Ag shippers name APL No. 1 for second time in three years
WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 9, 2009 – APL, the world’s 7th-largest container shipping line, is No. 1 in the eyes of U.S. agricultural exporters. That’s the verdict of shippers surveyed this spring by the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC).
The nation’s leading trade association for agricultural shippers and forwarders, Washington-based AgTC announced this week that APL placed first in its annual Ocean Carrier Performance Survey. It was the second No. 1 ranking for APL in the three-year history of the survey.
“Notable is the consistency of the rankings over time,” said the coalition in announcing its results. It said that APL’s repeat performance atop the survey suggested that the carrier is “maintaining a superior level of service performance.”
APL is a top 5 carrier of U.S. exports. In the survey of leading agricultural shippers, it placed ahead of 19 other ocean carriers. The lines were rated on bookings, equipment and space allocation, documentation and customer service practices.
“The ocean carriers’ performance in these areas frequently matches and at times can prevail over freight rates as the basis for an ag shipper’s selection of carriers,” said the coalition. “The carriers that can perform well will be more likely to get the business.”
The coalition said the purpose of its annual survey is to recognize carriers who consistently perform well and to encourage others to do better.
“Recognition – especially for superior service – is always gratifying,” said Bob Sappio, Senior Vice President of PanAmerican Trades for APL. “Recognition from shippers who are our customers is the most satisfying honor of all.”
The nation’s leading trade association for agricultural shippers and forwarders, Washington-based AgTC announced this week that APL placed first in its annual Ocean Carrier Performance Survey. It was the second No. 1 ranking for APL in the three-year history of the survey.
“Notable is the consistency of the rankings over time,” said the coalition in announcing its results. It said that APL’s repeat performance atop the survey suggested that the carrier is “maintaining a superior level of service performance.”
APL is a top 5 carrier of U.S. exports. In the survey of leading agricultural shippers, it placed ahead of 19 other ocean carriers. The lines were rated on bookings, equipment and space allocation, documentation and customer service practices.
“The ocean carriers’ performance in these areas frequently matches and at times can prevail over freight rates as the basis for an ag shipper’s selection of carriers,” said the coalition. “The carriers that can perform well will be more likely to get the business.”
The coalition said the purpose of its annual survey is to recognize carriers who consistently perform well and to encourage others to do better.
“Recognition – especially for superior service – is always gratifying,” said Bob Sappio, Senior Vice President of PanAmerican Trades for APL. “Recognition from shippers who are our customers is the most satisfying honor of all.”