What is a freight forwarder?
Wikipedia defines freight forwarders as follows:
“A freight forwarder, or forwarding agent, is a person or company who, for a fee organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer or final point of distribution. Forwarders contract with a carrier or often multiple carriers to move the goods from one country to another.
A forwarder does not move the goods but acts as an expert in the logistics network. The carriers can use a variety of shipping modes, including ships, airplanes, trucks, and railroads, and often use multiple modes for a single shipment.
International freight forwarders typically handle international shipments and have additional expertise in preparing and processing customs documentation and performing activities pertaining to international shipments.”
A freight forwarder is an agent that arranges your import and export goods.
What does a freight forwarder actually do?
A freight forwarder specializes in the organization and arranging of storage and the shipping of merchandise on behalf of its shipper. For example, a freight forwarder may arrange to have the cargo moved from the manufacturer to an airport by truck, then flown to the destination city, and transported from the airport to a customer’s building by another truck.
Freight forwarders often help businesses with packaging. This task has different levels of difficulty, depending on the product and its final destination. Packaging for shipping within the US is generally simpler than packaging products for extended transportation, as they may need to be temperature controlled or shipped in large cargo containers, and may be loaded and unloaded multiple times along the route. Shipping items by air necessitates lighter-weight packaging, to keep the weight and therefore the cost down.
Freight forwarders may help businesses correctly label packages, to make sure they contain information about the products in the container, any hazardous items, the country of origin, and any details required in the language of the destination country.
Shipping items overseas involves complex documentation that requires specialist knowledge. A freight forwarder helps with the documentation, which may include the following: the Bill of Lading, which is the contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier, a commercial invoice, the Certificate of Origin (COO), the inspection certificate, an export license, Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED), and the export packing list.
How to choose a freight forwarder?
To choose a freight forwarder, you should first know your own shipping needs and clearly communicate them with the freight forwarders. Usually, the following questions are considered:
- What commodity is being shipped?
- What is the volume of the cargo?
- Where is your departure and destination place?
- When will your cargo be shipped?
- How many imports and exports does your company have on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis?
- Do they have cargo insurance, and if so, what kind? You should know what will happen if something goes wrong with a shipment.
What service do you prefer? Sea freight, air freight or rail freight? An experienced forwarder will offer you effective shipping solutions according to your needs. Make sure you are clear about the services that the forwarder company offers.
Top China freight forwarder list updated for 2023
Select the best freight forwarder for your China import/export 2B logistics. Here you can find the top 20 freight forwarder in China. Just feel free to contact TJ China freight to get latest rate quote.
1. TJ China Freight Co., Ltd
Address: A2110, Block A, Mid-term Longguang Nine Diamond Business Center, Longhua District, Shenzhen
TJ China Freight is the first-class freight forwarder in China, and their clients cover all over the globe. The head office is located in Shenzhen, and has branch offices in Qingdao, Xi’an, Shanghai, and other main cities in China. Their team has rich experience in handling all kinds of China import/export goods shipping by sea, air, and rail. The services and prices are reliable.
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2. Shanghai SSMInternational Logistics Co., Ltd
Address: BUILDING 316, NO. 10, 291 LOGISTICS AVENUE, PUDONG NEW AREA, SHANGHAI, 200120
Their professionalism in as freight forwarders and work experience make them trusted at the client’s hand over shipments. They have a great advantage in terms of air transportation because they are near the International Airport. They can definitely provide you a competitive price in air freight and provide better services for air transportation.
3. S-Union Logistics and Forwarding Ltd
Address: 1008, Block A, Customs mansion, South Road of Dongmen, SHENZHEN, China, 518000
S-union Logistics is your worldwide one-stop service for integrated logistics with the fairest rates and best services. They can provide you a professional international freight forwarding. They take care of the suitable and most considerate business partners for their clients and oversea agents.
4. King Global International Logistics Co., Ltd
Address: FLOOR 1, BLOCK F, HOUGANG LOGISTICS ZONE, HUANGSHI ROAD, BAIYUN DISTRICT, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510091
They have a professional team that has a new concept, good management, and high efficiency. With King Global International Logistics, you can save your money and time as well as save your work. They offer cheap, high-efficient and constant services.
5. Global Link Logistics Co., Ltd
Address: Room 33DE, Tower B, HongLong Century Plaza, East Shennan Road Luohu, Shenzhen, China, Shenzhen, China, 121108
They can guarantee you the best rates and their shipment is promptly handled and with care. they can provide consolidation and warehousing services in every region of China.
6. Shenzhen Huatai Supply Chain CO., Ltd
Address: Room 611, Weidonglong Business Building, Longhua District Shenzhen, China, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000
They are a member of NVOCC who has passed system certification such as ISO9001. They are a first-class international company in freight forwarding by the approved of the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Commerce.
7. Marshal Freight International Limited
Address: Room351/A Block T No.128 Hua Yuan Road Shanghai P.R.China, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China, 200083
Marshal Freight International Limited provides the best coordination in Great China and Asia and a communication platform. With their overseas partners and enthusiastic and experienced staff, they have the capability to offer reliable and appropriate services to meet customers’ expectations.
8. Globe Success Group
Address: Room 7F, Floor 7, Xinghanghuafu, Unit F, Fuyong Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen P.R. China, Guangdong, China, 518126
Their services have gained identification from the market and customers. They continuously improve to pursue scientific management methods. They will be your trusted freight forwarder in China.
9. CPL (HK) Logistics Ltd
Address: Room 1206, unit 1, no.8 Shangdao office building, , Dongguan, Guangdong, 523000
This company is over 10 years of experience in the freight industry. They can take the advantage of the geographic coverage in this booming world.
10. SDA Logistics CO., LTD
Address: Rm410, Baofeng building, Dongmen, Luohu Shenzhen, China., Luohu, Guangdong, 518000
They are approved by the PRC freight forwarding company. Their headquarters is based in Shenzhen, China relying on the Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta. Contact us now!
11. Bansarchina
Address: Shanglv Building, No.181, Cuiyuan Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000
They have built alliances with many carriers and airlines. They can offer a relatively more affordable freight forwarding service from China to other countries. Support sea, air, and rail freight.
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12. Sinoglory Logistics Co., Ltd
Address:NO.66 NANJING ROAD, QINGDAO, 266071, P.R.CHINA, QINGDAO, CHINA, 266071
Their team is strictly trained to provide professional knowledge and the best services to their customers. They offer excellent customer service, effectiveness, and reliability.
13. Freight Solution Limited
Address: No. 1002 Shennan East Road, Huang Bei Str, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Luohu District, Shenzhen, China, 518000
Their headquarters is located in Shenzhen. They are broadly spread in Beijing, Qingdao, Dalian, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Europe.
14. SINO OCEAN GROUP LTD.GUANGZHOU BRANCH
Address: ROOM 703, BROADWAY PLAZA, NO.233~235, DONGFENG WEST ROAD, YUE XIU DISTRICT, GUANGZHOU, CHINA., GUANGZHOU, CHINA, 510180
They are an international freight forwarding in China. They officially approved with Economic Cooperation and Ministry of Foreign Trade. Also, this company is acquiring non-vessel carrier qualifications.
15. Asia grace(shanghai) international logistics co.,ltd
Address: ROOM528, TIANKE PLAZA NO.1090 PINGLIANG ROAD, YANGPU DISTRICT, SHANGHAI CHINA, YANGPU DISTRICT, SHANGHAI, 200090
Exporting and importing products are Asia Grace Logistic can provide queries and orders. They also provide different services in sea, air, and inland services at a very competitive cost.
16. BEST WIN INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS CO., LIMITED
Address: RM1602-03, BUILDING B, FORTIS YUAN,48TH BAOAN DISTRICT, SHENZHEN, CHINA, SHENZHEN, CHINA, 518100
This company is mainly committed to the general cargo of transport including container transport, railway, highway, and air transport. They are professional, energetic and efficient.
17. SDI LOGISTICS CO., LIMITED
Address: D2104, FUYUAN COMM. AND TRADE CENTER, SHENZHEN, BAOAN, CHINA, 518101
They are covering moreover 100 cities in China and own more than 200 trucks. Through their hard work and efficient management, they have witnessed rapid development. This company is also a competitive enterprise in the transport industry in Shenzhen.
18. Wintop Worldwide Logistics
Address: 20/F, Yu Heng Tower, No.170 Xu Zhou Road, Shi Bei District, Qingdao, China, Qingdao, China, 266000
Wintop Worldwide Logistics has an office in the main ports in China. They are a booking agencies of Maersk, EMC, MOL, YML, APL, and HDS in Qingdao.
19. Shenzhen Haida United Logistics Co., Ltd
Address: Rm22E baihe Yindu Building Buji Longgang, Shenzhen city, Guangdong, 518112
They can help their clients to pick up the cargo from consolidated and different suppliers. They can handle ports from or to China and all cities in China.
20. Shanghai Brightway Shipping Co. Ltd
Address: Room.1815, No.1688 North Sichuan Road South Building, Fu De Commerical Building, Shanghai, 200080
They are a professional and registered freight forwarding company in Shanghai, China. This company is focused on air and ocean transportation from China to any destination around the world for over 10 years. They can give you the best solution for your logistics with efficient services and economical rates.