Freight Forwarders vs. Freight Brokers
More than 5 million ton-miles of freight were moved in the United States in 2018. The logistics industry has developed a few different methods to handle this astronomical amount of freight.
Choosing a suitable shipping method will ensure your freight gets from point A to point B. The two most commonplace are freight forwarding services and freight brokers. Each has its inherent advantages and disadvantages.
Read on to find out whether freight forwarding companies or freight brokerage companies will work best for you.
What Are Freight Brokers?
Freight brokers manage the movement of freight. They connect carriers to clients with logistical needs and oversee the shipping process. They do not physically move your freight for you.
Instead, they act as a third-party manager for a shipping company that handles your freight. Freight brokers generally operate in the domestic freight industry.
While some have international capabilities, these are the exceptions rather than the rule. For your business’s global shipping needs, you need to hire freight forwarding services.
What Is Freight Forwarding?
Freight forwarding is the process of handling your freight needs from start to finish completely. This option includes things such as warehousing and storing your goods until they are ready to be shipped.
Freight forwarding companies own the means to transport your freight. These companies own trucks, ships, or aircraft.
They will use these resources to take possession of your freight. Then, they ship it themselves rather than hiring an outside company.
Freight forwarders also specialize in international shipping. As a result, they have the legal capabilities of dealing with each country’s customs laws.
Freight forwarders have all of the necessary qualifications to operate on an international level. In addition, they possess bills of lading required to conduct international commerce.
They are your one-stop shop when it comes to forwarding your freight, being able to operate in the domestic or international theatre.
Finding the Best Freight Forwarding Services
There are a ton of freight forwarding services out there. To find the best one to fit your shipping needs, you need to narrow down your criteria. First of all, you need to determine what it is you need to ship.
Hazardous materials and other particular substances have specific rules surrounding their transportation. Make sure that your chosen freight forwarding service has the experience and qualifications to ship your goods.
It would help to determine where and how you will ship your goods and choose your freight forwarding service based on their capabilities.
Do not choose a forwarding service specializing in shipping via rail when you need to fly your products overseas.
Finally, consult some online reviews to see who has the best reputation in the industry. If you have narrowed down your criteria, choosing a company based on reputation and price is your best bet.
Find Someone Who Moves Freight Great
You have a lot of options when it comes to fulfilling your company’s logistical needs. Now you know the difference between freight forwarding services and a freight broker. Understanding this difference is the first step in choosing your best option.
Use your knowledge for action by selecting the best freight company for your logistical needs. Contact us today if you are ready to work with one of the best freight-forwarding companies in the industry.
Atlanta Customs Brokers is one of the oldest and most trusted customs brokerage and shipping firms in Atlanta. Established in 1985, our company has been a fixture in and around the Atlanta airport and Savannah port for more than 31 years. We enjoy working with our international partners and enjoy what we do. If you are a first-time importer or exporter or a large corporation, we can handle your needs.