Global third-party logistics (3PL) provider UWL is expanding its reach with two new strategically located offices in Long Beach, Calif., and Vietnam‘s Ho Chi Minh City.
In addition to enabling localized support to meet customer demand in these markets, this strategic investment also sets the stage for UWL’s continued growth. Part of the World Group family of transportation and logistics companies, UWL, a non-vessel operations common carrier (NVOCC), said it experienced record-breaking container volume in 2021 and is poised to continue to grow through innovative customer-centric solutions, enhanced services and geographic expansion.
“As UWL has expanded our global ocean services, we have had to move west and to the Far East to support those services,” UWL president Duncan Wright said. “With highly disruptive supply chains, our customers need us to have boots on the ground to help coordinate shipments and ensure they get the space and equipment to move freight. Strengthening our position in these markets answers the call from our customers looking to us as their logistics solutions partner to offer both local support and a global perspective.”
Wright said as the industry diversifies trade route options, UWL believes its investment in Long Beach and Ho Chi Minh City will meet the needs of its customer base and set the stage for future growth.
The company noted that, according to World Shipping Council 2020 rankings, the Port of Long Beach is the second largest container port in North America based on total container volume. The Port of Ho Chi Minh City is the 26th largest container port in the world, with North American container volume out of Vietnam increasing 32 percent in 2021 compared to 2020. That growth is projected to increase as the industry looks to diversify its trading routes.
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“The commitment to our partners on the ground in Vietnam and Southern California is at the heart of our decision to put a team in place in these markets. We see this as an investment in our customers, our company and our future,” Evan Hartman, senior vice president of international operations for UWL, said. “Our goal for today and tomorrow is to be where our customers need us, offering the customized, hands-on support they require to navigate a highly volatile logistics environment.”
As an asset-based NVOCC, UWL has introduced additional technology and end-to-end services to respond to customers’ needs and address marketplace challenges. Its sister company, World Distribution Services (WDS), recently secured a 303,000 square-foot distribution facility in the Pacific Northwest, giving customers an additional destination and distribution options.
“This expansion into Long Beach and Ho Chi Minh City is the latest example of our people understanding where the market is going, anticipating customer needs and developing solutions to keep freight moving,” said Fred Hunger, chairman of World Group, parent company of UWL and WDS. “We will continue to explore and leverage opportunities that expand our customer service offerings and align with our strategic growth plans.”
UWL specializes 3PL for ocean transportation, air freight, road and rail, warehousing and distribution, project cargo, and customs house brokerage. Its owned assets include a national network of distribution centers, dependable trucking capacity and WorldScope, a data management platform that delivers transparency and visibility.