European Logistics
‘FREE’ EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION AND CUSTOMS CLEARANCES FOR UK AND EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS
Expert European Logistics Solutions for Your Business
No matter the size of your organisation, or where you fall within the European transport sector, understanding the complexities of European logistics and European transport is vitally important. Having a strong, experienced and mature logistics partner are both essential for the on time and cost-effective movement of goods across Europe.
BREXIT AND EUROPEAN LOGISTICS
Brexit blew a hole in the simple movement of goods across the EU. With the UK no longer a part of it, we all now have to comply with different regulations when importing and exporting goods. Add to this the economic and accessibility effects of isolating Russia from international trade, because of the situation with the Ukraine, all customers have a greater need for experienced partners like AMCO to navigate them through the complex landscape of European logistics.
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European logistics is a part of everyday trade for many UK based customers and the impact of Brexit on the supply chain and the cost of logistics of businesses right across the UK is significant.
There is no doubt that the cost of importing and exporting across the UK, to the EU is significantly higher; which another reason to partner with an experienced expert in European logistics.
The exit of the UK from the EU meant that customs duties and tariffs are now imposed on imports and exports. These tariffs have led to a direct impact in the increase of the cost of the goods being transported across the border.
Higher cost to the supply chain is a resultant factor which businesses must pass on. These increased costs to customers in turn results in the higher retail prices we are experiencing today.
Customs and border checks also have an impact on the supply chain and logistics costs. More paperwork is required for customs clearances and in many cases longer wait times for goods crossing the UK EU border.
Recent changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol with the phased introduction of the Windsor Framework will help GB-NI trade enormously; This framework is designed to reduce the number of checks required and will use two lanes for goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
When you sum all of this up and dial in the availability of experienced staff, increased recruitment, costs, and a reduction in available HGV drivers, the need for investment in additional technology and systems to manage customs procedures and more, it all adds up to what could be seen as a gloomy story for European logistics.
So free trade from the UK and the EU is dead.
In 2022, we exported over £340 billion worth of goods and services to the EU. This represented 42% of total UK exports.
However, in the same period, we imported £432 billion from the EU. This represents 48% of total UK imports. That amounts to a trade deficit of £92 billion which is in comparison to a £5 billion surplus with non-EU countries.
SO WHERE DO AMCO FIT WITH EUROPEAN LOGISTICS?
Despite these challenges Brexit presents an opportunity for growth for logistics providers and customers. The demand for logistics services is on the increase as our customers look to establish new supply chains, partners and methods of EU Logistics and Distribution.
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AMCO have a comprehensive range of European Logistics services and solutions to combat the gloom and turmoil that Brexit has caused.
Let us explore and understand the AMCO European Logistics Proposition. (ELP).
There is no aspect of moving goods from the UK into Europe that AMCO do not comprehensively, understand and provide solutions for.
With every part of our European Logistics serviceS we are offering added value in terms of cost, savings, efficiencies, and better methodologies.
NOTHING IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL OR TOO FAR FOR AMCO.
The top line is that we can offer European logistics solutions for any type of transport and any type of goods.
Road freight, air, sea, rail and multimodal, time critical, out of gauge, final mile and everything in between.
AMCO provide road freight transport for FCL (Full Container Loads) and (Less than Container Loads). And FTL (Full Truckload) and LTL (Less than Truckload), where a container isn’t suitable. Ie a curtain sided truck.
Milk Runs and Groupage into Europe are an everyday occurrence for the AMCO Transport fleet.
European Groupage
Groupage is the same as LCL (Less than Container Load). Transporting a shipment with other goods in the container is referred to as LCL. That means that multiple LCL shipments with different Bills of Lading and different owners can be loaded in a single container. Any space used in the container is subject to a charge.
European Milk Run
Our AMCO Milk Run services is best explained where one of our fleet vehicles picks up and / or drops off goods along a regular fixed route and usually on a regular basis. The term comes from the days when a milkman would deliver milk bottles along a set route and collect the empty bottles from stops on the run.
For example, we have an automobile manufacturer for whom we collect components from several EU manufacturers on a predetermined route and deliver to Mitra in Slovakia on a scheduled basis.
DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTICS IN EUROPE
Once our customers goods are over the water, there are plenty of options for European logistics services going forward.
Starting with customs clearances
No decision about onward movement of goods can be made until the goods are customs cleared.
For clarity, customs clearance is the mandatory process that all goods entering or leaving the UK have to go through.
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AMCO are a specialist customs agent with over 40 years in freight forwarding and logistics. Our International and European teams are here to assist you with every step of the export customs clearance process.
We can help with everything from GB and XI EORI numbers (although this may change under the new Windsor framework), to duties, rules and restrictions for your goods in any EU destination country and Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland protocol and the new Windsor framework are still far from straightforward. Our VAT and customs team have in-depth experience with Northern Ireland trade, both with established businesses and those selling into the province, and we can advise on the best way forward for you and your goods.
We can manage everything you need to prepare for the UK border. We can follow the rules and procedures and have the correct documentation ready to successfully move your goods in and out of the UK.
We can get your EORI number, we already hold approved exporter status and we will check if there are any special rules or to get an export license, check Incoterms, make a customs declaration and advise on what is required to transport your goods out of the UK, as well as checking for sanctions and restrictions.
The European AMCO Transport Fleet
AMCO can move goods from any UK location into any part of the EU. Under normal logistics services we can use road freight and harness the scale and diversity in vehicle types of our own fleet. We have made a significant investment into our UK in European transport fleet to meet customer demands and the changes in market conditions.
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AMCO are focused on reducing our own carbon footprint as we acknowledge the damaging effects it has on people, animals, local vegetation and the environment. We also want to stay ahead of the curve in helping to meet the UK’s 2050 emissions targets.
We currently have a roadmap and focus for sustainable transport for the future and already have environmentally friendly solutions in place with fleet upgrades using solar mats and solar technology as well as electric vehicles.
We have a wide range of tractor units and trailers including mega trailers. We recently added 16 new DAF XF 44T trucks to the fleet to compliment the existing van and truck fleet that comprises of small vans, low loaders, flatbed trucks, container and curtain sided trailers and for out of gauge we can custom supply vehicles depending on the specific requirement.
Our fleet is national, and we have additional fleets in Europe. All our vehicles are equipped with modern and sophisticated end to end shipment tracking technology so you can monitor your goods at every and any stage of its journey.
Amco have three key locations in Europe providing transport and bonded warehousing for automotive and manufacturing sectors.
Am-Trans (AMCO Poland) is our European transport and support hub servicing existing and new Eastern European customers. Based in Wroclaw, Am-Trans specialise in time critical services, collections, groupage (LTT/LCL) and full loads.
From Wroclaw, the largest city in western Poland we have excellent transport links North, South, West and East of the EU. Our European transport fleet comprises of rigid and curtain sided vans and mega trailers including sleepers.
Our Polish team work alongside our Hungarian hub providing groupage services across the whole of Eastern Europe.
EUROPEAN EXPORTS INTO AMCO FRANCE FOR FREE CIRCULATION FROM BONDED FACILITES
As a European starting point having a bonded warehouse and distribution centre with customs clearance expertise in Dunkirk makes sense. AMCO has 30,000 sq ft, features state of the art management systems and benefits from exceptional travel networks, whilst handling non-perishable and perishable stock with access to chilled storage and distribution.
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From our AMCO Dunkirk facility we can move export goods under bond from anywhere in the UK to France and then once cleared in France, move the goods onwards into the EU released for free distribution.
AMCO Destock as the importer, ensures all the applicable supporting customs documentation is in order, after making sure there are no restrictions and prohibitions concerning the goods in the shipment, which can be mixed and the Customs Authority then releases the goods into free circulation.
The purpose of the release for free circulation is to fulfil all import formalities so that the goods can be sold into the EU market like any product made in the EU. Release for free circulation thus confers on non-EU goods the status of EU goods.
AMCO AND TRANSPORTING DANGEROUS GOODS IN EUROPE
In the UK if you move or ship dangerous goods by any mode of transport, air, sea, road, rail or inland waterway; then those goods must be packed and transported according to international guidelines.
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The carriage of dangerous goods is regulated internationally by European agreements, directives and regulations and parallel legislation in the UK.
AMCO have extensive experience in handling of some of the most complicated multi-hazard shipments known, and adhering to strict industry standards comes as second-nature for us at AMCO.
We have specialist knowledge of all dangerous goods classifications, experience in the European transport of a wide variety of dangerous goods, necessary accreditations, in-house expertise and a trusted overseas network. All packaged up together, AMCO offer a comprehensive and safe European dangerous goods service at competitive rates.
AMCO AND IATA
The movement of dangerous goods is regulated and administered by a number of national and international regimes. The mishandling of dangerous goods can present a serious hazard to human health and safety, the mode of transport in which the goods are being moved and wider infrastructure. It is imperative dangerous goods are properly controlled, something AMCO take very seriously.
We’re IATA accredited for cargo, meaning AMCO are an IATA Cargo Agent and we provide our customers with extensive cargo capacity and availability by means of air transportation.
IATA is present in approximately 60 countries around the world and comprises of 260 member airlines. Through AMCO’s IATA accreditation, customers have access to those airlines and destinations, ensuring dangerous goods are handled safely and compliantly in the skies.
Being IATA accredited means we are recognised by airlines and professionally and financially competent and we are part of a worldwide distribution network of airfreight forwarders.
European Airfreight
In addition to our AMCO road freight services into Europe, we offer time critical services by road and air, airfreight, air charter.
Time critical and hand carry services all backed up by our multilingual international and European teams and specialist department for customs clearances.
We speak 15 languages in-house, an important factor when it comes to negotiating customs clearances, getting the best rates and understanding and communicating ‘locally’ in any given situation.
MANAGING EUROPEAN FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS
At the heart of everything we do in European Transport and Logistics is our Transport Management System (TMS)
Our Transport Management System (TMS) is a logistics software platform that uses technology to help us plan routes and to optimise the physical movement of goods and vehicles both incoming and outgoing. Our TMS makes sure the shipment is compliant and that documentation is in order and in place.
Our AMCO TMS provides visibility minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day, our transportation operations, trade compliance information and documentation, ensuring the timely delivery of frieght, shipments and goods.
Our TMS is a key part of our logistics process, making it simple and clear for us to manage and optimise transport operations across land, sea and rail.
Logistics For Your World
AMCO are here to help