The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many industries and businesses in the world and this includes Malaysia as well. The temporary closure on the trade industry to say the least has impacted the logistics and transport sector – ranging from supply chain disruptions to major effect on GDP growth. Wesley Tan, Director of Operations in UPT Forwarding & Transport Sdn Bhd, will be sharing his thoughts on his future plans for the company at national and regional level.

Can you share with us briefly about UPT Forwarding & Transport Sdn Bhd?

UPT Forwarding & Transport Sdn Bhd, also known as United Port Trading have been operating since the early 1970’s making us one of the pioneers in the cold chain logistics industry. In fact, we are also gearing towards being a one-stop logistics solution provider; with our own haulier fleet of 50 prime movers along with 250 trailers alongside a cold room which is expected to be completed by March 2022.

What are the main challenges that you currently faced and how are you responding to such changes in demand?

Fortunately, UPT’s range of customers comprise mostly of food hence there will always be a need for it however, this does not mean that we are not particularly vulnerable to economic shocks. Since the pandemic struck, we have come to appreciate the potentially crippling cost of being the victim of increasing freight charges and the shortages of containers. This has tremendously affected majority of our client’s production schedule especially during our peak season in November & December.

Despite the set backs, an investment in building operational resilience is increasingly vital. We have since upgraded our infrastructure along with our systems to meet the demand of our clients once the market stabilizes. Doing so will help us increase our visibility further down the supply chains so that we can be ready to pivot and adapt instinctively to change as it happens. In addition, we also place strong emphasis and focus on the training and development of our existing staff; especially local Malaysians – who are the backbone of the logistics industry.

What sets you apart from other Logistics Solutions Providers out there?

There will always be competitors out there and we are always looking forward to learning and collaborate with our peers. We always welcome healthy competitions as this will only help us to strive further. It is not so much about what I did differently but what WE do as a team. In UPT, WE Believe in collaboration as the saying goes United We Stand, Divided We Fall. This was one of the key factors that stood by the company for many generations now; hence our company’s name. United Port Trading.

Fortunately for us, there are not many who specializes in cold-chain logistics and there are only a handful who has the license to clear frozen goods. Hence, we are often referred to potential clients by existing clientele whenever they face any difficulties or require advise when it comes to their import & export needs. People often say it can’t be done however here in UPT, we say it will be done.

What would your advise be for young aspiring graduates who wishes to join the Logistics Industry?

There is no shortcut to success. It is all about perseverance and hardwork as the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. While the year 2020 has been a difficult year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many would have to learn to be adaptable and learn to embrace the current way of doing business in order to stay relevant. Young aspiring professionals who wishes to explore the logistics industry will have to continue to adapt with the evolving market trends and grasp any opportunities amid these changing markets.