DHL seeks to improve US-Mexico cross-border shipping
DHL has launched Logistics Without Borders, a new service to help companies shipping goods across the US-Mexico border. The service offers access to a range of tools, expertise and services to simplify the process for shipments to reach their destinations securely and on time, the company said.
As well as customs brokerage and bonded warehousing, suppliers, carriers and end users will also have transport management, document management and supply analysis and design services available.
DHL said it put together expertise from both its Global Forwarding and Supply Chain divisions to establish the new service.
The US is Mexico’s largest trading partner, while Mexico is America’s third largest trading partner after Canada and China.
DHL said moving supplies and finished goods across the border comes with a number of challenges, including security, customs compliance and border congestion. The new Logistics Without Borders service aims to alleviate many of the difficulties.
Luis A. Coppel, regional vice president of the southern border and a licensed customs broker for DHL Global Forwarding, explained: “We looked at the pain points companies experience in crossing the border and systematically solved each one.”
Coppel explained that a big headache for customers is receiving accurate and timely information on shipment movements, and that as a result DHL developed an online system to provide real-time data for US-Mexico border customers.
He said: “The system includes modules for cross docking, warehousing, vendor-managed inventory, distribution and Mexican customs brokerage – all with industry-leading reporting and visibility capabilities.”
DHL said its Logistics Without Borders network aims to provide a single chain of custody for shipments through its integrated technology platform, ensuring complete bi-lingual visibility for every item in the supply chain.
This would allow greater shipment reliability and allow for a more efficient supply chain, supporting lean manufacturing processes and just-in-time organization, it suggested.
Through the service, customers have access to DHL customs and supply chain experts through its dedicated competency centres, to help cut out administrative burdens and avoid penalties, fines or loss of permits, as well as bottlenecks.
Gary Allen, vice president of product development and innovation for DHL’s Supply Chain division in the Americas, including Exel in the United States and Canada, said the key to making the system work was his company’s experience.
“Unlike most brokers at the border, we have the expertise to address industry-specific concerns. And we have an exceptional record of error-free crossings,” he said.
