Taiwan-based forwarder Dimerco delivered high-density cargo from China to Morocco four days ahead of the deadline by making changes to the planned transport mode in response to delays at Ningbo Port.

As vessels got cancelled due to Covid-19, causing delays to cargo bound for North Africa, the Dimerco team found an alternative solution for its customer, a manufacturer of high-end automotive parts and accessories.

With late delivery equating to expensive production down time, the team worked out ground options, but the challenges around booking rail freight led the company to propose a more cost-effective cross-border road freight solution.

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“Working with our French agent and strategic trucking partners, the cargo was transported by road from Ningbo to Alashankou in Xinjiang, then on to Le Havre in France, before reaching its final destination in Tangier just over three weeks later—four days earlier than planned—by shifting two drivers for the Asia-Euro Truck with continuous operations,” Dimerco noted.

The change of mode brought additional complexity, Dimerco explained, as the cargo had initially been packed as ocean freight in a 3-plywood case, for forklift handling. But because the cargo at Alashankou would have to be handled by crane, the forwarder replaced the original case with a customised solder pallet accordingly. The team also positioned 10 pieces of wood under the pallet to balance the weight and provide extra protection for the high-density cargo during the truck transit from Asia to Europe.

“The team was able to respond quickly and effectively to a series of challenges, walking the customer through the complex processes between transportation modes, providing daily updates on the shipment status and delivering an optimized solution that not only overcame serious conditions but exceeded our customers’ expectations,” Dimerco added.