What is Freight Forwarding?

The global supply-chain is more connected than ever before.  Billions of dollars’ worth of goods move seamlessly across Earth daily.

Enter Freight Forwarders.

Every shipment requires price negotiations, booking of space, INCO shipment terms, and many other details necessary to international shipping.  Freight Forwarders navigate all these intricate details so their customers can focus on running their business.

Freight Forwarder customers is anyone moving cargo from Point A to Point B.  That could be a family shipping new windows from China to Canada or a global Fortune 500 company.

Freight Forwarders take care of multiple details for their customers:

• Space and Booking Documentation: Arrange for pickup, make sure documentation is in place,
• Export Preparation: When your goods are ready for export, the Freight Forwarder moves them from the Shipper’s facility to the Air/Ocean Port.
• Import/Export Customs Clearance: Documents are handed to a Customs Broker or Client for Clearance in the destination country.
• Arrival at Destination: After customs clearance and offloading, the goods are ready to be delivered.

Freight Forwarders work with partners and carriers in all modes of transportation to negotiate the best price and service for their customers.  This incredible flexibility means that shippers have many options to consider for Import or Export.  On top of these core functions, some Freight Forwarders will offer value-added services like Shipment Insurance, Customs Clearance, Crating/Packaging, Temperature-Controlled Warehousing, and Dangerous Goods shipping.

Types of Transportation Used by Freight Forwarders

There are 4 types of transportation used by Freight Forwarders: Ocean Freight, Air Freight, Rail and Trucking.  Freight Forwarders work with a variety of partners and carriers - allowing for increased flexibility, price negotiation, and better service.

Read the full post at Upcity

How Do I Choose a Freight Forwarder?

When choosing a Freight Forwarder, experience is key.  Thanks to diverse backgrounds and a focus on experience, our team at Sealion Cargo is able to effectively navigate the globe.

There are thousands of Freight Forwarders in every country, making it difficult to choose the right one.  Thankfully there are multiple online review sites – like Upcity or Clutch. In Canada, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) is an industry association with a robust directory.

The best way is word-of-mouth.  Many Freight Forwarders are small operations with minimal web presence – which doesn’t mean they’re ineffective, just busy shipping.  In any town or city across North America, there will be multiple Freight Forwarders – so ask a business owner or local Chamber of Commerce who they would recommend.

Usually operating in the background, the world of Logistics is a global connector of commerce and people.  While the occasional incident like the Evergiven Suez Canal blockage brings this thriving industry to the limelight, there is a whole world of intricacies behind the curtain.  Simply put, Freight Forwarders are an integral part of the global supply chain.  The next time you’re enjoying coffee – it’s a good bet that a Freight Forwarder had a hand in delivering the beans to your country.  Cheers!

Read the full post at Upcity