Manchester-based freight forwarding specialist EMS Cargo Ltd has appointed Annette Harris to head up its new international division for the removals industry.
Annette will be well known to many in the international removals industry having previously worked for several major companies, including John Mason International and latterly Anglo Pacific during her 33-years in the business. She was also BAR North West Area Secretary for eight years from January 2008 to 2016.
Annette was keen to point out that although the new EMS division will be called EMS Removals Ltd, the company will not undertake removals directly and will limit its activities to providing shipping and destination services to other removal companies as a third-party supplier.
“I think what we’re doing is unusual, if not unique,” said Annette. “I know from previous experience that some removal companies are reluctant to give forwarding work to firms that may be competing with them for the move, so the fact that EMS does not offer a removals service will appeal to a lot of companies.”
EMS also offers a nationwide collection service for international cargo. “Everyone wants to use their vehicles and crews as efficiently as possible, so using an expensive vehicle just to deliver to a forwarding agent doesn’t make commercial sense,” said Annette. “We can collect from practically anywhere in the UK, so our customers don’t have to tie-up vehicles and crews that could be making money elsewhere.”
EMS is also unusual in that its drivers have all been cleared to carry out air cargo security checks. Every consignment travelling by air is examined carefully by the driver and scanned using special equipment on the vehicle. Although this is not yet a requirement for goods travelling by sea, Annette believes it is only a matter of time before similar checks will be introduced at sea ports.
As well as forwarding household effects from the UK, EMS Removals will also be offering import services to overseas removal companies moving customers to the UK.
As well as its headquarters in Manchester, EMS Removals has offices in London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Carlisle.