The current research explores the aspects contributing to uncertainty in Indonesian container shipping from the viewpoints of shipping lines and freight forwarders. The data exhibited a non-normal distribution with a total of 338 respondents, 172 from shipping lines and 166 from forwarders, hence a non-parametric methodology was implemented (the Friedman and Mann-Whitney U tests). Notably, schedule precision emerges as the prime performance determinant for both shipping lines and freight forwarders, closely shadowed by safety and security, with no significant divergence in their perceptions of these factors (p-value > 0.05). However, forwarders attribute remarkably greater importance to administrative technical hurdles owing to their extensive involvement in documentation and licensing, diverging explicitly from the view of shipping lines (p-value < 0.05). Other aspects such as container conditions, external influences, and loading/unloading processes revealed no substantial variance. The study recommends harmonized administrative practices to boost collaboration and streamline processes, potentially enhancing global supply chain dependability. Through a shared-focused approach and improved administrative practices, the container shipping industry can reduce risks, bolster efficiency and strengthen the reliability of global supply chains. © 2025 by MIP