The “Port-to-Door” Advantage: Why Asset-Based Freight Forwarding Matters
In the world of logistics, there is a distinct difference between a company that simply manages paperwork and a company that physically moves your freight. The latter is often referred to as an “asset-based” forwarder.
While many digital-only forwarders have popped up in recent years, acting essentially as travel agents for cargo, there is an undeniable advantage to working with a partner who owns their own trucks, warehouses, and distribution fleets. As one of Australia’s largest family-owned international freight forwarders, Stockwells has spent decades building physical infrastructure to back up our logistics expertise. Here is why that matters for your bottom line.
Total Control of the Chain of Custody
When a forwarder outsources every leg of the journey, they lose control. If a third-party trucking company cancels a pickup at the wharf, a non-asset-based forwarder can do little more than send emails and hope for a resolution.
Conversely, Stockwells owns and operates a fleet of over 30 trucks and 100 trailers. When your container arrives at the port, it is often a Stockwells truck picking it up. This grants us the agility to prioritize your urgent cargo and bypass the availability bottlenecks that plague third-party transport providers during peak seasons. We control the schedule, which means we can give you more accurate delivery windows.
Seamless Warehousing and Distribution
Importing goods is only half the battle; the other half is getting them to your customer. Many businesses struggle with the “handoff” between their sea freight forwarding and their domestic courier. This gap often leads to lost goods, damage, or miscommunication.
An integrated “Port-to-Door” solution eliminates this handoff. We can receive your international shipment, transport it to our own secure bonded warehouses, unpack it, and distribute it via our Linehaul network to anywhere in Australia. Whether you are a renewable energy project manager moving massive components or an eCommerce brand needing pick-and-pack services, having a single point of contact for the entire journey simplifies your operations and reduces administrative overhead.
The “Family” Difference in Service
Asset-based forwarding also impacts customer service. Because we own the equipment and employ the drivers, our team takes a personal sense of ownership over the cargo. It’s the “Stockwells Way”—a culture of reliability and integrity that has been cultivated since 1971.
When you call us, you aren’t speaking to a call centre overseas; you are speaking to a local expert who knows exactly where your truck is because it’s our truck. This visibility is crucial when dealing with time-sensitive projects or high-value goods.
Reducing Costs Through Consolidation
Finally, using an all-in-one provider often saves money. By bundling international freight, customs brokerage, wharf transport, and domestic distribution, we can minimize the “flagfall” fees and handling charges that accumulate when you use four different vendors for one shipment.
In a volatile market, stability is king. By choosing an asset-based partner like Stockwells, you are choosing a supply chain built on concrete foundations, not just software.
