All these metrics show how each of the carriers’ vessels perform on each of the major trade lanes.
One carrier is 62%. Another is 68%. Other claims to be the most reliable in the trade.
BUT WHO CARES? Here is the questions BCOs, importers and shippers are asking:
**Do metrics of a carrier’s own vessels really matter? Does carrier choice actually give me control over my transportation outcome?**
If I contracting and booking with Carrier A, but their container actually sails on a vessel operated by Carrier B under an alliance, VSA or slot charter, whose reliability am I actually getting? Half my containers with that Carrier A might actually be sailing on many vessels of other carriers!
· The logo on the bill of lading?
· The carrier owning the container?
· The carrier operating the vessel?
· Or the actual service carrying my freight?
These distinctions matter!
These many published industry reliability reports are built around vessel schedules, carriers, and trade lanes. They can tell us something about the market. But they do not tell us what happened to **my containers**.
And that is where this needs to change.
**Why aren't I getting reliability measurements based on my own containers?**
These are reliability questions!
There is another question shippers should be asking their carrier, forwarder or 4PL:
**Are you benchmarking my container-level performance against similar customers moving comparable freight in the same trade lanes?**
· Not a worldwide carrier average.
· Not an industry headline.
· My containers. My origins. My destinations. My services.
Then blend that data anonymously with comparable shipper movements and tell me where my performance is strong—and where I am accepting unnecessary risk.
Carrier reliability statistics MIGHT have value. But don't confuse **carrier schedule reliability** with **your logistics reliability**.
The BCO doesn't buy a statistic, > > > **We want a reliable outcome.**
In the end, BCOs need the tools and support to pull together their own carrier transport data and metrics and really measure performance. And the icing on the cake if any partner of their who can give them data blended with like shipping from other similar BCOs, anonymous information of course. This could give a heavy enough data quantity for truthful metrics.
#carrierrelibility #OceanMgmt #OriginMgmt #ITMS #oceanreliability
