Drayage for Wine & Spirits
Internationally shipped goods are some of the most profitable products in today’s world. However, they aren’t very useful if they can’t get to the consumers. In the post-covid world, shipping chains have been destroyed at every turn. This in turn creates more costs, and consumers are paying the price. Saving costs at every turn benefits every business, and helps their products stand out from the rest. Drayage provides the necessary service of transporting ocean shipping containers to more suitable locations for unloading or loading, then returning them to the shipping yards at ports. There are several rules that apply to drayage for different products, including drayage for alcohol.
Shipping Alcohol
Whether alcohol is being shipped across a state or across the world, it has to be properly packaged and processed. Wine logistics do differ from spirits logistics, but many of the basic rules apply to both. Most wines and spirits are shipped in large glass containers. While glass is protective and preserves the alcohol, it is also fragile under pressure and has to be carefully shipped. It is also hazardous if broken during the shipping process and can cause serious injury to handlers and even to the shipping equipment. Alcohol also requires some temperature stability and other particular requirements, depending on certain factors. There are also different taxes on drayage for alcohol than for other products, which vary depending on the state. This makes drayage for alcohol somewhat more complicated and expensive.
Shipping Logistics
In shipping, logistics usually refers to the inbound and outbound processes that make up shipping finished goods through the supply chain. This takes strategy to be able to move products from one place to another with the least amount of damage to the products, and with affordable costs. When it comes to alcohol shipping logistics, it gets complicated due to international, federal, and state regulations. There are many different taxes and fees, as well as individual complications with the shipping chains. Drayage for alcohol is part of the inbound logistics, as this is how the product gets from the manufacturer to the warehouse.
Wine Logistics
While this applies to both wine and spirits, wine specifically has a very wide selection of prices. Sometimes more expensive wines are a better item to ship, but if even one bottle of wine breaks, you are losing hundreds of dollars. Cheaper wines tend to be more expensive to ship, but if a few bottles break, you aren’t losing as much. Wine bottles are hardier than they look, and are generally easy to transport and store.
However, before the supply chain of finished products, wine bottles themselves are beginning to get more and more expensive. While many things are expensive in the post-pandemic world, wine bottles have been hit particularly hard by supply chain problems. Bottled wine is also very heavy, which requires a lot of power and energy. Unfortunately, this affects things on every level of wine logistics, so each company will want to ensure they are getting the best deals on each part of the process.
Spirit Logistics
Spirits are also usually packaged in glass bottles, but there is a huge variety of shapes and sizes. Wine bottles are also somewhat confined to a certain amount per shipping unit due to their size and shape, while spirits can have more latitude. Some spirit logistics processes have been shifting to interesting tactics, like bottling products later on in the process. This means they can ship internationally with less breakage, then bottle the product in America. This is obviously not possible with wine logistics. Regardless of the specific method, spirit logistics require similar care and expert handling. Remember that it is essential to find a company that is compliant, specifically with CBP Compliance and has permits to haul alcoholic beverages.
Drayage for Alcohol
With logistics in mind, drayage for alcohol can be complex or it can be relatively simple. Finding the most cost-effective way to transport your shipping containers is key. Not only that, but avoiding fines and fees for storage and other issues can be easily avoided with the right company behind the wheel. Some companies may have trouble getting the shipping containers picked up in a timely manner or transporting them quickly. Some companies do not have the capability to store containers if needed. This is why finding a drayage company that can do it all (and has the experience needed) is extremely helpful to a business, no matter the product. Specifically, drayage for alcohol needs to be specialized to a company that will provide the needed assistance without causing unnecessary problems and costs.
Lessen Risk for Your Business
Whether you are shipping alcohol or any other product, finding the right company will help you lessen risk and prepare for any surprising situation that may come up. Drayage for alcohol can be particularly heavy, and our company specializes in providing overweight load services. Knowing this ahead of time, you can pack more into your ocean containers and save more money on shipping costs per item. You can save thousands in other costs with cross-docking services as well. If you are seeking places to cut costs, finding options like overweight load services can bring down costs and help you move more product quickly. When it comes to shipping alcohol, this can be particularly helpful. Drayage for alcohol can be complicated, but it helps to have a company that knows everything needed to help you succeed.
Heavy Weight Transport for Alcohol
When you require heavy-weight transport for alcohol and drayage for alcohol, we can help you. We can securely haul loads up to 64,000 pounds. This includes refrigerated containers and ocean containers. Contact us today for a quote and get started with us, so we can start helping you save money and avoid fees!
