President of ITN Consolidators, Mima Aftimos (left) and Mitzie Gordon Burke-Green, managing director of JTS are all smiles as they sign documents sealing the partnership between the two companies.

Jamaica Trading Services Limited (JTS), the country's premier door-to-door shipping specialists have partnered with the United States (US)- based International Transportation Network (ITN) consolidators to expand their services.

The partnership with ITN will allow JTS not only to increase their services in the US but also worldwide. "Our service to our customers will be far improved as previously we were only able to provide service out of New York and Miami. Now we can offer our customers full US coverage at excellent rates ... we (also) have the ability/authority to tap into their (ITN's) worldwide network, in effect increasing our world coverage," Mitzie Gordon Burke-Green, managing director of JTS noted.

ITN Consolidators, a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) - licensed freight consolidator has 18 years experience in the transport industry and covers North America, the Caribbean, Central and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. ITN has several branches in key locations in North America inclusive of Atlanta, Chicago, New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles and Texas. ITN Consolidators are also International Air Transport Association (IATA)- licensed air consolidators.

Burke-Green added that through this partnership, customers of ITN and JTS will benefit from over 200,000 square feet of bonded warehousing in Florida alone, and a computerised system allows for real time online tracking of cargo once the cargo enters the service chain.

JTS was established in 1988 with a view to solve the myriad of problems encountered by importers. These were initially Jamaican emigrants who were returning from the United Kingdom. Since then, JTS has expanded its services to include: freight forwarding, commercial cargo, personal effects, customs brokerage, door-to-door service, in-bond delivery, courier service and trucking. The company celebrates its 20th anniversary on June 14.

Roger Hinds (left) vice-president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) presents Sean Smith former financial controller at the SAJ with a painting during Smith's farewell party held at the SAJ's auditorium on May 30.