4 Things to Look For in a Great Freight Forwarder

Freight forwarders are the intermediary between shippers and transportation services. The importance of a great freight forwarder cannot be underscored enough, since it can be the difference between your goods arriving on time and in great condition, and them getting stuck at an international border, lost, or damaged—a problem few busy companies are going to want to deal with.

For this reason, you won’t want to be selecting simply the lowest price or the first name in the phone book. Here are four things you should look for in a top freight forwarder.

• The Experience You Require

Let’s say you’re a car company looking to ship cars from the U.S. to Japan in order to be sold. Car exports are a complex process and your freight forwarder should have prior experience handling this sort of shipment—the types of paperwork you need and issues you might handle are entirely different for shipping clothes or electronics. How familiar are they with export compliance? In order for a car to enter Japan, for example, it will need to have everything from a commercial invoice to a customs declaration form.

• A Solid Reputation

A freight forwarder should be able to provide you with the names of prior and current clients so that you can make an informed decision as to whether their reputation is trustworthy. It’s also worth doing a quick Google search just to make sure nothing out of the ordinary doesn’t pop up.

• Are They Located in the Destination Country?

If something happens when your goods arrive to their destination, will the freight forward have agents in place to help address any concerns, whether they relate to customs, paperwork, or something else? Having a network of agents in multiple destinations means the company will be able to respond quickly and efficiently when problems arise, helping to keep your shipments on time.

• What About Cargo Insurance?

Damage, theft, and loss are endemic to every industry. A great freight forwarder should be covered by cargo insurance so that, in the case of a loss of product, you’re not the one left holding the bill.

When it comes to choosing a top freight forwarder, it pays to do your research. Having a partner you can trust can help you to grow your business and maintain your own reputation in the shipping industry. To find out more, contact the shipping experts at Extreme Packing Solutions. If you need an estimate, have any questions, or need more information on industry standards contact us on our website or at (978) 232-9190 and we are happy to help.