Quote button

New quote platform improves speed and accuracy

May 13, 2026 | , , ,

Metro’s updated online quote platform is helping businesses secure faster and more accurate freight solutions, as supply chains face growing time pressure and complexity.

The redesigned system captures more detailed shipment information at the enquiry stage, giving Metro’s commercial teams greater visibility of transport requirements from the outset and helping reduce delays caused by incomplete or fragmented information.

Customers can now specify transport mode, shipment type, cargo characteristics, customs requirements, pickup and delivery needs, and additional operational details within a single streamlined process. The enhanced structure is designed to support quicker turnaround times and more tailored responses, particularly for urgent, multimodal or specialist shipments.

Faster and more accurate responses for increasingly complex supply chains

As supply chains become more volatile, the ability to assess routing options and operational requirements quickly is becoming increasingly important. Delays at the enquiry stage can affect pricing accuracy, routing decisions and capacity availability, especially where shipments involve customs formalities, hazardous cargo, project freight or time-critical movements.

The revised quote process helps Metro gather the information needed to respond more effectively from the beginning, reducing the need for repeated follow-up communication and allowing solutions to be aligned more closely to customer requirements.

The platform has also been designed to reflect the increasingly varied nature of freight movements. Businesses can provide details covering road, sea, air, sea-air and project cargo requirements, alongside shipment type information including FCL, LCL, express, courier and full or part load transport.

Additional fields covering palletisation, stackability, hazardous cargo status and customs clearance requirements help improve operational planning and ensure enquiries are directed quickly to the appropriate specialist teams.

Supporting better planning and operational agility

The changes come at a time when businesses are placing greater emphasis on agility, contingency planning and visibility across supply chains. Ongoing disruption across ocean, air and road freight continues to create operational uncertainty, increasing the importance of rapid decision-making and accurate information exchange between customers and logistics providers.

By improving the quality of information available at the start of the enquiry process, Metro aims to accelerate response times and provide customers with routing and pricing solutions that more closely reflect their operational priorities.

Businesses looking for faster response times, tailored freight solutions and competitive pricing can access the updated quote platform via the green button above.

China flag and ship

China’s maritime code overhaul reshapes legal risk for UK shippers

Apr 28, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A significant shift in the legal framework governing global shipping comes into force on 1 May 2026, as China implements revisions to its Maritime Code. 

While the changes are designed to align with international standards, their practical effect is to strengthen Chinese jurisdiction over cargo moving through its ports.

For UK shippers, this represents a meaningful change in how contracts of carriage are interpreted and enforced. Agreements that have historically relied on English law and London arbitration may now face limitations when disputes arise in connection with Chinese ports.

At the centre of the reform is a clear principle: where cargo is loaded or discharged in China, Chinese law is likely to apply. This introduces a new layer of complexity for businesses trading with or through the region, particularly where contractual terms have not been fully aligned with the updated legal framework.

Jurisdictional shift changes how disputes may be handled

The revised code increases the likelihood that Chinese courts or arbitration bodies will take the lead in resolving cargo-related disputes. In practical terms, this means that even where contracts specify alternative governing law, those provisions may carry less weight if the shipment is linked to a Chinese port.

This is particularly relevant for bills of lading, where multiple contractual layers can exist. 

The interaction between bespoke agreements and standard shipping documents is now less predictable, raising the risk that disputes will be assessed under Chinese law rather than previously agreed terms.

For UK businesses, this alters the balance of legal certainty that has long underpinned international shipping contracts.

The revisions also introduce more defined rules around cargo claims, including how and when shippers can pursue carriers for loss or damage, particularly where bills of lading have been transferred.

While this provides clearer guidance, it also requires a deeper understanding of how claims will be handled under Chinese law. Processes, timelines and evidential requirements may differ from those typically expected under English legal frameworks, affecting how disputes are prepared and resolved.

The updated code also reflects broader changes across shipping, with new provisions addressing the use of digital transport records, placing greater emphasis on compliance and reporting standards, particularly for foreign vessels. At the same time, changes to liability rules require closer scrutiny of insurance coverage and documentation.

A potentially more complex operating environment for UK trade with China

Taken together, the reforms reinforce China’s position as a central authority in the legal framework governing its trade flows. While English law and arbitration remain relevant, their practical influence may be reduced in specific cargo-related scenarios.

The impact will vary depending on contract structure, shipment type and dispute context, but the direction is clear: greater local control and increased legal complexity for international shippers.

With the changes now imminent, shippers should:

  • Review contracts covering shipments to and from China, particularly governing law and jurisdiction clauses
  • Reassess risk allocation within shipping agreements and supporting documentation
  • Confirm insurance coverage aligns with updated liability requirements

Early action will help mitigate exposure and reduce the risk of disputes being handled under unfamiliar or less favourable terms.

Metro works with customers to review contracts, align shipping strategies and ensure compliance with evolving international frameworks. If your business trades with China,  EMAIL our Managing Director, Andrew Smith, today to protect your position and keep your supply chain moving with confidence.

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Turning disruption into decision advantage

Mar 3, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The simultaneous disruption in the Persian Gulf and continued Red Sea avoidance is creating a supply chain shock without modern precedent. Metro’s latest application release is giving you unprecedented visibility.

With vessels held or diverting, Gulf-bound cargo potentially discharging at intermediate hubs, and 2%+ of the global fleet positioned in or near the Persian Gulf, pressure is rapidly shifting across global port networks.

Congestion is no longer isolated to one region. It is migrating.

Transhipment hubs such as Salalah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, Duqm and Colombo are absorbing displaced volumes. Secondary effects are already emerging at Singapore, Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas. As carriers reassess Gulf calls and reroute services, containers already on the water may face discharge changes, berth delays and inland knock-on disruption.

In this environment, traditional vessel tracking is not enough.

Shippers need early, reliable visibility into port performance — not just where the vessel is, but what will happen when it arrives.

Introducing port congestion visibility in Metro MVT

To support customers navigating this evolving situation, Metro has launched a new Port Congestion application within the Metro MVT Portal.

The solution provides real-time, data-driven insight into port conditions across key global gateways, enabling proactive planning rather than reactive firefighting.

Key Capabilities

Interactive dashboards deliver clear visibility of:

• Vessel Waiting Time
• Vessel Traffic at Port
• Vessel Days Wasted
• Vessel Dwell Time
• Country-level congestion trends
• Port-level congestion indicators

This allows customers to identify where congestion is building — often days or weeks before cargo arrival.

Why this matters now

With emergency war-risk surcharges applied, routing changes underway and air cargo capacity reduced, cost exposure is already rising. Port congestion adds a further layer of unpredictability.

Early visibility enables:

Smarter Routing Decisions

Assess risk exposure at potential discharge ports before cargo is affected.

Delivery & Warehouse Planning

Align inland haulage, labour and warehouse capacity with real arrival conditions — not estimated schedules.

Priority Management

Identify at-risk shipments early and protect critical cargo before delays escalate.

Cost Control

Reduce detention, demurrage and last-minute premium transport spend triggered by unexpected congestion.

From tracking to foresight

In today’s environment, supply chain resilience depends on anticipation.

Port congestion visibility transforms MVT from a tracking platform into a decision-support tool, combining global congestion intelligence with shipment-level visibility in one place.

As geopolitical volatility reshapes trade flows, having early insight into where disruption is building can materially change operational outcomes.

Accessing the capability

All MVT users with access to the Track & Trace application automatically have access to the new Port Congestion feature.

Your account director will be in touch to arrange a demo. For further information or a guided walkthrough, please EMAIL Ian Powell, Customer & Technical Solutions Director.

tech

Metro MVT: Optimising supply chain visibility and customer value through innovation

Feb 18, 2026 | , ,

2025 marked a breakthrough year for Metro as we continued to advance the MVT digital platform, delivering new applications, enhanced visibility, and significant improvements to our underlying infrastructure. 

These investments reflect our commitment to helping customers operate more efficiently, make better-informed decisions, and maintain complete control of their global supply chains.

Over the past year, we rolled out a series of major upgrades across MVT, including the launch of our Invoice App and E‑Bookings, making it easier than ever for customers to manage essential logistics processes from one integrated platform. We also completed a substantial investment in real‑time airfreight tracking, now fully embedded into Track and Trace. This enhancement provides accurate milestone visibility, fewer information gaps, and a more reliable digital airfreight experience strengthening Metro’s position as a leader in technology‑enabled freight solutions.

A select group of customers also gained early access to MVT Reporting & Analytics, a powerful new analytics suite designed to unlock deeper insight into supply chain performance. This comprehensive reporting tool provides dynamic dashboards, trend analysis, and operational KPIs that enable smarter planning and problem‑solving. Successive release phases will continue until the end of Q2 2026, with general release beginning 1 March 2026 for all customers.

Delivering Measurable Value for Our Customers

The expansion of the MVT application suite delivers tangible benefits that help customers run more agile and resilient supply chains, including:

  • Enhanced end‑to‑end visibility: Real‑time tracking across multiple modes allows for faster exception management and improved operational confidence.
  • Greater efficiency and workflow automation: Digital tools reduce manual activity, eliminate duplication, and accelerate core logistics processes.

Looking Ahead: What’s Coming to MVT in 2026

With an ambitious roadmap for 2026, Metro is continuing to expand and enhance the technology experience in MVT to support our customers’ evolving needs.

Q1 2026 Highlights

We look forward to sharing these imminent product releases and will provide more information via your Metro dedicated customer relationship management contacts and future newsletters.

  • Web‑based Booking App – A streamlined, modern interface that simplifies the placing of multimodal shipment bookings for our customers.
  • Port Congestion App – Real‑time insight into port performance, dwell times, and congestion risks, empowering customers to plan proactively.
  • Enhanced RoRo Vessel Tracking – More accurate sailing milestones, live ETAs, and improved visibility of delays, critical for automotive, machinery, and high‑value supply chains customers that rely heavily on RORO movements.

Q2 2026: Introducing the Schedules App

The new Schedules App will provide customers with comprehensive global carrier schedules for ocean movements. This capability enables better planning, transit‑time comparison and service selection, helping customers make informed decision around optimise their supply chain performance.

We will also release significant improvements to road freight visibility through an externally‑facing Carrier App that integrates road freight milestones directly into MVT in real time.

Continuing the Journey: Q3, Q4 and Beyond

Further enhancements through the second half of 2026 include:

  • Advanced customer‑configurable notifications across all MVT applications.
  • DCM (Demurrage, Detention & Free Time) upgrades to give greater visibility of risk and help customers manage free‑time allocation more effectively.

Simultaneously, our product and development teams will be focusing on detailed research and scoping for new digital capabilities, including customer rate tariff management and automated digital quoting, planned for release between late 2026 and early 2027.

These investments reflect Metro’s ongoing commitment to building a modern, connected, and data‑driven supply chain experience for our customers.

At Metro, our digital solutions are shaped by the people who use them every day. The MVT platform, and the wider suite of Metro applications, are developed with direct input from our customers ensuring the tools we create solve real‑world challenges and deliver meaningful value. 

We are always keen to hear from customers about their experiences with our existing products, as well as the pain points, bottlenecks, and opportunities they see across their supply chains. This insight is essential in guiding future development, influencing new product ideas, and helping us prioritise the digital capabilities that matter most. Your feedback fuels our roadmap, strengthens our innovation, and ensures Metro continues to deliver technology that truly supports your business.

For any enquiries, further information or feedback on Metro digital products and developments, please EMAIL Ian Powell, Customer and Technical Solutions Director

Category: Technology

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