Old Dominion expands LCL service to Taiwan

Old Dominion expands LCL service to Taiwan

   Old Dominion Freight Line has expanded its Pacific Promise less-than-containerload service to Taiwan's Taichung, Keelung and Kaohsiung ports, in addition to 10 ports in China where the service is already offered.

   Started in 2009 and expanded in 2010, the company said Pacific Promise provides importers with standard guaranteed transit times and simplified rates from the 13 Chinese or Taiwanese ports to any U.S. destination. The offering also includes port-to-door tracking of all shipments.

   Thomasville, N.C.-based Old Dominion has seen more than 30 percent growth per year in shipments from China and Taiwan. Over the next five years, industry analysts predict that shipments from China to the United States could increase 28 percent, while shipments from Taiwan are projected to increase 16 percent, the company said.

   The service targets importers in a number of categories, including shippers of high-value products, time-sensitive goods and seasonal or promotional items. Pacific Promise is also geared toward companies that are shipping from a single origin to multiple destinations or those that are paying air freight rates.

   Old Dominion said rates for Pacific Promise are expressed as a single rate per cubic meter. While it is slightly higher than standard LCL, the rate is up to 75 percent less than air freight.