What makes a good freight forwarder

Freight forwarders like Velta offer you a dedicated Client Relationship Manager CRM , providing you with one point of contact who is responsible for handling the whole supply chain process on your behalf. By having a dedicated point of contact there is complete visibility throughout the supply chain.

As such, the CRM will have the awareness of any issues that, on the odd occasion arise, and will be able to act upon these, offering solutions to avoid hold ups in your supply chain, and associated additional costs. In the dynamic industry of supply chain management, it is imperative to have answers quickly so you need to ensure that your chosen partner is not the type to keep you hanging on for a response.

If you want real time visibility of your supply chain, employ the services of a freight forwarder who is able to offer real time tracking systems. Whilst it may be tempting to opt to utilise the services of a freight forwarder that offers you the cheapest rates, consider why they are charging less than everyone else.

If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is! For the ultimate supply chain service provision, instead look for a freight forwarder that offers a good service at competitive rates. Testimonials Careers Contact Us Get a quote. But while a compliance-focused partner is good, you need to understand your own role first.

Your freight forwarder is your representative, but they are not you. You know your business best. The documents you provide them must be accurate. Their role is to arrange and manage the transportation of goods—not to serve as your company's compliance officers. Ultimately, compliance is your responsibility. Take control of export compliance by choosing your freight forwarder wisely and maintaining control of and responsibility for your exports.

The best freight forwarders are partners in your exporting transactions. By working closely with your freight forwarder you can minimize entry errors, enhance compliance and ultimately deliver your goods faster and get paid on time.

Call International Trade Blog. Where do you begin? Questions to Ask How many years has your company been in business? How many people are on your staff? How many years have they been working with your company? This has numerous potential benefits including saving you both time and money, reducing the carbon footprint of your cargo and also minimising the risk of issues including delay, loss of cargo or mishandling. A good company is built on excellent customer care. If something goes wrong somewhere along the shipping process — which can happen, no matter which freight forwarder you use — having someone dedicated to putting it right as quickly as possible is invaluable.

You should also look for specific tools that will make your experience as a customer easier. Online tracking, for example, is a fantastic tool that allows greater communication between businesses and their own customers. Once you find a potential forwarder, repeat the above six steps, and ensure they are up to the challenge. BlueX is an Freight Commerce Platform that compares freight rates and space across dozens of partners and carriers.

Your existing and new freight forwarder can use the BlueX service to find competitive tier 1 rates and offer you a more streamlined service. You can learn more about what we offer or drop us a message at info bluextrade. Thank you for submitting your interest in joining the ShipperX solution.

We will be in touch once we launch. Download Now. We received your message, and our team will reply to you as soon as possible.

You can also contact us through intercom or email us at info bluextrade. What is a Freight Forwarder? Tips for Finding and Choosing a Freight Forwarder 1. The last thing you want is to discover that your freight forwarder is unable to provide any of the following services: Notarizing invoices on behalf of shippers Making amendments to document mistakes Obtaining certificates insurance, inspection, etc.

Preparing and reviewing documentation Helping with customs clearance Shipping logistics services You also need to ensure that your forwarder can offer the following 3PL services: Negotiating freight rates for air, sea, and road Offering export and import quotations Finding appropriate shipment routes for a shipment Arranging for packing and loading Finding appropriate freight insurance Making payments on your behalf These services and the aforementioned document management duties are only a fraction of what a freight forwarder can help organize.

Maintaining Good Relationships is Important Freight forwarders owe a lot of their success on their ability to forge good relationships.