Even before globalization became a thing, international trade already happened on a regular basis. These transactions span the skies and seas, commonly commanded by various local and global freight forwarders. 

Freight forwarders serve as the middlemen for businesses, consumers, and markets. If you pick a reputable freight forwarder, your company will profit. If it is the opposite, complications between you and your business partners or clients could arise. 

But how should you choose a freight forwarder that can deliver excellent 3PL services? 

Tips in Choosing a Freight Forwarder

Image Source: Freepik

Alt-text: A cargo-filled port 

Not all freight forwarders are the same. It is already given. That’s why it is essential that you choose and outsource the one that could fulfill your logistical requirements. This is very crucial, especially if the operation, reputation, and scalability of your business are on the line. 

Below are some tips for choosing a freight forwarder.

Look for Reputable Companies

Reputation is something that any legitimate freight forwarders hold dearly. It takes years to build. But it will only take minutes or seconds to destroy it, as well. Freight forwarders are so caring for their names not to get tarnished. 

If you want to know the reputation of a freight forwarding company, you should check whether they are a member of WCAWorld. This is an aggregate network of freight forwarders with over 10,000 members. If the freight forwarder is listed here, there’s a good chance that it is a trustworthy logistic service provider. 

There’s also the site FreightDeadbeats where you can see if a freight forwarding company has issues when it comes to its services. Asking for recommendations can also be a good idea. If a company keeps on being recommended, that company must be reliable.

Go for Experience

Experience has branching meanings in the world of freight forwarding. In this context, a freight forwarder must offer expertise in various aspects of the industry.  

One good example is laws related to export and import customs. You need to make sure that your freight forwarder has an in-depth understanding of the rules and regulations of the destination and origin countries. 

Furthermore, you would also need to assess whether or not you need a specialist freight forwarder. This type of freight forwarder can provide customized handling for specific kinds of cargo. If your shipment is fragile, perishable, or something volatile, your best choice here would be these special handlers. They are the ones who have the proper knowledge, technique, and equipment to ship your cargo safely. One of these companies is the ZggShip Freight Forwarder.

Prefer Forwarders with Extensive Network

Network and connection are two vital elements for freight forwarding companies. The relationship of freight forwarders to other forwarding companies and industry players enables this ecosystem to thrive and survive. Of course, being in the loop is also a sign that a freight forwarder is trustworthy and far from being suspicious. 

These connections are crucial in multiple aspects. They enable freight forwarding companies to access better transaction rates. Furthermore, adequately connected forwarders have a more convenient time in getting their paperwork approved by local authorities. 

You can learn about how connected a forwarding company is by asking them who they are working with. If they don’t disclose this information, you can do the research by yourself. If you find nothing, then consider moving to another forwarder instead. 

Choose Those That Offer Holistic Services

As third-party logistic service providers, freight forwarders are required to conduct essential document services. Specifically, they should be able to provide and assist you with the essential documents and papers for your shipment. Examples of these are the following:

• Securing insurance and inspection certificates
• Amending errors in documents
• Assisting in customs clearance
• Invoice notarization 

Also, don’t forget that freight forwarders just don’t deliver your goods. They should also be able to execute a number of shipping-related services on behalf of their clients. The following are some of the things that a bonafide 3PL should be able to do. 

• Arranging and haggling freight rates for land, sea, and air
• Provision of import and export quotations
• Identifying ideal routes for shipment
• Loading and packing services
• Freight insurance

Conclusion

Freight forwarders are pivotal to the success of various businesses today. They handle the movements of goods and shipments from one destination to the other. This is not a simple job, which would also mean that you would only want to entrust your cargo to a reputable forwarder.

It is essential that you partner yourself with a reliable, responsive, and legitimate third-party logistic service provider. In this way, you can guarantee that your products are well-taken care of from the point of origin to their destination. We hope that the tips above will help you on this matter.