If you are involved in shipping or importing goods, choosing between freight forwarding companies would be a constant headache. Freight forwarders are businesses in charge of organizing the movement of goods across all the points of the supply chain. They take on the stress of getting the logistics moving smoothly, so you don’t have to.

Many forwarders exist, so knowing which to trust your goods with is a daily struggle for importers. But don’t worry, here are a few tips to guide you through your choice.

  • Check Their Experience.

Freight forwarding companies have to work with a network of agents that would help make the transport of goods smoother. It isn’t a giant leap to assume that a forwarder with more successful jobs under their belt would have a more comprehensive network.

With that network, the forwarder would have plans and backup plans in case of any mishap, making them more reliable than newer companies.

  • Look Over Their Services.

If your importation spans hundreds of miles, going from one country to the other and one means of transportation to another, then freight forwarding companies without expertise in all forms of transport would not be as helpful to you.

Some forwarders may specialize in sea transport, while others specialize in air shipping. However, others offer both, with land and rail inclusive. The choice is a no-brainer at this point.

  • Contact Their Customer Service.
Freight forwarding companies

A company’s response to customer inquiries is a good way to judge its services. This is especially true for freight forwarding companies. Slow responses to inquiries about your goods are not ideal, especially when you have customers to placate. So if the forwarder’s customer service is poor, it would be best if you found someone else. That would prevent any unpleasantness in the future.

  • Don’t Base Your Choice On Price.

Remember when we said that more experienced freight forwarding companies are better? Well, those are also more expensive. If you pick a forwarder based on price alone, you’re limiting yourself to the newer companies. These usually have fewer successful jobs, a less developed network, and a higher chance of making mistakes.

While a lower-priced company may still do a good job, you have to be sure the risk of going sideways is worth it.

  • Check for References.

When a shipment is delivered successfully, the client is likely to return with their colleagues for another job. So, keep your ears open for any recommendations. Freight forwarding companies usually give you customer testimonials when you ask for them, so do that. If they don’t, you probably shouldn’t work with them anyway.

It would be best to research if the testimonials are legitimate because they can be forged. If they are genuine, that forwarder is competent and might be a good choice.

Conclusion.

The stress and headaches associated with incompetent freight forwarding companies make the time spent choosing a necessary sacrifice. Fortunately, following these guidelines should make the process a lot quicker.