For nearly four decades, PFE and Ensign Freight have enjoyed a strong and enduring partnership that has been instrumental in delivering seamless, efficient logistics solutions and outstanding service.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Innovation
Since our collaboration began in December 1986, we have worked together to leverage each other’s strengths, providing customers with reliable supply chain management – particularly through import consolidation and origin support for PFE’s key accounts. From the earliest days of our relationship, Ensign has long been the operational backbone of PFE supply chain services in Asia, ensuring that PFE’s customers benefit from well-managed and efficient logistics. With a network of 20 offices, particularly in key hubs such as Hong Kong and Shanghai, Ensign’s origin support has been essential in ensuring shipments are properly prepared, dispatched, and managed efficiently. This meticulous attention to detail has strengthened our ability to provide customers with timely, reliable deliveries and has fostered a culture of trust and collaboration, allowing our partnership to thrive over the years.
A Defining Milestone: Consolidation Services
A defining milestone in our partnership was the launch of our consolidation services. At a time when freight consolidation was still an emerging concept, we worked together to pioneer the streamlining of complex shipments, consolidating less-than-container load (LCL) freight into full container loads. This innovation allowed businesses to ship goods more efficiently and cost-effectively, significantly enhancing supply chain performance for our clients.
However, introducing this model came with challenges. The shipping carriers initially resisted the idea of freight forwarders taking control of container management. As Peter Collins, founder of PFE, recalls, “For many years, there was this tug-of-war between the carriers and the forwarding industry and, I am glad to say, the forwarding industry won.” Despite the initial resistance, our consolidation model proved to be a resounding success. By efficiently filling containers and offering them to carriers for transport, we provided a scalable and cost-effective shipping solution which remains a cornerstone of our services today.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Beyond consolidation, Ensign’s support has been crucial in managing shipments for PFE’s customers from the point of origin. PFE’s project managers work closely with Ensign’s offices to oversee supply chains from end-to-end, ensuring seamless coordination and execution. The relationship between PFE and Ensign is just as vital today as it was in the early days. As global supply chains evolve, our partnership ensures that customers continue to benefit from a well-coordinated and resilient logistics network.
As we reflect on this legacy of partnership, we look forward to continuing our journey together, driven by a shared commitment to innovation, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Through decades of collaboration, we have built a partnership that stands as a testament to resilience and excellence in the freight industry – one that continues to evolve, ensuring we meet the ever-changing needs of our customers worldwide.
Next time, we’ll explore A Future of Excellence – how PFE and Ensign are evolving their services to bring even greater benefits to customers, ensuring innovation and efficiency remain at the heart of everything we do.
