Newsletters

THE COOP QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 2021

CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR

Thanks for putting your trust in our network, hoping to serve you better in this new year!

Message from the President

Dear members,

Season’s Greetings and a very Happy New Year to all of you! Welcome to the December edition of The Coop’s quarterly newsletters! I would like to start by thanking all of you who have contributed to the success of our 2nd Virtual Meeting. Thanks to our efforts, our cloud event registered a record attendance in 2021. As for those agents who couldn’t make it to the online conference, we are looking forward to meeting you face-to-face during our upcoming Annual Meeting.

Our December Newsletter comes with a special post about the performance of our network in 2021. Here you will get to read about the achievements of our team in the last year. As always, this newsletter will also update all you with all the latest news from your network partners.

Our industry news in focus is about the latest endeavours of autonomous delivery vehicle manufacturer Nuro. In addition, there are several snippets that will inform you about the latest goings-on in the freight forwarding sector. Lastly, there is a thoroughly engaging post about the logistics trends that will dominate the market in 2022. Check out to keep tabs on the upcoming market trends of this sector.

I would like to congratulate you once again for keeping your faith in the spirit of teamwork. Together we have successfully overcome some of the most challenging times for our sector. So, remember that reciprocity is the core of our network and the most important mantra for expanding the outreach of independent freight forwarders!

Finally, do not forget to send us the latest news from your end so that we can publish it on our website and our next newsletter. It will help to increase the visibility of your company and popularize it even beyond the ambit of our network.

Happy reading!

Kind regards,

Antonio Torres President and Founder

THE COOP’S PERFORMANCE IN 2021

IT’S BEEN A WORTHWHILE YEAR!

Let’s do a quick recap of all the significant achievements of the network in 2021

A SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL MEETING WITH RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE

This year The Coop achieved record attendance with over 140 members participating in the meeting via almost 5,000 one-to-one videoconferences. Additionally, all the delegates attested to the efficacy of our tailor-made meeting platform that allowed for an uninterrupted remote networking experience. The Virtual Meeting promoted productive business discussions and allowed the members to showcase their expertise, obtain new projects, and forge long-term partnerships during these uncertain times.

To quote Tony Fordham, a Coop member from Atlanta, USA, “The meeting platform was head and shoulders above any other platform I have used. The best part of the event was the one-to-one meetings and seeing our partners once again. Overall, the event was perfect.”

NEW UPDATES TO FREIGHTVIEWER

Two years back, we launched our member-exclusive online quote generation platform that allows our agents to send accurate quotes almost instantly. Ever since then The Coop’s FreightViewer department has been brainstorming to add new features and enhance the utilities of this platform.
Since the pandemic hit us, the freight forwarding sector has undergone a major shift. The industry has finally realized the importance of end-to-end connectivity and we are also taking steps towards this objective.
Our constant partnerships with the top tech companies are allowing members to keep pace with the digitization endeavours of this sector. Our recent partnership with BlueX Trade has enabled enhanced connectivity between forwarders and carriers. Additionally, we added a new tool to FreightViewer that allows members to exchange information not only with network members but also with external partners. The quote request comes in the form of an interactive quotation link that can be filled up by the recipient.

A REFURBISHED MEMBERS AREA

We have redesigned the format of our Members Area to transform it into a more convenient space for the agents. The changes will enhance traceability and make for easier use of the intranet. The new design allows the agents to quickly access all the important tools like FreightViewer or the Network Directory. Additionally, we have added a new section that is entirely dedicated to the newest members and there is another new section for The Coop’s member news.

ONLINE WELCOME TOUR FOR NEW MEMBERS

The Coop team is now greeting new members with a personalized Online Welcome Tour that acquaints them with all the features, procedures and perks of our network. This new feature will make sure that the new agents are fully integrated with the network right from day one.

REINFORCED MARKETING DEPARTMENT WITH NEW INNOVATIVE SEO TACTICS

This year our Marketing Team is implementing new SEO tactics that are helping to enhance the visibility of our network as well as our members. SEO optimization greatly augments the visibility of our network as well as our members’ companies. For example, our SEO-optimized Members’ News makes them rank higher on Google search and enhances the visibility of the members.

MEMBERS NEWS

Macsons Shipping brings in a vessel with highest parcel size ever to be handled in the history of Tuticorin Port
Read more

Shenzhen Yee Zhan Yuan has changed their company's name to CIMC ANDA Shun International Logistics
Read more

Talwin Transport Service celebrates 25 years in business
Read more

ABOUT THE COOP'S 2ND VIRTUAL MEETING

Express Air Freight, Headway, Infinity Shipping Services, Kopf + Lubben Cargo Services, Movers International and The Solution, sponsor The Coop’s 2nd Virtual Meeting
Read more

The Cooperative Logistics Network’s 2nd Virtual Meeting concludes successfully with a record number of attendees
Read more

Several leading transportation and logistics websites publish the news of The Coop’s 2nd Virtual Meeting
Read more

REPORT

LOGISTICS TRENDS: A REPORT TO REVIEW THE CONTAINER SHIPPING SITUATION IN MAJOR INTERNATIONAL PORTS

As we reach 2022, the time is now to look back at the international container shipping trends in the last year.

Here is a special report about the Container Index Availability (CAx) at all the major global ports, compiled by our partner Container xChange– the leading marketplace for container trading and leasing. According to Johannes Schlingmeier, the Container xChange Co-founder, "Over the last two quarters, the industry has faced skyrocketing container prices. However, these increases first leveled off and have now started gradually decreasing. It seems, what we’re seeing now, is a turning point."

Read the report

INTERVIEW

ANIBAL DEL DIEGO

THE COOP’S MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Anibal’s primary task consists of researching and recruiting the most competent freight forwarders for membership in The Cooperative. Additionally, he plays a vital role in seeking out new sales opportunities and selecting and engaging reliable members.

Before The Coop, he spent many years in the Sales and Customer Service department of a few multinational companies. Moreover, Anibal’s skills in interpersonal communications lends a positive, confident and determined approach to customer relationship management.

Read the full interview

LOGISTICS NEWS

Autonomous delivery vehicle manufacturer Nuro raises considerable investments from Google and Kroger

The recent investments will augment Nuro’s efforts towards offering retailers with self- driving vehicles to move e-commerce orders to the clients’ doorsteps

Nuro – a leading manufacturer of self-driving vehicles, has brought around $600 million from investors including Google, and American retail company Kroger. They have gone into a 5-year collaboration with Google Could. Nuro will be making use of the storage and computing capacity of Google to improve the development of its autonomous cars. The recent investments have come at a time when Nuro was focusing on creating a solid driverless delivery strategy to help retailers and e-commerce companies.

In the words of Dave Ferguson, the President of Nuro, "We believe this investment will allow us to accelerate our commercialization strategy and better everyday life with Nuro’s technology."

Kroger's partnership with Nuro started back in 2018 since when they have been exploring the prospect of grocery delivery via self-driving vehicles. Kroger and Nuro have successfully completed thousands of deliveries and created sustainable solutions and great customer experiences. Additionally, Nuro has recently announced its plan for a multi-year partnership with FedEx. All the above endeavours make it clear that the logistics sector is taking the possibility of self-driving cars very seriously and it could be an everyday reality in the near future.

MORE LOGISTIC NEWS AT A GLANCE

Britain’s largest port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP) makes over 1000 acres of land available over 14 strategic sites

According to the CEO of ABP, “This initiative will enable a growing number of businesses to leverage our land, property partnering expertise, and power capacity. We believe this can make a significant contribution to the country’s economic vibrancy and supply chain efficiency."

There is a great emphasis on the timely return of empty containers to resolve the congestion at the Los Angeles Port

Private stakeholders of the LA Port are working on easing the number of empty containers to speed up the shipping operations while all shipping lines and terminals have been asked to accept as many empty containers as possible.

French transportation and logistics multinational - Geodis - is now expanding its e-commerce operations in Belgium

Their new office within the Liege airport and new sorting centre in Schoten close to Antwerp will “facilitate the expansion of one of its international e-commerce customers into the Belgian Market.”

DHL Express invests over $78 million for the expansion and development of Miami Airport

According to the DHL CEO in the USA, “This is part of our continual drive to expand, and improve our infrastructure, modernize and grow our air fleets and establish new routes.”

Flooding in the Vancouver Port could create a supply chain crisis

All rail services connecting the Port of Vancouver were halted due to the massive flooding in the Canadian city.

SPECIAL

LOGISTICS TRENDS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2022

Following the unprecedented challenges faced by our industry in the last year, the transportation and logistics sector is now bracing up to adapt to the various logistics trends in 2022. In this post, we will briefly guide you through the major logistical developments and innovations for this year that will help you keep a pulse on the market trends.

1. The use of Digital Twins

   Digital Twins is the latest industry fad that helps companies to leverage AI and advanced analytics and aggregate information across multiple sources. IBM defines the Digital Twin technology as “A virtual representation of an object or system that spans its lifecycle, is updated from real-time data, and uses simulation, machine learning and reasoning to help decision making.”

   When applied to the logistics industry this technology will be capable of creating virtual replicas of warehouses, distribution centres, containers, packaging, individual parcels, and even the entire supply chain. Simply put, it will allow companies to better identify the supply chain issues, predict market volatility and optimize their logistical planning.

2. Increased use of cloud-based TMS

   TMS or Transport Management Systems are now being moved to the cloud for greater efficiency. A large number of logistics firms are either moving their TMS to the cloud for creating cloud-based TMSs. The cloud-based TMS allows for seamless automation of manual tasks, streamlines work processes, and reduces additional expenditure on IT infrastructure.

   Moreover, they also collate data from several internal and external sources making way for better visibility. Lastly, cloud-based TMSs can be accessed from anywhere in the world and are comparatively easier to implement and update.

3. Increased use of autonomous vehicles

   The use of autonomous vehicles will become all the more pronounced in 2022. The use of self- driving trucks will greatly reduce operational costs, and even fuel consumption and provide an increased profit margin. In several states of the USA, autonomous trucks have already been used to deliver cargo to their designated destinations. Additionally, the considerable investments from some of the big players like UPS and DHL have made it abundantly clear that drones driverless trucks will become the future of parcel deliveries.

4. Sustainability will come up as a key focus of our industry

   These days the environmental impact of your logistical services goes a long way in impacting the purchasing decision of your customers. This trend is all the more pronounced in the retail sector.

   In a time when global warming and corporate accountability have become the topic of countless debates, several companies are making use of innovative logistics technologies that boost fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions.

   In other words, sustainable aviation fuel, electric delivery vehicles, LNG powered ships will gradually be in demand.

5. Last-mile delivery will play a very important role

   There will be an increase in the number of companies solely dedicated to last-mile logistics. A large number of entrepreneurs are now focussing on delivering parcels locally to cope with the e-commerce boom. Last-mile logistics will play a key role in offering customers a more personalized delivery experience. Rather than using multinational couriers like UPS or DHL, the e-commerce companies are now relying on local last-mile solution providers that can deliver items from the distribution centres to the end customers.

LET'S KEEP GROWING

The Coop is currently covering 134 countries represented by 317 freight forwarders around the world.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL A FEW CITIES IN NEED OF COVERAGE!

Take a look at the cities needing coverage and tell your friends in the industry about the advantages of becoming a Coop member. If the agent you are referring to eventually becomes a part of our network then you will get a 25% discount on your upcoming annual membership fee.

If you refer more than one agent who successfully becomes a part of our network then you stand a chance to get a maximum of four discounts every year which means that your membership fee could be just 0 for the coming year!

Make sure to spread the word about our network and send us referrals of eligible and reliable freight forwarders!

Examples of cities needing coverage

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

You can check all the public holidays and details on www.officeholidays.com

THE COOP BIRTHDAYS

ENDORSED MEETINGS

The Cooperative Logistics Network is collaborating with many industry events and members can enjoy exclusive discounts.

Check the list of events