Beyond the truck: how experience and technology are transforming ground logistics
From moving cargo to managing operations: an efficient ground operation requires much more than having a truck. Route planning, coordination with terminals and carriers, cargo management and the ability to respond to different scenarios are part of a chain of decisions that directly affects how a logistics operation unfolds.
From this perspective, Nowports has developed a ground transport offering that integrates different services and capabilities under one team, with coverage from Arica to Punta Arenas and operations to and from Argentina and Brazil. It includes FTL, FCL and LTL transport, project cargo and value-added services such as depot, warehousing, transloading, consolidation and repalletizing.
One of the pillars of this operation is a specialized team, strategically based in Concepción with ties to terminals such as San Vicente, Lirquén and Coronel. From there, the area combines pricing and shipment execution with a carrier network and tracking tools.
Jorge Moura, Nowports Operations Director, highlights the value of having a team able to analyze each operation and propose alternatives based on its characteristics.
A ground network connecting Chile, Argentina and Brazil
The digital freight forwarder’s ground operation has national coverage from Arica to Punta Arenas, plus operations to and from Argentina and Brazil. This network offers different capabilities depending on the characteristics of each zone and operation.
In the north, it offers transport and consolidated warehousing alternatives mainly linked to mining and export operations. In the central zone, Valparaíso and San Antonio concentrate transport, depot, warehousing and cargo handling services, while Concepción serves as the operating base connecting the central-south with Santiago and the south of the country.
For Diego Conejeros, Operations Team Lead of Nowports’ Ground Area, this experience makes it possible to address the different variables involved in an operation and understand that each move responds to particular needs and conditions.
“Having a network that lets us operate from Arica to Punta Arenas and connect with Argentina and Brazil is very valuable, because it allows us to offer an end-to-end solution with FTL, FCL and LTL capacity according to each cargo’s needs. Commercially, this makes us much more flexible and lets us accompany the client across different legs of their operation, delivering a comprehensive alternative and, above all, a partner who knows the routes, the carriers and the particularities of each market.”
An operation that integrates different services
Ground logistics may require different solutions depending on cargo type, volume, origin, destination and the stages involved. This combination addresses different needs within a single operation, avoiding analyzing transport in isolation.
“The main difference lies in the operational and regulatory variables to be managed. In Chile, each zone has particular route, infrastructure, equipment availability and terminal access conditions, so planning must adapt to each logistics corridor. International operations also add variables such as border coordination, documentation, customs and service continuity across operators and jurisdictions. In both cases, route experience, reliable carriers and operation tracking make it possible to anticipate contingencies and deliver greater security and traceability to the client.”
Experience turned into solutions
Nowports’ Ground team is made up of professionals specialized in pricing and execution of logistics operations, with over 25 years of experience in the field. This knowledge makes it possible to understand the particularities of each operation and evaluate alternatives based on cargo, route and client needs.
This experience is complemented by technology and a carrier network: 100% of the fleet has GPS and 100% of carriers hold an insurance policy. The team thus combines operational knowledge, coordination capacity and visibility to develop solutions tailored to each operation.
“Our team’s experience translates into the ability to anticipate, control and resolve, and that is concrete value for our clients. We know the routes, the terminals and the variables that can impact an operation, which lets us make timely decisions and keep control of every move. Through traceability, a network of reliable carriers and a team committed from start to finish, we deliver something fundamental: the certainty that every cargo is being managed with security, knowledge and responsibility.”
The evolution of ground transport poses a challenge that goes beyond moving cargo from one point to another. It requires connecting routes, people, carriers, infrastructure and technology to respond to the specific needs of each operation.
For Nowports, that perspective translates into a network with national and international coverage, comprehensive services and a specialized team that manages every move considering the full context of the operation.