When you think of import/export, you want to work with a freight
forwarding company that knows its stuff. It is a competitive world out there. So,
you do not want to lose customers to a competitor because your freight
forwarder didn’t know what to do when a small hiccup arose.
Perhaps you source raw materials from Germany or China.
Or maybe you are exploring new markets and have considered
shipping to Nigeria or Brazil.
How do you choose a freight forwarder for your business?
What makes a great freight forwarder?
What criterion do you use?
Here are some tips to get you unstuck.
1.
Work with international freight forwarders your
own size
The largest freight forwarding companies promise low rates.
They claim their massive orders and gigantic partnerships will afford you the reliable
timelines you are looking for, too.
That could be true.
However, they also tend to have too much on their plates to
offer bespoke freight
forwarding services. You may need your shipment to have special packaging,
for example.
A smaller, more nimble company will likely handle the task
more efficiently than a large freight forwarder.
Your shipment is also less likely to get lost, mixed up, or
damaged by other cargo they are trying to fix. Smaller logistics partners can
also offer more flexibility in terms of acceptable minimum freight capacity.
Still, look for a company that has just the right volume
handling capacity, finances, and staff to ensure you get your shipment in time,
every time.
2.
Talk to potential freight forwarders
You can get a feel for how a freight forwarding company
works by talking to its staff. Listen in to tell if they are just after closing
you in.
You may have heard of international freight forwarding
companies that rope in clients with short-term deals.
When a customer signs a contract, the company tries to
recoup the discounts they promised by charging higher fees on other essential
services.
That’s outright misleading. So, ask these kinds of questions
face-to-face. You may want to take your lawyer with you.
Then ask about essentials such as:
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3.
Enquire about your responsibilities
It is tempting to leave all responsibilities to the freight
forwarding service. After all, they are the specialists, huh?
Well, you’ll have more responsibilities to take up than you
might expect. The exact number will vary from vendor to vendor.
You’ll be responsible for declaring your overseas cargo, for
instance. That much is clear.
But other obligations may not.
So, ask what they will be doing for you and what they expect
you to do in return. Compare it to what another freight forwarding service has
offered.
That way, you can start a relationship with your choicest vendor
on a clear, mutually beneficial level.
4.
Can transit time be guaranteed in shipping?
Some freight forwarders claim they can guarantee shipping
and delivery times.
Transit times are not constant.
The best freight forwarders give a range, such as 4 to 8
days for air freight services. If you are considering ocean freight, expect a
longer timeframe.
But even then, the potential vendor should give a range, not
an exact number. Remember, it is better to underpromise and overdeliver instead
of doing the opposite.
5.
Work with legitimate freight forwarders in the
U.S.
The first thing you’ll want to know is if they are licensed
to operate in your region.
You do not want to deal with shell companies based out of
the country. It would be almost impossible to deal with them legally if
anything went wrong with your shipment.
So, look for a company with a strong network of freight
agents based in countries with strong legal systems such as the U.S. to protect
yourself.
Bottom Line
Working with a reliable international freight forwarder can
open doors for your business’ growth. You can tap developing markets tens of
thousands of miles across the oceans.
But you’ll need a logistics partner who can handle your shipments
with professionalism and dependability.
