Container transports: efficient management of your container transports
Container transport demands the utmost precision whilst under constant time pressure. Numerous processes must be precisely coordinated between port terminals, customs offices, veterinary authorities and railway stations to avoid delays and unnecessary costs. Even incorrectly recorded container numbers, missing status information in the customs process or missed slots can bring the entire transport chain to a standstill.
At a glance:
The transport management system (TMS) CarLo helps container forwarders to digitise processes, automatically validate loading units, monitor deadlines in real time, and map all relevant stopovers centrally within daily planning.
CarLo features:
Smart workflows for your container logistics and terminal transports
Container transports are characterised by tight time slots, complex process chains and numerous stages involved. CarLo supports container forwarders to centrally manage these processes, reduce manual tasks and avoid operational risks at an early stage–from order entry to the successful return of the container.
Error-free order entry & digital process automation
- Automatic order entry: Automate the entry of transport orders using AI-powered text recognition, significantly reducing the need for manual input.
- Automatic container number verification: Validate container numbers against international ISO standards directly during order entry to avoid costly errors.
- Port & terminal interfaces: Exchange container registration and status data digitally with connected port and terminal systems to reduce manual processing and ensure a continuous flow of information.
Proactive management of transport planning & keeping track of deadlines
- Early warning notifications for deviations: Intelligent alerts notify your dispatch team in good time of critical deviations, allowing them to react and reschedule at an early stage.
- Empty container return planning:
Empty container pickup and return depots can be included directly in transport planning and seamlessly integrated into the transport process.
Creating transparency for customers, drivers and dispatchers
- End-to-end real-time track & trace: The location, order progress and latest status updates of the truck carrying the container can be tracked in real time throughout the transport.
- Central access to all transport documents: Customs documents, releases, terminal receipts and other transport-related documents are stored centrally with the order and are quickly accessible at any time.
- Maximum transparency across the transport chain: By consolidating all relevant information in one central place, you reduce search efforts, accelerate internal processes and ensure transparent communication for all parties involved
Case study
How Bruhn Spedition GmbH manages its container transports with CarLo
Bruhn Spedition GmbH operates FCL, LCL, FTL and LTL transports through its locations in Lübeck, Antwerp, Helsinki and Landskrona. It uses around 3,500 of its own containers as well as shipping line containers. For dry bulk and liquid bulk transports, the company relies almost exclusively on its own equipment.
CarLo supports the entire transport journey:
- End-to-end transport planning: Bruhn uses CarLo to plan its predominantly intermodal transports within Europe. Planning and bookings with hauliers, rail operators and shipping lines are handled by email from CarLo or, preferably, via interfaces.
- Container locations at a glance: Tailored workflows support automatic location updates for Bruhn’s own containers. Dispatchers can view their current locations and planned movements. In stock/delivery operations, containers remain at the destination seaport until the customer requests delivery; workflows link the stock and delivery orders.
- Targeted container cleaning: Workflows identify each container’s previous cargo and store this information in the database so that the necessary cleaning can be planned and commissioned.
- General cargo consolidation: For packaged goods, Bruhn uses its own trailers and containers as well as shipping line containers. At its own 10,000 m² warehouse in Lübeck, collected shipments are unloaded and grouped by European destination region. CarLo’s groupage manifest allows shipments to be consolidated into a single container or trailer, which is then shipped as a complete unit by sea.
- Comprehensive transport billing: CarLo handles billing for all transports. Stored rates account for different terms for customers and subcontractors, including container types and postcode areas.
Book a presentation appointment.
Our TMS CarLo is used everywhere–in medium-sized companies, global corporations, forwarding companies and in the shipping industry–for global multimodal transports as well as for national orders and local transport.