freightandlogistics
Top Considerations Hiring a Freight Forwarder
Regardless of your shipping needs, whether global or domestic, searching for the right freight company can be daunting. Certainly, you want to make sure that all your products or goods will be delivered on time and in good condition. Here are important considerations to make as you pick a freight forwarder at this page:
Needs and Requirements
This is painfully obvious, but some people take it for granted that not all freight companies are the same. Many of them concentrate on certain routes - sea, air or rail - and you must pick the specialist that is most aligned with your needs. When you request for quotes from multiple forwarders, you won’t only get a picture of the costs and logistics involved, but you can also have a taste of their customer service. Most probably, you will be in regular contact with your chosen forwarder, so it makes sense to know early on how things might play out between the two of you.
Very importantly, when you request a quote, ensure that it bears every important detail this company will need from you. You can speak to their sales associate on the phone or just email them. To avoid forgetting anything, prepare your information in advance, though they have to ask you in case you do miss anything. And include any future needs you might have as your business grows.
Industry Experience
The history of the freight and cargo industry goes just about as far back as commerce itself, so do your research and look for a forwarder that has a solid background. With more experience, they can likely offer better service - or there’s no way they could have survived the extremely competitive industry in the first place.
Beyond Price
Freight forwarding is challenging, which is exactly why you’re not doing it yourself, right? As soon as you’ve received quotes from different companies, be careful not to be tempted by the cheapest option. Most probably, there’s a catch. A low-bid company could meet your needs, but this may come with suspicious fine print or bad customer service. Whatever the case, don’t decide until you’ve read the fine print thoroughly and scanned online reviews (but stick to third-party consumer websites to get accurate and neutral information.
Proper Documentation
Lastly, choose a freight company that can deliver all the important shipping documents, such as certificates of origin, shipping and negotiation documentation, and so on. They should also be able to issue approved house bills of lading. You need not be a pro at these docs, but you have to get them with every single transaction. When checking out a certain company, don’t hesitate to ask them about this. Knowing the answer from the start is your right as a consumer.
See other useful information at https://www.reference.com/article/freight-broker-license-c9c97f5b310f4c4?aq=freight+company&qo=cdpArticles .