“9 things you need to consider when choosing a freight forwarder
Do you know how to choose the best freight forwarding company? Freight forwarding companies are responsible for transporting goods from one country to another. They provide warehousing, logistical support and transportation for domestic and international freight.
You know that shipping is important to every business, but you may not be familiar with how to choose a freight forwarder or company. Now you can understand the factors that influence your choice. Here are some things to consider: do they have regular shipments, what kind of services the company offers and how far their office is from your location, can they handle all types of shipments, are there any hidden fees or other fees use them etc. Every business has different needs, so make sure you find the right freight forwarder for you!
Choosing a freight forwarding company is not easy. There are many things to consider before making a decision. This article will help you identify the best freight forwarder for your business needs. Check them out below
1. Certifications and Certificates
First, you should check that the company you are considering hiring is properly certified. Needless to say, working with an uncertified company is not a good idea. Checking a potential candidate’s credentials will help you see if a particular freight forwarder has the appropriate skills and qualifications for your shipping needs. Also, this way you can see if they have the necessary training and compliance with safety requirements. Therefore, you will entrust your product to the best and most qualified company.
2. Important Services
Before narrowing your search for a freight forwarder, first determine what services your business needs. If your forwarder lacks certain competencies, even those you use occasionally, you may need to hire another specialist, which introduces additional complexity, reduced efficiency and additional costs.
Depending on what you’re shipping, your supplier should at least be able to:
Rail
Prepare import and export documents
Packaging and storing products
Manage inventory
reserved space
clear custom
Negotiated shipping
Provide quality insurance
Start a conversation with your freight forwarder about other services you may need. While you may not need to provide these specialized services for every shipment, it is best to have a partner who can provide flexibility. The more complex your supply chain, the more you need a partner with whom you can align.
3. Fame
Reputation is another rather important factor that you should keep in mind. Hiring an experienced but notorious freight forwarder will do you no good. If their previous clients complained about their service, chances are you’ll find yourself in a similar situation shortly after hiring a company like this. On the other hand, if people are generally satisfied with the services provided by a particular freight forwarder, you may be satisfied with those services as well.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to check their reputation. It’s not hard to do this. All you have to do is talk directly to some of their previous clients, or read some online reviews and reviews that these people may have written. Either of these steps will help you determine their reputation, and if possible, it’s best to take both steps at the same time. However, if that’s not an option, you should be able to get what you need by just taking the second step and reading online reviews.
4. Product Track Record
Some freight forwarders specialize in transporting one type of cargo, while others are capable of transporting multiple types of cargo. Ask your potential forwarder up front if they specialize in certain commodities and shipping methods. If you have very specialized shipping needs, working with a company that has a consistent track record of shipping goods similar to your own can build confidence. Certain products, such as flammable liquids, toxics, drugs, alcohol, batteries and perishables, often require a professional freight forwarder.
If you ship a variety of goods that are not subject to strict regulations, it may be easier and more cost-effective to hire a freight forwarder with broader freight experience. Either way, a good freight forwarder will find and recommend the best shipping company for your needs, whether your cargo is restricted or not.
5. Delivery time
No matter what you’re selling, you probably want the company you hire to deliver those items to your customers fairly quickly. Since we’re talking about international shipping here, you need to be patient and reasonable with actual delivery times, and so will your customers. Still, that doesn’t mean you should keep people waiting long, which is why you should talk about those delivery time frames up front.
Timely pickup and delivery is extremely important for every business that ships its products. So, don’t forget to discuss delivery times with potential freight forwarders and make sure they deliver on time and deliver your shipments on time. Most importantly, it’s pretty important to talk about this before doing any hiring, which is why you should never skip this step.
6. Timely communication
Your freight forwarder should let you know exactly when your shipment will arrive so you can plan accordingly. Although international shipping will never be as predictable as domestic overnight delivery, a good freight forwarder will choose a reliable partner to ensure that the logistics are on schedule.
Remember that freight forwarders are not responsible for unforeseen delays such as severe weather, route changes, mechanical failures, dockworker strikes and foreign port closures. Disruptions are never welcome, but the best freight forwarders alert you quickly and do their best to fix the problem.
7. Volume capacity
Of course, if you want to feel all the benefits of using a freight forwarding service, you have to consider another rather important factor, such as what you can read here. What I’m saying is that you need to find a company that can handle a specific volume of goods and shipments. Now, this amount depends on the actual size of your business and the number of international freight assignments you actually have. However, the point is that you need to check this ahead of time, lest you find out later that you can’t meet your client’s requirements.
8. Industry expertise and experience
Experience is the number one factor in building trust between freight forwarders and customers. Starting a freight forwarding company is easy at first, but working in the shipping business and on an international level is not everyone’s cup of tea. For this, one must have a solid understanding of everything that is involved in the field, and the knowledge can only be acquired by working in the industry for a long period of time.
9. Customer Service
A freight forwarder with excellent customer service will provide you with the support you need to expand internationally. This is especially important if this is your first foray into overseas markets.
in conclusion
If you are looking for a freight forwarder to transport your cargo from point A to point B, it is important to do some research and consider all factors before making a decision. Once you understand what kind of services they can offer, how often they make shipments, or if they can handle any type of merchandise, as we know not everyone has a specific item they need to ship; then it’s time to take a look at their location. Is their office nearby? How far are other offices around the world? You should also ask each company these three questions when contacting.”
