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Trucking and logistics leaders need to maintain consistent service levels while managing costs and reducing risk, which can be a challenge in a volatile freight market. Freight brokerage can be used as a strategic advantage, helping fleets and shippers remain agile and respond to fluctuations in capacity demands and shipping needs.

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In international shipping, understanding detention and demurrage charges is essential for cost control and supply chain efficiency. These fees can add up quickly if cargo isn’t moved within the allotted time, leading to unexpected expenses.

What is Demurrage?

Demurrage charges apply when import containers remain at the port beyond the free time granted by the shipping line. Once a container is discharged, ports allow a specific number of free days for pickup. If the consignee fails to move the cargo within this period, the shipping line imposes daily demurrage fees. These charges incentivize timely clearance and ensure port efficiency.

What is Detention?

Detention fees occur when a shipper or consignee holds onto a container beyond the free time allowed outside the port. Unlike demurrage, which applies while cargo is within the terminal, detention fees start accumulating when the container leaves the port but is not returned within the agreed timeframe. This can happen due to delays in unloading, customs issues, or trucking shortages.

How to Avoid Demurrage and Detention Fees

Minimizing detention and demurrage charges requires proactive planning and coordination. Penske helps you avoid unnecessary fees by helping you:

  • Understand Free Time Limits: Each shipping line and port has different free time allowances. Stay informed to plan accordingly.
  • Pre-arrange Inland Transportation: Ensure trucks are scheduled in advance to move containers efficiently.
  • Streamline Customs Clearance: Delays in documentation and customs processing can cause unnecessary storage time. Work with an experienced freight forwarder to expedite the process.
  • Optimize Warehouse Operations: Have a plan in place to unload and return empty containers promptly.

Learn more about Penske’s Demurrage and Detention Dispute Resolution process, then get in touch with us today to discuss expert freight forwarding solutions.

Penske is a trusted partner for all your freight forwarding needs. With extensive experience and a commitment to excellence, we provide efficient and customized solutions to help you navigate the complexities of global supply chains. Whether you are a small business or a large corporation, we have the expertise and resources to streamline your logistics operations and ensure the seamless transportation of your goods.

What Is a Freight Forwarder?

Freight forwarders manage the international shipping and storage of goods for their clients. They possess the necessary authority from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Federal Maritime Commission and Transport Security Administration to handle interstate and international air and ocean shipments, navigating the complex legalities and requirements. Often operating under their own bills of lading, freight forwarders arrange transportation, consolidate shipments and secure cargo space directly with airlines and ocean carriers, negotiating favorable rates.

Why Choose Penske Logistics?

  1. Industry-Leading Expertise: With extensive experience in the industry, Penske Logistics has built a reputation for excellence and accountability. Our team of experts understands the unique challenges of freight forwarding and leverages industry knowledge to deliver reliable solutions tailored to your specific needs.
  2. Global Reach: As a global provider and one of the world’s largest supply chain logistics companies, Penske Logistics has an extensive network of partners and agents worldwide. This allows us to offer seamless freight forwarding services around the globe to and from anywhere. No matter where your cargo needs to go, we have the connections to get it there efficiently and on time.
  3. Integrated Solutions: Every business is unique, so we offer fully integrated scalable solutions to meet your specific requirements. Our services include air, sea and land freight options, customs clearance, warehousing, distribution, and supply chain management. From start to finish, we have you covered.
  4. Cutting-Edge Technology: At Penske Logistics, we embrace the latest technologies to optimize our operations and provide real-time visibility into your shipments. Our advanced tracking and tracing tools allow you to monitor the progress of your cargo throughout the transportation process, ensuring transparency and peace of mind.

Our Freight Forwarding Services

  • International Shipping: We offer a range of international shipping options, including air, ocean, oversized and customs clearance services for your import and export shipments. Penske’s international freight forwarding services get your freight where it needs to be. If your business has products to deliver across the globe, Penske understands international freight and can offer multiple services to get your shipments to the right place on time.
  • Air Freight: Penske's air freight service offers door-to-door service coverage worldwide. We contract with major airlines and numerous specialized operators to create a valuable network that creates the best possible balance between cost-effectiveness and lead time. We recognize your shipments require dependable solutions that meet specific needs with a high degree of customer care and our longstanding carrier relationships ensure excellent quality, transparency and capacity.We offer consolidated and expedited air freight options, as well as air charter and hand carry solutions.

    Our air freight service provides global door-to-door service through:
    • A network comprised of contracts with major airlines, as well as many industry-specific operators
    • Dependable options that meet your specific needs with a high level of customer care that your shipments demand
    • Longstanding carrier relations that support high-quality transparency and capacity
  • Customs Management: Penske's Customs Clearance offering is a comprehensive logistics solution designed to streamline international shipping and trade compliance. The service helps businesses navigate the complex landscape of air and ocean transportation by managing all aspects of customs documentation, regulatory requirements and import/export procedures.

    Key components of the service include:
    • Detailed documentation preparation and submission
    • Tariff classification and duty calculation
    • Compliance with international trade regulations
    • Electronic filing and tracking of customs entries
    • Expertise in handling various types of shipments across different industries
    By leveraging advanced technology and a team of experienced customs specialists, Penske aims to reduce potential delays, minimize compliance risks, and ensure smooth international freight movement. Our customs clearance service is tailored to help businesses efficiently move goods across borders while maintaining full regulatory compliance. The offering is particularly valuable for companies engaged in global trade, providing a seamless, end-to-end solution that simplifies the complex process of international shipping and customs management.
  • Warehousing and Distribution: We provide secure warehousing facilities and distribution services to meet your storage and delivery needs. Our strategically located facilities have advanced warehouse management systems, allowing for efficient order fulfillment and on-time deliveries.
  • Supply Chain Optimization: Our supply chain management experts will collaborate with you to optimize your logistics processes, reduce costs and enhance overall efficiency. We analyze your supply chain from end to end, identifying areas for improvement and implementing innovative solutions to drive success.
  • Ocean freight FCL and LCL: Penske is licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an NVOCC to provide ocean transportation services. Penske offers multiple carrier options with differentiated and multi-tiered service levels catering to all types of cargo. Whether you are seeking an urgent need for speed or an option with greater emphasis on lower freight spend, our full-container load and less than container load options can meet your needs.

    Our less-than container load options feature a global network of scheduled consolidated ocean LCL services. This includes:
    • A focus on the least amount of physical handling designed to reduce the risk of damages and shortages
    • Market-leading transit time from origin to destination
    • Superior flexibility – no shipment is too small and no destination is too far away
    Penske Logistics LLC is a licensed NVOCC operating under FMC license 026184NF, Penske Logistics LLC is headquartered at 2675 Morgantown Road, Reading, PA 19607. For any information regarding our NVOCC services please contact premiumfreight@penske.com.
  • Visibility: Penske’s tools provide full visibility into your entire shipping activity and streamlines communication between stakeholders and Penske’s International Team. You can access all the critical information from a shipment with just a single click. Whether you’re seeking a simple update or a chance to get ahead of a potential problem, you’ll enjoy:
    • Powerful analytics to make better decisions
    • Near real-time information for better planning and superior agility
    • Personalized support every step of the way
  • You can also access a Command Center Dashboard that enables you to access the most important high-level information. You can:

    • View upcoming and active shipments
    • Understand recent activity
    • View invoices and keep an eye on your most improved shipments

    Additional tools include a shipment explorer that provides fast and easy visibility into all of your shipments – both past and present. You can take advantage of powerful filtering and sorting options to customize your view and access the information that you care about the most.

Near real-time load tracking and freight visibility ensure shippers know where their freight is at all times. However, providing visibility can be a challenge in freight brokerage. Brokers aggregate capacity from carriers of all sizes; those carriers operate different systems and have different tech-related capabilities.

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Freight brokers play a critical role in connecting shippers with available capacity, but finding the right freight broker can be challenging. Over a thousand brokers are in the market, ranging from multi-billion-dollar corporations to solo operators working from home. The right broker can create a competitive advantage, offering breadth and depth of service, optimized solutions and business insights.

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Technology can be a differentiator among freight brokers, and tech investments continue to advance. Brian Kenney, vice president of brokerage for Penske Logistics, said he is seeing an emphasis on technology that can improve automation, compliance and tracking. Advancements in those three areas can increase efficiency, streamline communication and ensure the secure movement of goods.

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Spot and contract freight play essential roles in the movement of goods, and both options offer different value propositions for shippers. Recently, freight market volatility has challenged both shippers and carriers with fluctuating demand, natural disasters, economic shifts and more, making it difficult to forecast costs accurately.

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The supply chain is increasingly complex and demanding, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution for moving freight. In today’s demanding freight environment, shippers are turning to a range of solutions to get the efficiency and agility they need at the optimal price point. Third-party solutions can complement shippers’ in-house capabilities or even other providers if companies source multiple partners.

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Effective supply chains require agility, and freight brokerage offers the flexibility shippers need as they respond to market changes, surges in demand, and planned or unplanned growth. Supplementing existing transportation modes or lanes is common for shippers, especially with the supply chain challenges we face today, and brokers can help find additional capacity when it’s needed.

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Freight brokerages like those operated by Penske Logistics can serve as strategic partners for shippers and carriers, matching available trucking capacity with freight. Shippers commonly utilize a mix of transportation options to fill capacity gaps and will work with brokers to aggregate capacity and access a larger pool of carriers. Penske Logistics brokerage solutions provide another option for shippers to secure capacity and move goods.

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The terms "freight broker" and "freight forwarder" are often used interchangeably when people are discussing the movement of goods. But there are concrete differences between the two that go beyond simple semantics. Keep reading for answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

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Freight forwarding – moving freight between international locations – has highly regulated legal and country-specific stipulations that must be managed appropriately to ensure the seamless movement of cargo.

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Many shippers have abandoned the strategy of focusing on asset-based carriers and are now loading their routing guides with brokers as the choice of record.

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Do you ship smaller loads that don't require an entire trailer? If so, it may be time to explore less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments. LTL combines smaller shipments into one trailer. That saves money, because shippers using LTL don't pay for empty trailer space. LTL shipments also can improve flexibility and efficiency.

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