AIT Worldwide Home Delivery

Overview:

AIT Worldwide Logistics is a global freight forwarder that helps its customers grow by expanding access to markets all over the world where they can sell and/or procure raw materials, components and finished goods. Since 1979, the Chicago-based supply chain solutions leader has relied on a consultative approach to build a global network and trusted partnerships in nearly every industry, including aerospace, automotive, consumer retail, food, government, healthcare, high-tech, industrial and life sciences. Backed by scalable, user-friendly technology, AIT’s flexible business model customizes door-to-door deliveries via sea, air, ground and rail—on time and on budget. With expert teammates staffing and worldwide locations in Asia, Europe, and North America, AIT’s full-service options also include customs clearance, warehouse management, and white-glove services.
While other freight forwarders were hunkering down to weather the global economic recession, AIT Worldwide Logistics took the opportunity to implement proactive strategies to help mitigate the effects of the financial downturn. It diversified its freight forwarding services, focusing particularly on truck brokerage and warehousing as growth areas. It also expanded its geographic footprint to include Asia in 2009 by opening an office in Hong Kong that provides multi-modal import and export services to companies throughout the Pacific Rim area. About 30% of AIT’s business is generated outside the US, but the company wants to increase that to 50%. Additionally, it offers transporter services among the US and Canada and Mexico.

AIT’s strategies are not just limited to growing its business; it also wants to protect the property it carries and the customers it serves. Starting in 2009 the company deployed Defentect’s Gammatect radiation sensors at its freight centers. Given that 50 billion pounds of domestic cargo is transported per year by passenger and cargo carriers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expecting shippers, rather than airport staff, to accept the responsibility for scanning and inspecting air freight.