Are the various pitfalls of "losing a bill of lading, going to court, and delaying ship...

Having been in international logistics for over 25 years, I've encountered almost every pitfall in the logistics field. It's precisely because we've encountered so many pitfalls that we have more industry experience than other freight forwarder China companies. Besides me, there's another key figure, Mr. Liu, whose story I'll share today.

Mr. Liu is in charge of delivery, so he has many firsthand logistics stories. In the freight forwarder China industry, countless nights and challenges have shaped Mr. Liu into a resilient figure.

I still vividly remember an incident from over a decade ago when we lost a bill of lading. One of our long-term clients from Lufeng trusted us because of our diligent work ethic as a freight forwarder China company, leading to years of cooperation. However, in one shipment, the bill of lading was lost in transit to the overseas client! The bill of lading is proof of ownership. Although the goods arrived at the port, the client couldn't prove ownership, which not only delayed the delivery but also risked the goods being claimed by someone else. This was a huge issue for all parties involved and was a first for our company, which had been in the freight forwarder China business for over a decade.

The client was very anxious, and we were also at a loss since it was our first encounter with such a situation. According to regulations, if a bill of lading is lost, a security deposit equivalent to the cargo value must be paid to the shipping company and held for three years. The deposit is only returned if no one else claims the goods during that period.

Mr. Liu had to step in to resolve the issue. As the go-to person in the freight forwarder China industry, he always has a solution. He first contacted the Lufeng client and the overseas client, personally explaining the situation to both parties to prevent panic. Then he contacted the shipping company, clarified the details, and after discussions, signed a guarantee agreement. Eventually, the goods were released in time, and the issue was resolved.

Another incident happened the year before last. As an established company in the freight forwarder China industry, we've encountered all kinds of situations. Sunny Worldwide Freight Forwarder China, with standardized warehouses at sea terminals, has signed contracts with three major international shipping companies and serves as vice president of 13 freight forwarding associations, showcasing our strong position in the foreign trade logistics industry. Hence, we have numerous clients. At the time, a client from Fujian had used our sea and air freight services, always paying freight on time. I felt our cooperation was smooth, so for one air freight shipment, I arranged the delivery without receiving the freight payment upfront. Unexpectedly, the client delayed payment indefinitely, citing financial difficulties, putting immense pressure on our sales staff as they were constantly urged by the finance and management teams. Emails to the client went unanswered.

The client later claimed the American client would pay the freight. We contacted the American client, explaining we were the freight forwarder China for the Fujian client, but the response was that the booking was between us and the shipper, not their responsibility. This stalemate lasted for half a year until we had to resort to legal action. As many know, this is a very complicated and tedious process. Mr. Liu personally managed it, finding a lawyer, preparing evidence, communicating with the client, and following up throughout the process. After a year of Mr. Liu's relentless efforts, we won the case, and the opposing party paid the freight. This incident is well-known among Shenzhen's freight forwarder China circles.

In our early days of exhibition logistics, being a new freight forwarder China in this area, we sometimes mishandled details, causing delays in customs clearance and delivery to clients. Clients were understandably furious. Smoothly handling these details to ensure a seamless process was urgent. Again, Mr. Liu personally managed each step, ensuring everything was smooth before handing it over to the sales team.

Mr. Liu is the stabilizing force for our freight forwarder China business, giving everyone peace of mind as long as he's around.