Approaching peak season with shipping rates at the higher end of the spectrum presents everyone in the industry with the same challenge. But some may be in a better position to make the necessary adjustments than others.
Clients of Bestway International are in a uniquely strong position because of the way Bestway is aligned with its carrier partners, bringing flexibility in pricing and scheduling that represents a distinct advantage for the shippers we serve.
Pricing manager Ethan Becker explains that Bestway’s owes its flexibility to the structure of its contracts.
“The reason it’s nice to work with Bestway in this type of market is that we do not hold massive ocean contracts that obligate us to meet a high minimum volume,” Becker said. “That means we don’t force our clients into booking on certain contracts that might be advantageous to us but less advantageous for them.”
Adding to Bestway’s strong positioning is our membership in the World Cargo Association, which is the world’s largest network of international logistics providers.
“Being in the WCA means that while we are not one of the big boys who has global offices all over the place, we are global and vetted, and we work with other global and vetted offices that are similar in size to us,” Becker said.
That allows Bestway to choose from the widest array of options that best suit the needs of our clients.
“Our account managers don’t have to follow a set process where we book with a certain carrier every single time,” Becker explained. “We’ll get rate tables and schedules from a wide variety of options, and we can pick the rate and schedule that best fits our clients’ requirements. If the need is hot, we might pay a higher rate for a faster vessel. If it’s not so hot, we might pay a lower rate.”
All of this serves as an important contrast to freight-forwarders who have massive contracts with one partner, and are obligated to book almost everything with that one partner in order to fulfill minimum requirements. Such obligations eliminate the flexibility that’s necessary to navigate through a season of overall high shipping rates.
Bestway CEO Jay Devers said the company embraces its positioning in the market precisely because it allows Bestway account managers to put forth the extra effort to help clients through challenging times.
“Our account managers are very dedicated professionals, and they are constantly looking for ways to get the best rates and the best schedules for our clients,” Devers said. “We owe it to them to maintain the flexibility that allows them to do their very best – and of course, we owe it to our clients as well.”
If you would like help navigating this peak season, contact us. We’re here for you.
