Behind the Scenes: Meet Cargo Signal's  Command Center

Cargo Signal’s Command Center, with its highly experienced analysts, is the backbone of our organization and our key advantage over competitors. Our mission is to provide 24/7/365 support to our customers. Our analysts are always on shift and able to respond quickly to any incident or inquiry, via telephone, email, or chat. Obvious intrinsic logistical challenges exist for a 24/7/365 to operate efficiently.

The recent expansions to Bucharest in 2020 and Manilla in 2022, have facilitated scalable, seamless coverage around the clock, 365 days a year. Having teams in Seattle, Manilla, and Bucharest has given the Command Center global reach with a network of local experts and resources available to address issues around the world, in real time. We also continuously upgrade our software, hardware, and processes, to find reliable and cost-effective solutions to fit the various needs of our customers.

We work alongside logistics brokers, including trucking companies, airlines, steamship lines, law enforcement, and any other resource we can muster. These are meant to resolve a wide range of issues, ranging from security concerns, shipment delays, misroutes, temperature excursions and contract violations. Many situations we come across are urgent in nature, so the speed at which we can identify issues and relay information is key to our success.

Our software is built to alert the Command Center when a shipment needs attention. Our analysts are trained to identify issues in real time and take appropriate actions to safeguard shipments depending on requirements specified by a customer. The Command Center offers three main levels of service: visibility, quality, and security. These service levels can be customized by each individual customer to fit their specific needs.

• Visibility: Our analysts confirm the device is functional, create the shipment in our system, and ensure all data is logged and accurate. If the shipment includes periods out of cell coverage, such as a flight or an ocean voyage, the Command Center can add tracking from third parties to maintain location tracking. We also monitor the devices’ battery life and can adjust the configuration to conserve battery.
• Quality: Our service involves analysts responding to alerts such as light and humidity, but mainly temperature excursions. Many temperature-controlled shipments are of high value and have strict storage regulations. Our analysts are vigilant around the clock and attempt to contact airlines, ports, and ground handlers to check on the cargo and correct excursions. There have been instances of broken refrigeration units, incorrect reefer settings, or human error of placing the cargo in the incorrect temperature-controlled room. Our Command Center can alert the necessary people to take appropriate action in real time. 
• Security: Our analysts are constantly monitoring these shipments proactively but are also quick to act in case of any security alert. They must verify that there is a reasonable explanation for the alert or escalate further to management, customer contacts, and even law enforcement when necessary. Cargo theft is on the rise and thieves move quickly. Therefore, the Command Center can play a vital role in informing the proper entities of a security breach, well before they would have known otherwise.

We understand your shipments are high value. That's why each shipment is carefully monitored as if they were our own. Contact a Cargo Signal member anytime to learn more about our service offerings.