Agility expands cross-border trucking service

Logistics provider Agility is expanding its Southeast Asian cross border trucking operations as demand grows for road services to connect countries across the region and into China.


Agility’s integrated trucking network provides shippers with an option to truck directly to several major cities in Southeast Asia and China as well as direct connections to major airports and ports in the region. The service provides a time and cost-effective alternative to air and sea freight. The flexibility offered opens new transport routes and enables the combination of land, air and sea for the transportation of raw materials and finished goods.


Agility has long established cross border links between Vietnam and South West China and now the network is expanding to the rest of the country. Regular services connect Vietnam and Cambodia with Malaysia, Singapore, Laos and Thailand and provide shippers with a cost effective alternative to air freight with savings of 30 to 40 percent.


“Our experience working with customs authorities across the region helps us significantly reduce transit times,” said Mike Gildea, Agility’s chief executive officer of South East Asia. “Transit times of 20 hours from the Vietnam-China border to Hong Kong and 40 hours to Shanghai are proving attractive to many shippers of hi-value added goods. Such routings offer road-sea and road-air alternatives that offer both time and cost efficiencies.”


An added benefit to customers utilizing this expanded cross border trucking service is the ability to lower their environmental impact as the level of CO2 emissions from trucking is considerably lower than other forms of transportation.


Agility has also been working with authorities in South East Asia to improve border administration and accelerate Customs clearance, while improving security through a reduction in trans-loading, and will continue to drive continued improvements in these areas.


Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing expansion in Vietnam, Agility recently opened a branch office in Vung Tau and relocated its Hanoi office to a new, larger facility.


The new Hanoi office is strategically located with direct access to the city’s business and commercial districts. In this location, Agility offers customers a complete range of services including airfreight import, export and transit services, comprehensive customs services and cross border transportation to support the hi-tech, retail and apparel sectors. Agility's specialised solutions for fairs and events and project logistics will also operate out of this new office location.


The new, larger office space will accommodate the recent increase in employees that were hired due to rising customer demand and expansion of business in this area.


At the new Agility office in Vung Tau, customers can access a wide-range of logistics services catering to the specific needs of retail, hi-tech and oil and gas markets. The main focus will be on logistics support to the oil and gas industry via trade lane management, customs clearance charters, material management, export compliance analysis, rig management and other related supply chain management solutions.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)