A freight forwarder acts on your behalf to liaise with customs agents and freight companies to ship your goods across the world.
The freight forwarder will arrange the best deals and find the best route to get your cargo from A to B.
That being said, you might be wondering if you need a freight forwarder at all. To some, it may seem like a more affordable idea to simply handle the process in-house. Here, WTA will explain why bringing the freight forwarding process in-house may be more trouble than it's worth.
Can I Act As My Own Freight Manager?
The idea of employing a company to act on your behalf may seem like an unnecessary expense. However, in the shipping world, a freight forwarder is very much a necessary expense.
While theoretically, it is possible to act as your own freight forwarder; realistically, it can be almost impossible to arrange international shipping without a freight forwarder. Additionally, international shipping can be perilous and things can easily go wrong, freight forwarders have insurance to take control of these unforeseen occurrences.
Additionally, freight forwarders will also act on your behalf with paperwork and customs. Choosing the right freight forwarder means that any paperwork or customs errors (and subsequent extra fees and fines) are unlikely to occur.
Benefits of Freight Forwarding
While you may not be legally required to use a freight forwarder, the amount of documentation and planning involved with international shipping means that using their services will make the process far more straightforward than doing so in-house.
Freight forwarders are experts in shipping and will help save you time, stress, and money with their services. The freight forwarding company will handle your customs documentation, shipping routes, cargo insurance, storage, packing, and the best forms of international payment.
In other words, the freight forwarder will act on your behalf to ensure that your shipment has a safe, fast journey from dispatch to delivery.
If you have any questions about how a freight forwarder can help your business, feel free to get in touch with the expert team at WTA.
