Choosing A Freight Forwarder FOR THE Export & Import Shipping

When it comes to selling goods overseas, or purchasing goods from an international supplier - you need to ensure you are choosing a freight company which will supply you with a reliable and dependable freight forwarding service.

freight Sydney to Canberra  of exporting and importing goods could be complex, with plenty of things to consider, but just about the most important decisions which should not be studied lightly, is choosing your freight forwarder.

It's essential that the freight agent you select, is suitable to handle your shipping needs. You need to know that your deadlines will undoubtedly be kept in order to not affect your supply chain and ultimately disappoint your customers. It is crucial to have a freight company that can deliver on their promises and are acquainted with the marketplace and route you are exporting to or importing from.

Searching for a trusted freight forwarder using Google or another search engine, will offer you a large number of choices. Even drilling down these search results, will still mean you having to trawl through an extensive list of possible suppliers. So just how do you look for a freight company that is right for your needs?

Well one way is to go off a recommendation you may have from a friend or business associated. Often folks are pleased to recommend suppliers, should they have had a decent first hand connection with using that companies' service. Recommendations certainly are a fast way of locating a suitable supplier to your requirements, enabling you to not have to search through a huge selection of different possibilities.

If a recommendation isn't possible, then there are always a couple of things you ought to be looking out for when looking for a freight company. Membership of a recognised trade body, such as IATA or FIATA, demonstrate that the business has undergone certain checks and contains had its application reviewed by the trade body. Frequently this will mean an employee of the trade body, visiting the top office of the freight agent for verification purposes and to conduct an interview of management, to confirm their suitability of being selected as an associate of their trade body.

Once you have identified a freight forwarder you could work with, be sure you contact them by phone and discuss your individual requirements with them. Ask lots of questions, to ensure the company are able to accommodate your needs and that they grasp your hopes and expectations. Any time sensitive requirements should be made clear at that time, so that the freight forwarding company is able to confirm your delivery times are workable and realistic.

Does the company you have contacted specialise on the market you are exporting to or importing from? Do they operate their very own services or do they sub-contract their freight shipments to another carrier? These are questions which you shouldn't be afraid to ask.

Remember the freight forwarding industry is very competitive, with many companies competing for the same business. It is strongly suggested you contact around three different freight forwarders, seeking information on their services and to benchmark quotations you could have received from elsewhere. You need to make sure that the freight service you're receiving is competitive - and inline using what other freight forwarders are charging.