For businesses that deal with importing and/or exporting goods, the logistics of shipping are of prime importance. The most efficient and cost-effective way to deal with this is to partner up with the right freight forwarders.
Freight forwarders are companies which act as an intermediary between a transportation service – or several transportation services – and the client/business. They do not actually do the shipping themselves, but they take care of all the issues that both client and carrier/s may have. This includes the mode of transportation (air, land, or marine), as well as the legal requirements. The latter may prove to be rigorous, depending on the countries involved.
What can you expect from a freight forwarder?
Setting up a partnership with a freight forwarder is much like taking on any other service.
For starters, they ought to give you a quote for their services. In particular, a freight forwarder should give you an idea of how much it will cost you to ship to your destination (or destinations, as the case may be). Additionally, the complete quote should include carrier charges, taxes, and insurance. And, don’t forget to ask for the forwarding fee.
Another thing that is vital is the timeline. While a freight forwarder does not do the shipping, a good company should have vast experience with their carrier/s. This means that they have an idea regarding the transit times. This also includes transfers, if necessary.
A freight forwarder should also be able to advise you on details specific to the type of cargo that you will be shipping. Some freight forwarders do not have any specialization when it comes to cargo types, and if your cargo is not that sensitive, then you ought to have no issues. If, however, your cargo is considered restricted in some parts of the world, then you may have to find a freight forwarder that specializes in such.
Other questions you may want to ask before signing
Before you sign on the dotted line, you really want to make sure that the freight forwarder will be able to cater to your needs. As such, you should take your time to ensure that all your questions are answered.
Some additional questions that can help you make an informed decisions are as follows:
- How many carriers does the freight forwarder work with on a regular basis? In case of problems with one carrier, there will be alternatives for your cargo.
- Can the freight forwarder provide customer testimonials?
- How does the freight forwarder monitor the movement of the cargo? Do they keep in touch with the carrier/s via phone? Email? How often is this done in the course of a shipment?
- Does the quote include everything or are there fees that come up later on?
Originally posted on October 22, 2012 @ 1:48 pm