Selecting the right freight forwarder for your business can be a difficult task, as they are middlemen who can either make your business run smoothly or halt it to a standstill.

Who are freight forwarders?

The transportation of commodities from places of origin to destinations via multiple carriers via land, air and/orsea is the economic operation of freight forwarding. Freight forwarders play an important role in ensuring that items are carried safely and securely, paperwork is complete and deadlines are met.

There are many international freight forwarders to select from, but the key to success is finding one that is well-suited to your company’s needs.

Here are some tips for choosing a freight forwarder:

1) Make sure they are reputable: A good reputation takes years to build and a good reputation and contacts of freight forwarders are what keep them in business.

If you’re worried about a forwarder’s reputation or reliability, see if they’re a WCA-approved member. This logistics partnership network serves as an excellent criterion for determining whether or not a freight forwarder can be trusted. However, if you can’t locate any background information, simply ask for references directly from the freight forwarder.

2) Choose a freight forwarder who’s well-connected: There are numerous connections needed in the process of exporting goods to another market, from warehousing, to cargo carriers, to customs. If you choose a freight forwarder with well-established connections, you get all of the benefits of an expert organizer and negotiator with all of these connections from a single point of contact.

3) Don’t pick freight forwarding companies just on the basis of price: Moving freight throughout the world is a complex task. It entails a variety of procedures, any of which can go wrong and cause problems throughout the supply chain. If you choose the cheapest freight forwarding provider, you may not get the level of care you require, and their team usually lacks industry experience and information on how to rapidly resolve difficulties. As a result, it’s worthwhile to pay a reasonable price and nurture a positive long-term relationship with your freight forwarder. Choosing the lowest freight forwarding provider can end up costing your company more in the long run.

4) Make sure your freight forwarder offers cargo insurance: Once you’ve discovered a forwarder who charges fairly and with whom you have a good working relationship, it is time to consider cargo insurance.

If you want risk reduction and peace of mind, then cargo insurance is a must. It covers your shipment while it is being transported by land, sea or air and protects it from loss or damage.

Depending on your shipping requirements, you may want to consider hiring a forwarder who can provide specific cargo insurance. Working with a forwarder who can properly insure your goods is critical, as there are numerous types of cargo insurance.

Some important questions ask your freight forwarder before hiring them:

• Who will be in charge of the shipments from beginning to end? Are there different people dealing with you in sales, operations and customs clearance?

• Who will be responsible for resolving any issues with a shipment if there are any? Will you be able to communicate with them directly?

• Do they have an in-house customs clearance broker on staff? It’s important that you have direct access to a clearance broker in case you have any questions.