From Port Congestion to Carbon Pressure – Why Inland Logistics Matters 

If the past few years have taught supply chain leaders anything, it’s that stability can no longer be assumed.

Global supply chains are under sustained pressure. Port congestion continues to disrupt planning cycles. Lead times fluctuate unpredictably. Capacity tightens without warning. At the same time, sustainability targets are central to business strategy.

For companies importing goods into Europe and further afield, the challenge doesn’t stop at the port. In many cases, that’s where the real complexity begins.

Containers arrive at maritime gateways, but moving them efficiently to inland distribution centres requires coordination, flexibility and strategic thinking. Relying on a single transport mode in today’s environment can expose businesses to delays, cost overruns and unnecessary emissions.

To stay competitive, organisations need smarter, faster and cleaner pre- and post-maritime connections. That’s where our Global Forwarding team makes the difference.

Our Approach to Global Flows

When a customer approaches us, our first step is to understand the full picture:

• Where are the goods coming from?
• What are the delivery deadlines?
• How sensitive is the cargo to delay?
• What are the customer’s cost and sustainability objectives?
• Where are the potential congestion points?
• Only after analysing these elements do we design a tailored inland logistics solution.

Evaluating Congestion and Capacity Risks

Today’s supply chains require proactive risk management. Our teams continuously monitor:

• Port congestion levels
• Inland terminal capacity
• Rail and barge schedules
• Road network constraints
• Customs flows and regulatory developments

By identifying pressure points early, we can reroute or rebalance flows before disruption impacts operations.

A Multimodal Strategy Built for Resilience

There is no single “best” mode of transport. The optimal solution depends on urgency, volume, distance and environmental goals. That’s why we build modular, multimodal strategies combining barge, rail and road.

Barge: Capacity, Reliability and Lower Emissions

Barge transport offers substantial capacity and predictable schedules, particularly for inland flows from major ports. It significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared with road-only transport and shields shipments from motorway congestion.

For non-urgent or replenishment volumes, barge provides a stable, cost-efficient and sustainable option.

Rail: Long-Distance Efficiency and Operational Stability

Rail brings strong energy performance and efficiency across longer inland corridors. It reduces dependence on driver availability and helps mitigate road congestion risks.

For distribution centres connected to rail infrastructure, it delivers an excellent balance between speed, cost and environmental performance.

Road: Essential Flexibility

Road transport remains critical for first- and last-mile operations. It ensures rapid response for urgent deliveries and supports precise scheduling at distribution centres with strict delivery windows.

Together, these modes create a flexible transport architecture – one that can adapt as business priorities shift.

Powered by Visibility – Digital Control Across Every Mode

A multimodal strategy only works if you can see what’s happening.

Through tools like Connect Global Forwarding and advanced analytics, we provide customers with real-time shipment visibility across all transport modes. This includes:

• Live tracking updates
• Proactive exception management
• Predictive arrival estimates
• Detailed carbon reporting per shipment
• Transparency allows our customers to make informed decisions, manage inventory more effectively and report accurately on sustainability performance.

If you'd like to speak with one of our global forwarding experts, please get in touch.