Nov 24, 2010 10:37 AM

DHL Global Forwarding, Interstate Transport Inc, and Trans World Forwarding Inc (TWF) are teaming up to provide a complete perishables supply chain system starting from the point of consolidation at origin across Latin America to destinations across North America.

The partnership will guarantee the cold chain integrity from point of origin in Central and South America to the final delivery location at North American consignees. Interstate will take control of perishable freight at the DHL gateway in Miami FL and ensure prompt and fresh delivery for all points in North America. This partnership will provide controlled-temperature trucking for perishables coming in by air or ocean for all kinds of commodities such as cut flowers, produce, and fresh seafood—all on one bill—from one freight provider.

“This partnership now means importers, wholesalers, and retailers can deal with one point of contact, one bill, and one process for every order, rather than dealing with up to six separate entities,” said Tim Higham, chief executive officer of Interstate. “For the first time ever, wholesalers and retailers can buy perishables direct from any Latin American country, irrespective of location, and deal with one person.”

TWF will be DHL Global Forwarding’s preferred provider in charge of receiving cargo from the airport and seaport and then handling and processing the shipment until it is ready to be transported per customer needs. Services TWF will provide include customs clearance, inspections, storage, consolidations, pallet breakdown, and cross-docking, direct delivery to importers in the Miami area.

DHL Global Forwarding will have access to TWF’s 270,000-square-foot (25,100-square-meter) cooler with capacity to hold 27,000 skids/pallets.

DHL, a unit of of Deutsche Post DHL, has a global network linking more than 220 nations and territories and employs about 300,000 people worldwide.

Headquartered in St Petersburg FL, Interstate provides logistics, distribution services, and complete logistics outsourcing systems including transportation management software (InMotion Global TMS) across the United States. Learn more at www.Interstate-Transport.com.

TWF is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in the perishables market. Established in 1991, TWF provides services to Latin America, throughout the United States, in Europe, Asia, and worldwide.