How to Successfully Manage Cross-Border Logistics
To successfully manage cross-border logistics, you must harness technology to alleviate the fears that come with cargo vehicles being “out of reach”. Knowing you have eyes on your assets is the best way to keep them safe, protect your drivers, and boost your insurance coverage.
It’s a daunting and stressful thing for fleet managers when their trucks are doing cross-border long-hauls. A feeling of no control can bear heavily on you when you’re the one who’s responsible for the truck, the cargo, and the driver. In addition to bad roads and driver fatigue risks, the Annual State of Cross-Border Operations Report of 2022 reports that border customs stops are a major challenge in cross-border logistics.
It’s an industry that certainly isn’t without its concerns, but Cartrack Namibia is here to walk you through the best ways to successfully manage these challenges without compromising on your profits or service delivery quotas. In fact, with our help you’ll almost certainly improve on them!
What obstacles stand in the way of successful cross-border logistics management?
The top obstacles that hinder successful management of cross-border logistics include customs & border patrol, driver fatigue & irresponsible driving, Namibia’s road conditions, and fleet managers resisting digital transformation. By overcoming these obstacles, fleets that deliver across the border will greatly improve their logistics management and set themselves up for quicker deliveries.
As we look at each of these more in-depth, pay close attention to how Cartrack Namibia has foreseen these obstacles and made accommodations for fleet managers like you.
Road conditions
While road repairs are in effect, they’re often few and far-between. Long-haul truck drivers and vans still have to navigate potholes and other road obstructions due to poor maintenance of our roads.
When roads ARE being repaired, this can also cause massive delays in even getting to the border. And once your drivers are there, new challenges arise when they’re faced with border officials and customs. (But more on that later)
The condition of Namibia’s roads is something your drivers have to deal with. But this still amounts to a great deal of stress for you as the fleet manager. You’re not there to keep an eye on things, which can leave you feeling a lack of control coupled with a lot of anxiety.
What should you do to successfully manage bad road conditions? When it comes to the safety of your drivers and your vehicles, there’s not much you can do about bad road conditions. But you CAN make sure you avoid them if possible, and you CAN collect evidence if an accident occurs due to bad road conditions.
How?
With Cartrack’s route optimisation, both broken roads and roadworks can be avoided by rerouting your drivers according to the best routes available. This is done on both the roads and the countries your vehicles traverse to & from their delivery points.
Cartrack Namibia also foresaw that bad roads can’t always be avoided. That’s why we worked hard to create high-quality dashcams and vehicle cameras to record instances where damaged roads caused an accident.
Customs and border patrol stops
The point of long border point delays was greatly emphasised in the report we linked to earlier. Some drivers have had to wait 12 hours or longer just to get past these points. And the worst part is… you’re not there to take control of the situation. Frustrating!
What should you do to manage border delays as a fleet manager? In the case of this very common cross-border logistics challenge, there are no guarantees. But there is a way you can greatly reduce delays and even minimise the times your drivers are delayed at the border.
- Digitising your admin is the first step to ensuring all your documentation is in place, correct, and accessible.
- Using Cartrack’s Mifleet to manage costs and keep track of your expenses is another great option to make sure your inventory & spending are accounted for.
- Compliance is also an important aspect of successfully navigating customs at the border. If there’s even one infraction on the vehicle or the driver’s record, this can cause hours of delay.
- Pre-clearance is possible through the NamRA e-filing portal. Getting this done before your drivers arrive at customs can save you, your customers, and your drivers a lot of hassle.
Lack of driver responsibility
We can’t completely exempt your drivers from the many causes of stress you experience as a cross-border fleet manager. There are many risks associated with long-haul drives, and driver fatigue is commonly understood as top-of-the-list.
How should you deal with bad driver behaviour and driver fatigue? This is one problem that Cartrack Namibia has spent much time solving. Check it out:
- Seat vibrators that alert drivers to signs of fatigue
- Combined AI cameras with a comprehensive driver coaching platform
- Loud buzzers that alert drivers to bad driving habits and fatigue
Much of our software options focus on driver coaching and driver safety.
Technology aversion
The last culprit who might be stressing you out is… YOU!
If you’re one of those fleet managers who thinks fleet technology is just a passing trend, THINK AGAIN!
It’s now an integral part of doing your job successfully—especially if you’re in cross-border logistics. Technology of different kinds (digital tools, IoTs, AI, SaaS, etc.) is discussed throughout this article, so be sure to explore the options discussed here if you’re REALLY interested in successful logistics.
How to manage risks associated with cross-border logistics
Camera telematics is one of the best ways to manage the risks associated with cross-border logistics. That’s because footage doesn’t lie. Whether there’s corruption taking place at the border points, or dangers of any kind while driving, vehicle cameras will pick up everything, giving you and the authorities access to invaluable evidence.
Why is this such an essential component to successfully managing your cross-border logistics? Let’s see.
Invest in an “extra pair of eyes”
You’re not there. You can’t be. Still, you need some record of events in case something goes wrong. This is essential risk management in cross-border logistics, which many fleet managers in SA still haven’t employed for the good of their companies.
Boost your insurance coverage
Insurance companies deal with claim disputes all the time. And you can believe that every insurance company LOVES it when your vehicles are fitted with vehicle security cameras. This resolves things very quickly when you put in a claim for damage, an accident, or even a false claim against your driver.
Manage the reality of driver fatigue
AI-vehicle cameras from Cartrack Namibia come with built-in AI that detects fatigue and other bad habits like eating & drinking, smoking, or distraction. Not only are the cameras keeping your vehicle safe, they’re also protecting your driver!
Manage theft risks
Cameras can also be set up to record suspicious activity while the vehicle is parked. They automatically start recording when there’s movement around the vehicle, and this footage is accessible to you—in real time. This includes what’s happening at the border. You get to see it all.
Cargo risk management
Let’s not forget about the cargo your vehicles are carrying. Cartrack offers cargo cameras and door sensors. The doors open, the cameras switch on. You’re always in the know about what’s going on with your cargo, and (if applicable) how often your cargo doors are being opened.
How should long-haul logistics companies deal with border-based customs?
When dealing with customs at the border, long-haul logistics companies should consider a few proactive strategies that include:
- Sorting out clearance ahead of time (pre-clearance)
- Keeping a digital archive of all relevant documents (and making these accessible to drivers when they need them)
- Having inventory declarations in check
- Keeping you updated so you can notify your customers of any delays
Find the right partner to help you manage cross-border logistics like a BOSS!
The above checklist is good to have, but do you have the tools to actually put any of them into practice?
Our software makes it easier. We also automate much of the tedious admin for you!
Contact Cartrack Namibia to see just how much we can help with your cross-border management, and how our tools end up saving you so much that they MORE than pay for themselves.
