Mr Coutts, who was speaking at the Supply and Demand, 2010-2012 New Horizons Conference in Hong Kong recently, joined Toll’s fast growing global forwarding division from DHL where he held a number of senior regional and global roles.

“All of us across the industry have lessons to learn from the events of the last 18 months when the shipping industry was pushed to the brink during the crisis.

“Trust needs to be improved between customers, forwarders and shipping lines if we are to have a sustainable industry. This can be achieved with the right processes in place and the right governance,” Mr Coutts said at a panel session of senior executives from the Hong Kong Shippers’ Council, Maersk Line, Da Chan Bay Port and GHK consulting.

Mr Coutts also said that a more holistic approach to improve efficiency in the supply chain would resolve many issues customers face regarding shipping schedule reliability and delivery integrity. “If you look at the supply chain as a whole there are many areas where we can improve efficiency and reduce costs in shipping. We can learn lessons from the airline industry which has a more integrated approach to forwarders and customers,” he added.

The Supply and Demand 2010-2012 Conference focused on the challenges facing the shipping industry including supply-demand imbalances, managing customers’ expectations and supply chain cooperation. Toll Group was asked to participate to provide the perspective of an Asian focused global logistics provider. The Toll Group was founded in Australia in 1888 by Albert F Toll as a coal haulage business, using horses and carts. The business was the subject of a management buyout in 1986, and since then has made more than 85 acquisitions. The group was listed on the ASX (Australian Stock Exchange) in 1993, and now employs over 35,000 staff in 55 countries.

Toll Group’s ambition is to provide complete end-to-end logistics solutions, incorporating the critical components of operational expertise, scale, diversity of services and technology solutions.