We as a Freight Forwarder, also known as a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC), is a company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer or final point of distribution.
Our company has International Freight Services that include air and sea Freight Forwarding. We are contracted with more than a dozen ocean and air carriers and typically handle international shipments. Freight forwarders can use a variety of shipping modes, including ships, airplanes, trucks, and railroads, and often multiple modes for a single shipment. We have the expertise in preparing and processing customs documentation as well as performing door delivery for worldwide destinations through a comprehensive network of partners.
A forwarder does not move the goods but acts as a seamless intermediary in the logistics network.
The services of a freight forwarder can vary between different companies but the main function of the freight forwarder is to act as an intermediary between the client who is hiring them and various transportation services that are involved in getting the product overseas to the customer.
Depending on the final destination and the nature of the items shipped, there may be many transportation companies involved in the movement of the items from the supplier to the customer. The freight forwarder may have to deal with many export and import issues that could be involved in the movement of the goods.
The freight forwarder is hired to get the product to the customer by a specific date and in an undamaged state. The freight forwarder will provide the client insurance services to make sure that if the items do arrive damaged, they will be reimbursed and not liable for the damages.
Information typically reviewed by a freight forwarder includes the commercial invoice, shipper’s export declaration, bill of lading and other documents required by the carrier or country of export, import, and/or transshipment. Much of this information is now processed in a paperless environment.
A freight forwarder will also provide additional services such as packaging labeling as per request of customer. In Summary, Companies looking to export items can use freight forwarders to not only save time and effort but to ensure that the goods arrive at the customer’s site on time and without incident. A freight forwarder can provide the exporter with all the necessary documentation as well as liaise with the transportation companies required to get the items to the customer.