Freight Forwarder is a Designer In nowadays international transportation of goods is a complex activity where many players participate in what the customer sees as one service. This is where the freight forwarder steps in in the role of an architect of the transportation chain by coordinating, monitoring and managing the set of activities, responsibilities…
Do forwarders understand their customers? Below is provided a table which represents the reason for discontinuing a contract between the customer and the freight forwarder. In the first row we see that for the shipper the main reason for discontinuing 3PL contract is the Cost creep, where for the forwarders this is of less importance…
Courier or freight forwarder? What is the difference between freight forwarder and a courier? I have been often asked that question. Well, from operational point of view the difference is tremendous but from customers point of view the difference is none. Why? The customer perception is that both couriers and forwarders offer the same service…
Cooperation between Small Forwarders One of the ways for the SME Forwarders to stay at the market is to unite in some form of consortium. I would agree to some extend but we should admit that cooperation between businesses is not an easy task. Though the positive effects of such a cooperation are obvious especially…
Converting shipping cost to a single unit Customers want to receive quotes which are easy to understand and do not require too much calculation from their side. And the typical forwarder quote is far from this. Why? Freight forwarding by itself is an activity of coordinating and managing transportation of goods from their origin to their…
A low prepaid freight quote from China may look attractive at first, but hidden destination charges can significantly increase the real cost of shipping. Here is what importers need to check before accepting such offers.
Time Critical Logistics In most supply chains shipments are planned weeks in advance and transported by ocean or road freight to optimize cost. However, disruptions happen. A delayed supplier, missing component or unexpected technical failure can stop a production line or delay an important project. In such situations time becomes the most critical factor. This…
A practical look at the main Bill of Lading terms that can affect liability, claims, jurisdiction and shipment risk.