Common Ground for Best Freight Forwarders

Before addressing this issue, we need to understand what freight forwarders do and what services they provide.We need to understand these to know what they have in common.

 

First, companies that export products often have to face many challenges when shipping their goods to end customers. In many cases, such companies hire experts called "freight forwarders" to help them overcome these obstacles.

 

Freight forwarding is the cornerstone of export transportation. With more than 40,000 freight and logistics companies in 150 countries and employing around 80 to 10 million employees, looking for the best freight forwarder for a starting exporter seems like looking for a needle in a haystack

 

The number of operators who ship items from suppliers to customers depends largely on the final destination of the shipment and the nature of the product being sold. But the overall goal is always the same: to ensure that the product is delivered intact before the specified date. And, if product damage occurs during transportation, freight forwarders can provide insurance services to customers to compensate them for their losses.

 

What freight forwarders can provide

Freight forwarders often act as intermediaries between the companies that hire them and the various transportation services responsible for providing their products to overseas customers, including carriers, porters and customs officials.

 

Bale

Freight forwarders often help companies pack and prepare their products for export. This task has varying degrees of complexity depending on the final destination of the product

 

Labeling

Freight forwarders help companies properly label packages to ensure they contain the following information:

Product list in shipping container

Any dangerous goods

Country of birth

Correct weight in pounds and kilograms

Port of entry details

All details required in the language of the destination country

reference

Shipping items abroad often requires a large number of complex documents and expertise, which may include the following:

 

Bill of Lading (BOL)-This is a contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier. There are two types of BOL: non-negotiable "direct" BOL and negotiable "shipper" BOL. The latter BOL can be bought, sold or traded during the transportation of goods. Customers often require the original document as proof of ownership in order to possess the product.

Commercial Invoice-An invoice is a list of goods presented by a seller to a buyer. It is usually used to determine the true value of the goods when assessing the amount of customs duties.

Certificate of origin (COO) – This signed statement identifies the origin of the export product.

Inspection Certificate-The customer may require this document to prove that the goods have been inspected and / or tested and that the quality of the goods is considered acceptable.

Export Permit-This permit is a government document authorizing the export of a specific quantity of goods to a specific destination.

Shipper's Export Declaration (SED)-This file contains export statistics and is compiled by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for shipments worth more than $ 500.

Export Packing List – This detailed packing list lists each item in the shipment, the type of packaging container used, as well as the gross weight and packaging size

Amazon Freight Forwarder
Amazon FBA LogisticsFreight Consolidation

 

I put together a list of four qualifications for the best freight forwarders. When you use a freight forwarder, it's best to judge based on these qualifications

 

1. Experience and certificate

Contact potential freight forwarders to see if they are licensed by FMC (for sea freight forwarders) and IATA and TSA (for air freight forwarders). The best freight forwarders will be able to introduce you to their company history, freight forwarder network and partnerships, and their licensing. They should also be able to share recommendations from exporters who trust them.

 

2. Services to meet your needs

The best freight forwarders have your industry knowledge and are willing to help you export your goods. They should be your all-round partner to effectively and accurately handle your export business.

 

3. Understandable and reliable fee and pricing structure

The best freight forwarders will not only help you understand their price structure, but they will also work with you on strategies to reduce international shipping costs.

 

4. Compliance Record

This is a key component when looking for a freight forwarder. However, while compliance-focused partners are good, you need to understand your role first.

 

Your forwarders are your representatives, but they are not you. You know your business best. The documents you provide must be accurate. Their role is to arrange and manage the transportation of goods