On-demand rates offer vital value-add

AS THE international price of oil continues to escalate and fluctuating bunker adjustment factors are the order of the day, it’s often difficult for companies to provide pick-up rates on request. “In the highly competitive logistics industry a company has to be able to provide its customers with a comprehensive value-added service,” says Corinne French, MD of United Maritime Logistics. And for French this includes being able to provide competitive inland/pick-up rates in the US on demand. “With the bunker adjustment factor (BAF) continually fluctuating, it’s sometimes difficult for companies to provide rates on request. However, at UML we pride ourselves on being able to supply pricing on demand, without having to confer with our headquarters in Los Angeles.” Although these rates tend to be quite similar, variations between competing carriers do occur. And with an analyst from Goldman Sachs predicting that oil prices could rise to between US$150-US$200 a barrel within two years, being able to provide clients with immediate rates, regardless of these fluctuations, is an essential value-add. UML is the exclusive agent of US NVOCC and warehousing giant, Direct Container Line (DCL), specialising in full and part container loads from the US to South Africa. It offers a weekly direct service from New York to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg – with Cape Town being the first port of call from the USA.