If you’re looking for a way to grow your business and ship products to warehouses and customers overseas, you’ll need a reputable freight forwarder. These companies offer a valuable service, helping to connect you with shipping carriers, and so ensuring you can access the best rates and more.
As the ecommerce landscape continues to evolve, demand for freight forwarding partners has increased. In fact, the market could reach a value of $285.2 billion by 2031. This exceptional growth means companies have a lot of options to choose from when selecting their ideal freight forwarder.
So, how do you know you’re working with the right partner? It all starts with asking the right questions.
Points to Bring Up with Your Freight Forwarder
The questions you ask your freight forwarder before you start working with them will help give you a behind-the-scenes view into their services, the support they can offer, and their value. Here are just some of the most important questions worth asking.
1. Can you provide both LCL and FCL services?
If you’re running a smaller business, it’s important to find out whether your freight forwarder can accommodate both FCL and LCL shipments. So, what is FCL and LCL shipping? FCL, or full-container load, shipping involves hiring an entire container to transfer your goods overseas.
LCL, less-than-container load, shipping means that you hire a portion of a container for your goods. This can be an ideal option if you don’t have a huge number of products to send overseas. A good freight forwarder will be able to offer access to both options, and they should be able to advise you on which shipment method will be best for you.
2. How extensive is your network?
One of the biggest benefits of working with a good freight forwarder is that they give you access to a wide network of carriers and partners. This ensures you can leverage different transportation methods (such as sea, air, or land freight) and different routes based on your specific needs.
The more extensive your freight forwarder’s network is, the more options you’ll have to choose from when planning your logistics processes and supply chain. Remember, your forwarder shouldn’t just have a lot of partners in your chosen regions, they should also have strong relationships with those carriers and vendors, to ensure you can access the best deals and rates.
3. Can you help with customs clearance?
Navigating customs can be one of the most complex parts of developing an international shipping strategy for your business. Different countries have different regulations to consider, and it can be complicated to ensure you have all the right documents in place to avoid customs delays.
A good freight forwarder may be able to help you handle customs clearance, providing insights into the documents you need to fill out and any other preparation you need to do. Some forwarders can even offer “customs brokerage” services.
4. How quickly can I get shipping quotes?
A great freight forwarder shouldn’t just be able to get you discounted shipping rates with carriers, they should also ensure you can access up-to-date quotes quickly. Rates can vary depending on many different factors, from the volume of your merchandise to your shipping date.
The earlier you can get accurate quotes, the faster you can start planning your shipments to ensure you adhere to your budget and meet your deadlines.
5. Can I track my cargo?
Studies show around 90% of customers want to be able to track their delivery orders. It’s difficult to give your customers up-to-date insights into their order location if you can’t track your cargo yourself. A good freight forwarding provider should make it easy to track where your products are at any given moment.
Many digital freight forwarders even allow you to do this in real time. With an online platform, you can see where your cargo is in an instant. Plus, you can get real-time updates into delays and problems, so you can take measures to protect your products, your business, and your reputation.
6. How do you streamline the shipping process?
Great freight forwarders don’t just empower companies to ship products overseas, they also strive to make the logistics and shipping process easier for their customers. In today’s digital world, many companies offer online tools and platforms that can save you a lot of time.
For instance, your freight forwarder might offer access to an online booking system, so you can rapidly book shipments without having to contact companies directly. Some companies can also offer access to payment and financing options, so you can keep on top of your cash flow as you’re managing the logistics process.
7. How do you handle customer service?
The shipping and logistics journey is often very complicated. There are various risks to overcome, and multiple things that can go wrong as you move your products around the world. When holdups happen, you need to know you can rely on your freight forwarder to deliver the right level of support.
Since issues can occur at any time, looking for a company that offers 24/7 assistance is often a good idea. However, it’s worth paying close attention to whether the company actually handles all requests with human agents, or just uses chatbots and automated responses outside of regular business hours.
8. Do you offer any additional services?
Alongside standard freight forwarding services, some companies offer additional “value-added” options that companies can access based on their specific needs. If you need comprehensive support from your freight forwarder, it’s worth asking if they offer any stand-out benefits.
For instance, some companies might offer door-to-door services to ensure your products are safely delivered to your chosen location or warehouse when they arrive at port. Some can provide access to discounted cargo insurance rates, or packing services to prepare your cargo for shipment.
9. Can you provide testimonials or reviews?
Great service providers should be able to back up their claims of “excellent service” with genuine reviews and testimonials from other similar users. Evidence that your freight forwarder has worked successfully with other companies in your industry can help to put your mind at ease, and reassure you that you’re working with the right partner.
If your provider can’t offer any reviews or testimonials, for whatever reason, you should at least check that they’re licensed and bonded, to ensure that they’re trustworthy.
Knowledge is Power
Ultimately, a reliable freight forwarder is an important partner for any growing business looking to send products and cargo overseas. However, not all freight forwarders are created equally. If you want to ensure you’re working with the right partner to sustain your company’s success, it’s important to ask the right questions.
The questions above will ensure you can determine whether your freight forwarder is truly a reliable, valuable, and supportive resource for your company. The more information you have, the better equipped you are to choose your partners wisely.