Enhanced control with our first container freight station
By Matt Virgilio
In our everlasting pursuit to develop innovative solutions which enhance our ability to service our customers and patients in need of treatment, World Courier is excited to announce the launch of its newest solution, a Container Freight Station (CFS). Earlier this month, we opened our first CFS at our New Hyde Park station in New York. This new solution is designed to offer an enhanced way of working through technology and process improvements.
What is a CFS?
A CFS, similar to a bonded warehouse (a customs-controlled warehouse for the retention of imported goods until the duty owed is paid), allows for freight to be stored within our owned facility while awaiting clearance from customs. Previously, all shipments were required to be stored with the airline while it awaited customs clearance. By implementing this new solution and receiving approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, we now have the ability to further enhance our temperature control management.
How does a CFS impact the way we operate? Let’s use a temperature-controlled shipment as our example. Currently, if we have a shipment which has not yet been cleared by customs, the shipment is stored at the airline, and it is World Courier’s responsibility to maintain its proper storage. Now, freight will be stored within the walls of a World Courier facility, making it easier for us to ensure the shipment’s safe and proper storage while we await customs clearance.
With greater control over the storage, we can monitor factors such as temperature and humidity in real time, reducing the response time should any irregularities or deviations be detected, preserving product integrity. This facility containing the CFS has also been equipped with a state-of-the-art ventilation system to expel CO2 caused by dry-ice dissipation and thus improve overall safety for on-site team members.
Getting treatments quicker to patients
This new station grants us time savings and expedited shipping windows. Gone are the days of waiting for a shipment to receive customs clearance before we can pick it up for processing. Now, shipments can be delivered right to our facility, immediately following their arrival at their destination. This equates to shorter transit times because once a shipment is released by customs, it can then be immediately transferred to the export processing team for shorter processing time. This offers significant benefits for our customers and patients, who can receive their shipments and therapies faster.
What’s next?
The new CFS is planned to be launched as part of a phased rollout across World Courier stations to minimize any impact to team members and our customers. With plans to launch this new solution across more stations, we intend to use this pilot phase as an opportunity to ensure it is operating with optimal efficiency before launching it globally.
