The Moscow-led invasion of Ukraine has sent shock-waves throughout the world, with a systemic attack on the capital of Kiev and along with other areas such as Mariupol, Kharkiv and Kramatorsk.
Despite recent negotiations between the opposing fractions the situation remains precarious, so it’s little wonder that FedEx, UPS and DHL have announced they are suspending shipments to both Russia and the Ukraine.
All three logistics companies initially stated they would pause all collections and deliveries to and from the Ukraine. They then went on to announce a further suspension of deliveries and collections to and from Russia.
DHL has also closed down transport between Denmark and Ukraine, with the same suspension imposed on links with Russia. The company stated border crossing would be too dangerous in light of the on-going conflict.
FedEx Service Alert
FedEx issued a similar service alert to customers “We are closely monitoring the situation and have contingency plans in place, including temporarily suspending inbound and outbound services to Ukraine and inbound service to Russia until further notice.”
FedEx also stated that their Money-Back Guarantee, relating to express services in Europe, would be suspended until further notice.
UPS Service Alert
UPS also issued a stirring statement in relation to the suspended service “Our focus is on the safety of our people, providing continued service and minimizing disruption to our customers.”
UPS went on to tell customers that any packages already in transit to Russia would be returned free of charge.
However, they also reiterated that their money-back guarantee is not a given when services are impacted by extenuating circumstances.
The company are keen to resume operations and in the same statement concluded, “UPS continues to closely monitor the situation and will re-establish service as soon as it is practical and safe to do so.”
Air Freight Suspension
Air freight has also been affected, with the likes of Emirates and Japan Airlines altering, or in some cases cancelling flights due to the heightened risks.
United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson chipped in too, banning any aircraft linked to Russia from UK airspace. The European Union followed suit, quickly prohibiting Russian aircraft, including private jets, from entering any EU airspace.
The Impact of Freight Issues
Recent events, such as the devastating pandemic have already taken their toll on businesses around the globe. The conflict between Russia and the Ukraine is set to cause more unrest.
With Freight companies issuing service alerts, suspending services and placing a question mark over money-back guarantees, freight customers are in for a turbulent time. It’s difficult to remain competitive when there are so many challenging factors at play.
Freight Audit
Now, more than ever, businesses must focus on reducing costs and maximizing profits. Engaging the services of a reliable, reputable freight audit company, such as Betachon is an effective way to reduce small parcel costs and get a handle on delivery fees.