Global Logistics Expertise! The logistics industry plays a crucial role in the global economy, facilitating the movement of goods and connecting countries and economies efficiently and effectively. This sector encompasses various activities, including transportation, warehousing, inventory management, and supply chain coordination. The industry’s focus is not only on moving goods but also on optimizing processes, reducing costs, and ensuring timely delivery, all while navigating regulatory environments and technological advancements. In this industry, a seasoned professional, Anne Schaeddel, Owner and Managing Director of Project One Logistics, has carved out a niche for herself. With over two decades of experience spanning Germany, Brazil, and the United States, Anne’s passion for logistics has been a constant. Her expertise lies in ocean transportation and breakbulk logistics, areas she finds incredibly interesting due to their unique nature. Anne’s customer-centric approach sets her apart, with a firm belief in understanding and catering to the specific needs of each project. Anne’s dedication and expertise culminated in the creation of Project One Logistics. The company, under her leadership, prioritizes long-term customer relationships over short-term profits. The company’s culture is built on mutual respect, valuing each other’s knowledge and experiences, and nurturing a conducive environment for growth. Project One Logistics demonstrated Anne’s vision of a customer-centric, respectful, and collaborative workplace in the logistics industry. Let’s explore how Anne is pioneering the logistics industry with her expertise and dedication: A Journey Through Global Logistics Anne has been working in logistics for over 20 years. Her journey began in Germany, continued for several years in Brazil, and for the last decade, she has been based in the US. She has always been very passionate about logistics, especially ocean transportation, from a young age due to her desire to see the world. Upon her arrival in the US, she was captivated by the business culture and the variety of customers she was able to work with. For Anne, her priority has always been the customer and the needs of their specific projects. She finds breakbulk logistics incredibly interesting, as no two projects are the same. While some companies in the industry focus on short-term profits, Anne’s belief has always been that treating customers right and growing long-term relationships should be the focus. Quite simply, she wanted to do it better, so she started Project One. The word “ONE” stands for her belief in making customers her number ONE priority. When Anne started Project One, she also wanted to build a great workplace where people could feel comfortable and have their thoughts, ideas, and input to the company heard. She strongly believes that this is how you grow a successful business and that the people inside the company are the most important assets. The company culture at Project One is built on mutual respect, and they value each other’s knowledge and experiences so they can grow together. Navigating Global Logistics Challenges Anne acknowledges that each country has its own regulations, laws, and cultures. She quickly learned when working with people around the world that each country presents its own challenges. However, with a good and reliable network, these challenges can be overcome together, making their customers’ transportation as smooth as possible. Understanding and respecting regulations is crucial, as failure to do so can lead to extra charges and delayed cargo, something both Anne and her customers are keen to avoid. For instance, import duties from China can pose a costly challenge for their customers, so they always work with them beforehand to help them understand what charges may apply. Currently, her team is facing challenges with both the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal, which can potentially cause heavy delays in ocean freight. This leads to them declining certain vessel sailings due to these issues, and instead, they need to identify new routes for their cargo. They focus on being as open and upfront as possible with their customers about potential challenges and charges. While they can’t foresee every potential issue, they find that being honest about costs and timelines reduces their customers’ stress levels and allows them to properly plan. Tailoring Solutions for Unique Projects Anne understands that every project is different. Therefore, her team analyzes and converses with the customer to fully comprehend their scope of work before providing a solution. They are always reachable, and based on their knowledge and experience, they explain to their customers the best way to transport their cargo in a timely, cost-effective manner within their given scope. Sometimes the transit time is more important, sometimes a specific route is more important, and sometimes costs are more important. They provide options, explain how these options differ, and empower their customers to make decisions that fit their needs based on good information. This is their focus. While planning is important given the complex intertwined operations involved in a breakbulk, things will happen. Their customers know that if their vessel arrives on a holiday or weekend, Project One Logistics will still be there. Strategic Planning in Cargo Transportation Upon receiving a bid, her team read through it thoroughly. They ask questions to fill in any gaps and start by making an overall plan for how to transport the cargo. They check the job sites on both ends to see how feasible they are for a particular operation and then map out the entire route, especially with heavy loads, where permits and route surveys are required. They always try to find solutions to different ports, which may be longer in mileage but overall more cost-effective considering the challenges for each port. For example, routes with more bridges take longer to receive the permits needed. Due to their years of experience and portfolio of diverse projects, they understand the difficulties and challenges in each state in the US. This helps them explain better solutions to their customers, which might look to be the shortest route on Google Maps but might be the better solution for a particular operation. They like to provide their customers with options so they can