Freight Forwarding
Where to turn to make shipping easy
If you’re involved in complicated shipping practices, a freight forwarding company
can be your best resource for organizing a smooth and successful shipping experience.
What are Freight Forwarding Companies?
These companies act on behalf of a client who needs to export goods, particularly
in more complex situations such as international freight forwarding.
Advertiser Links for Freight Forwarding
A freight forwarding agent can provide you with the following services:
- Quotes. Compiling price lists from various freight agencies for various methods
of transportation.
- Documentation. Filling out and filing necessary paperwork when dealing with
customs or international regulations for shipping goods.
- Packing advice. Choosing the safest containers for your merchandise, and
/ or arranging to have it packed for you.
- Monitoring the shipment. Arranging for pickup and delivery, ensuring all
licenses and paperwork have been filed by the freight shipping company and handling
any customs issues that may arise.
- Finding consolidations. If cost is an issue, the agent can arrange to have
your goods consolidated with those of other clients to reduce shipping fees.
- Warehousing and storage. If your goods need to be held for any period of
time, the agent can provide safe housing until ship date.
- Hazardous material transportation. Coordinating the safe (and legal) transportation
of restricted or dangerous items.
The greatest value in using a freight forwarding company is their large network
of service providers. With branch or partner locations in almost all parts of the
world, the best freight forwarding companies will be able to connect you with the
right shipping
company for your cargo – and for the right price. They are also fully
equipped to handle multimodal transportation methods, including:
- Ground freight forwarding. This method is typically used in conjunction with
air or ocean shipping. A freight forwarding company can help you organize door-to-door
ground pickup and delivery of your merchandise, or coordinate a full ground shipment
that falls within your timeline and budget.
- Air freight forwarding. Tailored details here include consolidation with
other clients to save you money, automated shipment tracking and ground service
for door-to-door pickup and delivery.
- Ocean freight forwarding. Ocean freight has its own distinct set of criteria,
which a freight forwarder can help you with. This includes coordinating less-than-container
load consolidation, securing insurance on container contents, finding a company
that provides special services like refrigeration, and obtaining special packaging
for dry and liquid shipments.
Freight shipping can be a complex process, particularly for those new to it or those
who deal on an international level. If you require additional help with the finer
points of your shipment, a freight forwarder could be the perfect solution.