Why Freight Forwarders are Crucial to the Supply Chain

International freight forwarders make sure that shippers don’t have to deal with the overwhelming burdens that come with the logistics of supply chain management. Freight forwarders play a crucial role in global supply chains and are indispensable for shippers around the globe. 

Freight forwarding requires a lot of expertise, strategic insight, and hard work. Here’s why you need a professional international freight forwarding company in your supply chain.

What Is Freight Forwarding?

Freight forwarders act as intermediaries between the transporters responsible for getting products to customers overseas and the companies that hire them. These transportation services include carriers, handlers, and customs officials.

Freight forwarders can also assist with packaging goods for shipment, proper package labelling, and preparing proper documentation for customs officials. 

READ MORE: Small Business Guide to Freight Forwarding

Customs Brokerage 

When it comes to dealing with customs officers, providing the required documentation and making sure that it’s correct the first time is crucial for the expedient delivery of goods overseas. 

Freight forwarders can help navigate the headaches that come with international laws and regulations when it comes to importing and exporting goods through customs by offering strategic consultation regarding compliance standards, packaging requirements, and foreseeing any potential obstacles the shipment may face.

Networking 

As the old saying goes, “Sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” As experts in the industry, freight forwarders have connections to many different businesses in different parts of the global supply chain. 

Freight forwarders often build and maintain relationships between different carriers, shippers, port officials, and other freight forwarding companies. 

By leveraging their good relationships, you can benefit from expedited freight delivery, and maybe even get you better shipping rates altogether. 

The network that a freight forwarding company brings is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle – so making sure to work with an experienced freight forwarding company that has been in business for a long time is crucial. 

Scheduling

International freight forwarders are tasked with scheduling the transportation of goods. Usually this requires a lot of coordination between everyone in the supply chain, including suppliers, manufacturers, carriers, warehousing providers, and more.

Inventory Management and Warehousing

Warehousing and management of inventory is a crucial part of the global supply chain. 

Some freight forwarding companies outsource their warehousing to third parties, but some offer warehousing services in-house. 

At a minimum, warehousing entails the arrangement and storage of inventory, along with keeping track of that inventory, which is crucial to the global supply chain.

Administration and Documentation

Freight forwarders take on an incredible administrative burden for their clients. At many points of the supply chain, freight forwarders are tasked with ensuring the provision and accuracy of many important documents, including, but not limited to: bills of lading, letters of credit, inventory reports, receiving reports, and all customs documents (commercial invoices, customs invoices, certificates of origin, carrier waybills, permits, etc.).

Final Thoughts

Freight forwarders play a crucial role in global supply chain management. Often acting as the unseen, unsung heroes of the supply chain, freight forwarding companies ensure that all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together seamlessly. 

Get in touch with us today to learn more about how freight forwarding can make a difference in your supply chain. 

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