in global freight!

Build confident freight timelines into your production workflow, give your distributors and customers realistic delivery timescales and position yourself as a reliable link in the supply chain.

An expert level freight forwarder – by which, we mean us at Millennium Cargo – will be able to assist in the essential planning stages, working with you to construct accurate schedules.

Bonus Freight Tip – Work with Millennium Cargo

When you choose Millennium Cargo, you partner with a well-established and experienced freight forwarding firm who have the expertise you need to maintain a seamless supply chain.

With specific expertise in the UK manufacturing sector, we provide the in-depth support that you need to get your logistics right. Whether for international shipping that combines the best parts of road, rail, sea and air freight, or for rapid national delivery that goes direct to your customer’s door, we have the infrastructure in place to take the worry off your shoulders. Together, we’ll get your products where they need to be.

Millennium Cargo offers:

• Decades of logistics experience in the manufacturing sector.
• A comprehensive network of shipping partners spanning the globe.
• Highly experienced support staff for every stage of the journey, from planning to dealing with international customs regulations.
• Competitive pricing that provides unparalleled value.
• A dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices.
• A genuine interest in your business and your freight needs, resulting in a solid, long-term partnership that you can rely on.

Contact Millennium Cargo today for a free shipping consultation and let us get your goods moving.