Is Hiring a Freight Forwarder the Better Option?
- April 5, 2018
- Blog
Exporting and importing are the key aspects of many lucrative businesses. Even though international shipping can present you with amazing business opportunities, it is also pretty daunting. The paperwork, process, and the regulations associated with international trade might seem intimidating. However, it is possible to be an international shipper without being stuck with the complications of the logistics. This is when you need the help of a freight forwarder.
Freight Forwarder: What Is It?
A freight forwarder is basically a firm that specializes in looking after the storage and the shipment of the merchandise on behalf of the shippers. It generally offers a wide range of services starting from tracking the inland transportation, preparation of the shipping and the export documents, booking cargo space, warehousing, freight consolidation, negotiating the freight charges, and filling up the insurance claims. Freight forwarders are known to under their own bills and their associates or agents at the destination offer deconsolidation, document delivery, and also freight collection services. They are also known as a forwarder
In simple words, a freight forwarder is a company that arranges for the import and export of goods.
What is the Function of a Freight Forwarder?
There are a lot of things that are associated with international shipping. While the freight forwarder deals with the details of the international shipping, it is essential to find out what the freight forwarder actually does in order to understand their function.
A cheap freight forwarding company mainly acts as an intermediary between the shipper and the various transportations such as air freight, ocean freight, and trucking. A freight forwarder makes use of the established service with the carrier starting from the trucking companies to the air freighters for cheap international freight shipping. They do this for negotiating the best possible price to ship the good through the most economical route that offers the best cost, balance, and reliability.
Freight forwarders can manage the logistics of shipping goods from one destination to another, a task which might otherwise turn out to be a burden for the client.
In order to comply with the shipping requirement and the export documentation, several export companies use the freight forwarder as the shipping agent. The forwarder assists and advice the client on how to move the goods efficiently from one destination to another. They have extensive knowledge of the documentation requisites, transportation, regulations, and also banking practices.
Should I Use a Freight Forwarder?
A good freight forwarding company helps you to save time. As a matter of fact, they will take the burden off your shoulder while offering reliable transportation at competitive rates. There are several advantages of dealing with an inter freight forwarding service. Some of the benefits have been listed below.
- They have the skill and knowledge which gives you the peace of mind that your goods will arrive at the right destination
- No disruption in the company’s services and production process
- Freight forwarding companies specialize in dealing with the distribution companies on a regular basis and thus they are able to achieve the economy of scale
By hiring an expert freight forwarder like 20Cube, you will be able to progress in your business. Irrespective of the size of the firm and the weight of the cargo, a freight forwarding company will take care of all the arrangements.