What is a Freight Forwarder??

An international freight forwarder can be defined as a freight forwarder moving cargo to international destinations via carrier which may be water borne, air borne, railroads. Freight forwarder is a third party agent who is well familiar with transportation rules and regulations, export-import compliances; they posses expertise in document preparation and shipment related processes. Whether it is export or import or transshipment they are comfortable with all activities. Air freight forwarders are licensed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to handle air freight and the Federal Maritime Commission to handle ocean freight. These agents are well acquainted with the rules for exporting goods to foreign lands. These freight forwarders assist exporters in preparing quotation, commercial invoice, and other international shipment documents. They also recommend packaging for merchandise so that temperature sensitive products, electronics and high tech industries products, cargo from entertainment industries, sensitive products like bio-medical insdtrument, science, and pharmaceutical goods are delivered without damage on time. Cargo managers immediately notify of cargo departure, arrival so that exporters remain updated of all their cargo transportation and logistics. These international freight forwarders, freight brokers provide global logistics management solutions, vehicle transportation services, domestic freight solutions, ocean freight solutions, film rushes at international freight rates; also sensitive materials transportation.

Before the placed order and goods are dispatched to its destination it is responsibility of international freight forwarder to check all the documents pertaining to it. After shipment the required shipment documents are sent to concerned person (vendor, bank or buyer). To cross check that all documents comply to import-export rules and regulations these freight forwarders may contact overseas custom brokers. Custom broker many be an individual or a company that is licensed to carry transportation on behalf of others. These custom brokers are confined to payment duties, taxes, chares assessed or collected and also merchant’s admission.