News / Agreements 'being ripped up' by lines as shippers are left in the dark on rates

Customer service has effectively been shelved by the shipping lines, as shippers grumble that it is getting increasingly difficult to book cargo with them, let alone know what rate they will be charged.

Many complain that carriers are refusing to answer booking desk phones, and are “ignoring” e-mails.

“We spend hours trying to contact the lines and they just let their phones ring out,” one frustrated director of an NVOCC told The Loadstar today.

“It’s demoralising for our staff – to whom we ...