Fundamentals of Transport Logistics - online training course

Transport logistics is a critical aspect in business and trade as it provides the link between supply and demand. It is therefore a foundational enabler in economic trade, involving the movement of goods and product trade on a national or international scale. The growth of global production off-shoring, to countries such as China, in recent years has brought freight transport into a sharper focus as organisations increasingly try to balance cost with service reliability and inventory stock levels.

This distance education course provides a comprehensive grounding in all aspects of the transport logistics industry. After a broad overview of the role of transport in trade and economies, it introduces the rules needed to ensure effective fit with supply chain management. Next, it looks at the factors involved in selecting methods of transport and considers the key features of each transport mode, including the different aspects found in freight calculations. It then continues with an examination of the commercial considerations and the role of customs in international trade before looking at aspects such as packing, security, customer service and added value; before finally concluding with a look ahead into developments and trends affecting the industry’s future.

For full course details and fees, please download the Fundamentals of Transport Logistics prospectus.

During the course you will study:

Trade and Transport Logistics and the Supply Chain

• The role of freight transport in trade and in the economy
• Industry definitions
• The strategic aspects of freight transport
• Transport and the economy
• Transport and government policy
• Domestic and international trade and transport
• Transport in international trade
• Recognising the supply/demand variables
• Transport connections with supply chain management
• The eight supply chain rules
• Transport excellence

Managing Freight Transport, Modes, Rates and Best Practice

• Selecting the method of transport/modes
• Mode characteristics and key features
  - Road
  - Rail
  - Sea/Water
  - Containerisation
  - Air
  - Inter-modal
  - Other modes
• Transport cost drivers
• Evaluating transport performance
• Determining transport rates
• Freight rate structures
• Costing freight options
• Outsourcing, using freight forwarders and third party logistics providers (3PLs)
• Freight transport best practice
• Transport improvements

Managing the Commercial Aspects of International Trade

• Global supply chains and logistics
• Incoterms
  - Definitions and costing
• Lead times and variability
• Payment terms
• Payment documentation
• Commercial documents
  - Proforma, commercial and consular Invoices
  - Packing lists/certificates of origin
  - Movement certificates/import licence
• Transport documents
  - Shipping note and instruction
  - Export licence
  - Waybill
  - Bills of lading
  - Consignment notes
• The Document chain

Using Customs Tariffs during Export, Transit and Import

• Customs tariffs and preferential duties
• Export procedures
  - Declarations
  - Customs Procedure Code
  - Export taxes
  - Safety and security
  - Licences
• Import procedures
  - Rates of exchange
  - Preferential rates of duty
  - Tariff quotas
  - Origin of product/goods
  - Temporary storage
  - Customs freight simplified procedures
• Transit procedures
  - Community Transit
  - Location of goods
  - Simplified transit
  - Status documents
  - Transport International Routier (TIR)
• Duty relief procedures
  - Inward and outward processing relief
  - Returned goods and temporary admission
  - ATA carnets
  - Customs warehousing
  - End-use relief
  - Free zones
  - Rejected imports
  - Duty reliefs
• The documentation chain

Evaluating Legal Aspects and Liabilities

• International contract law overview
  - Contracts in international trade
  - Terms and conditions
  - Essentials of valid contracts
  - Specific clauses
• Agent and principal liabilities
  - Concepts/authority and liability
  - Termination
• International transport liability conventions
• Marine/cargo insurance
• Agent and carrier liabilities
• Terms and conditions
  - Unfair Contract Terms Act
  - Test of Reasonableness

Considering Other Aspects of the Freight Chain

• Packing
  - Packing flow chart
  - Standard shipping package markings
• Loading containers and trailers
• Security, crime and minimising loss
  - Physical loss
  - Cargo handling
  - Water damage
• Load security and safety
• Counterfeiting
• Dangerous goods
• Customer service
  - Principles and definitions
  - Customer needs
  - Competitive advantage
  - Total customer service/determining good customer service
  - Handling complaints
  - KPIs
• Added value
  - Cost and value/third parties and added value
• Freight transport developments and trends
  - Supply chain trends
  - Risk
  - Transport infrastructure
  - Environment and legislation
  - Technology                                
  - Political influences

For full course details and fees, please download the Fundamentals of Transport Logistics prospectus.