Time Flies...

Simtex International are involved logistical support for numerous Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts across the world.

In 2007 Simtex were approached to offer logistical guidance in support of an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) relating to unmanned aircraft operations (UAVs). Since deployment for initial operating capacity, Simtex have moved in excess of 450 tonnes of cargo by all modes of transport relating to this project alone. Individual movements ranged from entire air frames and control stations to aircraft on ground (AOG) spares, critical to the ongoing support of the UAV operation and the valuable service they provide.

Simtex International established and controlled a critical logistical supply chain moving goods from country of origin, through its UK hub and out to theatre as well as the reverse route to ensure a continuous supply critical components. Cargo has moved by dedicated air charter, commercial Air freight, dedicated and groupage road movements and even passenger hand carry moves.

With the drawdown of military operations overseas, November 2014 represented a milestone for the programme with Simtex International managing the return of all deployed equipment to country of manufacturer for evaluation and refurbishment.

The Simtex team conducted a site visit to assess the cargo load requirements and managed the freighting process arranged for collection, packing, container load and stow and export shipment from UK ensuring compliance with regulatory controls. The load comprised some 4 x 40 ft Flat rack containers and 6 x 40 ft HC containers to be shipped on a very tight deadline.

Simtex utilised the expert services of its warehouse team to securely store and handle the unusual equipment ensuring all cargo was loaded safely, on time and within budget.

It’s always sad to see the end of a contract but Simtex take great pride to deliver absolute client satisfaction ensuring we understand the specific requirements of the principal and tailoring the logistics solution to fit.

For assistance with your freight requirements, please contact Simtex International Ltd on +44 (0)2380 480 430

Freight Shipping Explained

If you are unfamiliar with the phrase 'freight shipping', you might find yourself thinking that it has something to do with movement of goods by sea using ships. The truth is, to a certain extent, you would still be right. This is because initially, freight shipping was a reference to the movement of goods and cargo using ships. However, later on, the term was extended to refer to the movement of goods through any means, be it sea, land, or air.  

Types of Freight Shipping

More often than not, more than one mode of shipping is required to get cargo from its origin to the desired destination, which is called intermodal freight shipping. On the other hand, the use of a single mode of transport from the origin to the final destination is called multimodal transport. Consequently, a freight shipping company can dabble in any of these forms of transport, although it is also possible to find a freight services provider who specializes in a particular form of transport, for instance land transport. 

Land

In land freight shipping, shipments are moved on land using trains or trucks. Land transport serves a big role as a link between air and sea transportation and the destination or the origin. For instance, the goods warehouse may be some distance aware from the seaport or the airport, which means that land transport has to be used given its better penetration in comparison to either sea or air transport modes. Still, land transport can be used independently to move the goods from the shipper's place to the destination, a process referred to as door-to-door shipping. Furthermore, land transport is much cheaper than air transport, but is more expensive than sea transport. 

Air

Transport of goods through air is done using specialized cargo planes and through passenger planes through their luggage compartments. Although air transport is the fastest mode of transport, it is also the most expensive. Consequently, it is normally used where it is the more effective than either land or sea, or when the goods in question are light or needed urgently, or if the goods have considerable monetary value. 

Sea

In the sea, shipping is done using actual ships. This mode actually accounts for a large percentage of shipments and is literally the mainstay of global economy since it accounts for about 90% of international trade. Although it is a slow form of transport, usually taking months or weeks for ships to arrive from one seaport to another, it is also the cheapest mode of transport and the most appropriate for shipping bulk cargo. 

Freight Shipping Companies

Freight shipping companies avail cargo transport services to consumers. Some of these companies have global operations, usually shipping goods to over a hundred countries. Each of these companies offers particular benefits with regard to cost effectiveness, speed of delivery, and presence of their operations in the desired locations of origin and destination of goods. 

Shipping Process

Basically, the process of shipping goods involves preparation of the goods through packaging, proper labelling, and completion of a bill of lading, which is a contract between the owner of the goods and the entity entrusted with the transportation of the goods to a particular destination. After the goods arrive, you have to arrange for their pickup and delivery to final destination, which completes the shipping process. Most freight shipping companies also offer you a service that allows you to track your package as it moves to its destination, as well as insurance to act as a safeguard against loss or damage to the goods being shipped.