Exporting and Importing are the most vital components for many profitable businesses. Though International shipping presents huge opportunities for any kind of business, it is a daunting task for a company. Now, in this scenario, have you heard of the term “Freight Forwarder” Before? If not, then you might be a little confused about what it is? Is it a manager for distribution, a shipping company, or an importing and exporting partner?
Well, a freight forwarder takes care of the entire paperwork process maintaining all the rules and regulations that are involved in the International trade. This article covers everything from the definition of the freight forwarder, what are the operations of a freight forwarder, and how to find the best one in the international shipping business.
What is Freight forwarding?
Freight forwarding involves an organization that specializes in arranging the shipping and storage of the merchandise on shippers’ behalf. The firm offers a wide range of services like tracking of the inland transportation, preparation of the export and shipping documents, and booking of the cargo space. The top freight forwarder also negotiates the charges for the freight and takes care of the cargo insurance, freight consolidation, and insurance claim filings.
They usually ship under their own way of air waybills or lading and their associates or agents at the destination of the cargo supplies deconsolidation, document delivery, and collection of the freight services.
How does a Freight Forwarder Operate?
There is a lot of paperwork involved in arranging international shipping. The freight forwarder acts as an intermediary between different transportation services and a shipper. The shipping services are carried out by carrying on a cargo ship through the ocean, through the air by airplanes, trucks, or moving any goods by road or rail.
A freight forwarding service takes advantage of the established relationships with the air freighters, trucking companies, rail freighters, ocean liners, and carriers. They also negotiate for the best possible rates for moving the goods of the shipper forward through the route that will be most economical by comparing various bids. Ultimately the top freight forwarder selects the one which includes a perfect balance in cost, reliability, and speed.
Freight Forwarders take full responsibility for a considerable logistics of different shipping types of goods from one destination to another to reduce the formidable burden of the client. Many exporters also utilize the service of a freight forwarder to select them as their shipping agent for shipping requirements and export documentations.
The forwarder also assists and advises the client on how to move goods effectively and without a hitch from one place to another. Their years of extensive knowledge of rules and regulations, requirements of documentation, banking practices, and transportation costs ease up the exporting process for different companies.
Advantages of Using a Freight Forwarder
There are innumerable advantages of using the services of a freight forwarder. We have listed some of them in detail below.
- Handles ancillary services like custom documents, insurance and many more
- Acts as individual shippers as well as consolidators for bills of
- Lading bills
- International payment methods
- Warehousing
- Documentation of non-vessel operation of common carrier
- Management and Assessment of the risks
- Insists on superb customer service and personal communication
How can you Find the Best Freight Forwarder?
Well, you are in luck as you have landed on the website of the top freight forwarder in India. For decades, Combined Logistics Solutions has ensured that the goods of their clients reach the destination where they were meant to be delivered, whether by land, sea, or air. Thus if you need any business shipping assistance, contact Combined Logistics Solutions to arrange a freight forwarding for you today!
