OceanGuaranteed – a time-definite, less-than-container-load cargo service to the United States – introduced today, Jan. 17, four new origin ports in Asia, the first major expansion of the product since it was introduced last summer by APL Logistics and Con-way Freight.
Beginning this month, LCL customers can use OceanGuaranteed to ship from four ports in Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. The new origins, added to a service that already includes three ports in central and south China, will greatly expand options for shippers seeking port-to-door delivery to the United States, the companies say. In addition, the expanded service will retain its simplified per-kilo, zone-based pricing structure, so customers pay the same price from any of the seven origin ports.
“Expanded port coverage, same simple pricing structure – this proves our commitment to OceanGuaranteed and to customers who need reliability, time certainty and cost-effectiveness for their LCL cargo,” says Brian Lutt, president of Singapore-based APL Logistics.
“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,” says David McClimon, president of San Mateo, Calif.-based Con-way Freight. “OceanGuaranteed is their answer.”
APL Logistics and Con-way teamed up to introduce OceanGuaranteed in September 2006 as a premium ocean LCL/domestic U.S. LTL service providing day-definite delivery and fast transit times for Asia export cargoes. The program, intended as a cost-effective alternative to air freight, is designed to speed shipments from Asia to the United States, providing cycle time consistency and reliability with a money-back transit time guarantee.
The program was launched providing service from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen in China, to all continental U.S. destinations served by Con-way Freight. On Jan. 22, new service will commence from Kaoshiung, Taiwan and Yokohama, Japan. On Jan. 29, service will commence from Singapore and Busan, Korea.
OceanGuaranteed service features, according to the companies, include:
