Planning Delivery Schedules for Liquid Chemical Shipments
In liquid chemical transportation, a delivery schedule involves more than the distance between a tank container’s origin and destination. In an operation that combines road, rail and sea transport, the schedule of each transport leg affects the others. Cargo readiness, terminal acceptance and the consignee’s unloading appointment are all part of the same plan.
Therefore, the first question in intermodal chemical transportation should not simply be, “How many days will it take?” It is equally important to ask, “At which stage does the transit time begin, and at which delivery point is it considered complete?”
1. Distinguish Transit Time from Door-to-Door Delivery Time
The journey time of a train or vessel connection is not the same as the total door-to-door delivery time. Transportation from the origin facility to the terminal, terminal handling operations and the final leg from the destination terminal to the consignee must also be taken into account.
For example, a shipment’s arrival at the destination terminal does not mean it will be unloaded on the same day. The consignee’s operating hours or appointment requirements may differ. Clearly defining the start and end points of the delivery period in writing during quotation and operational discussions helps prevent conflicting expectations.
2. Consider Terminal Acceptance and Service Schedules Together
The time at which the cargo will be ready must be compatible with the terminal acceptance requirements of the selected connection. Knowing only the departure date is not enough; it is also important to determine when the equipment can be accepted at the terminal and when all required information must be available.
The guide published by ECTA, UIRR and ERFA on intermodal booking and terminal entry and exit processes addresses data quality, information timing and information-sharing methods as elements of capacity planning. [1] This is why changes to the shipment schedule must be communicated to the relevant parties promptly.
3. Plan Backwards from the Unloading Appointment
If the consignee requires acceptance on a specific date and at a specific time, transportation options should be evaluated against that target. There must be a feasible connection between the time the product becomes available for dispatch and the consignee’s receiving window.
Three dates can be tracked separately during planning discussions:
- The date and time when the product will be ready for loading.
- The estimated time of arrival (ETA) assessed by the operations team.
- The unloading appointment confirmed by the consignee.
Treating an estimated arrival time and a confirmed unloading appointment as the same piece of information can complicate communication, particularly when schedules change.
4. Define Who Needs to Be Notified When Plans Change
When a shipment schedule needs to be updated, communicating a new date alone may not be sufficient. The consignee’s receiving arrangements, the origin facility’s readiness and the relevant transport connections must be assessed together.
Using a common tracking terminology for milestones such as dispatch, terminal entry, main transport departure, arrival and final delivery is beneficial. ECTA’s work on transport visibility also focuses on standardised information sharing between logistics stakeholders. [2] The objective is to distinguish estimated timings from actual shipment status.
Can a Single Delivery Time Be Quoted for Every Route?
No. Even between the same countries, delivery times may vary depending on terminal selection, connection schedules and facility acceptance requirements. Rather than committing to a fixed number of days, it is more practical to discuss the assumptions applicable to the specific shipment and identify the stages that still require confirmation.
This article does not constitute a delivery time commitment for any specific route.
Discuss Your Shipment Schedule with TetGlobal
TetGlobal’s intermodal transportation solutions cover the coordinated planning of multiple transport modes for liquid chemical cargo. Share your loading date, destination and the consignee’s receiving window to discuss the options suitable for your shipment.
