Posted by Freight forwarders are companies that specialize in arranging the storage and shipment of goods on behalf of their customers. They typically offer a wide range of services that include preparing shipping and import/export documents, inland freight tracking, warehousing, freight consolidation, negotiating freight charges, reserving freight space, insuring freight, and filing insurance claims.
These companies have proven very important in the import and export industry due to the significant role they play in ensuring the smooth and speedy shipment of goods on a global scale. Due to its increasing importance, countless companies now offer shipping services. This makes finding a reliable logistics partner a rather difficult task.
The key to smooth and successful shipment of goods is choosing the right freight forwarder. But how will you know which company is reliable enough to efficiently meet your shipping requirements? There are certain criteria that you must set when hiring the ideal logistics partner. Here are some of the best qualities you should look for in a forwarder.
1. High organization and dexterity in the process of documenting the shipment of goods inside and outside the country. A good freight forwarder is able to provide accurate and efficient services to his clients because in this kind of business mistakes can be very costly. This is why there is hardly any room for errors in shipping goods such as mis-documentation or goods being delivered to the wrong country. Although there are insurances for such circumstances, processing insurance claim requirements can be a waste of time and resources. After all, all you wanted was to have your goods shipped to their correct destination without delay.
2. Provides good packing service. No matter what shipping method you choose for your goods, whether by land, air or sea, shipping conditions can sometimes be difficult and may damage your shipment if it is not packed properly. A good freight forwarder owns efficient and reliable packing system for different kinds of products especially for fragile goods. When selecting a freight forwarder’s knowledge and experience on appropriate shipping and handling for your particular type of product, this should also be one of the most important considerations.
3. Has a reliable network of customs brokers and freight forwarders in the origin and destination country. This ensures that all information about your shipments will flow smoothly back and forth without delays and reduces the possibility of your shipments getting stuck at ports. Any delay down the line can be very costly.
4. Offers a high level of connectivity and an accurate tracking system. When shipping goods overseas, it is very important to establish a good line of communication between the freight forwarder and the shipper. This will allow you to know the real-time progress or exact location of your shipments, giving you peace of mind and ensuring that your shipment arrives in a timely manner.
5. Good insurance coverage. It is equally important to hire a company with a high standard of cargo insurance to cover your products and shipments to ensure that any damage or loss in shipping or storage is properly compensated.