Like most things we choose to outsource, if you manage shipping for your business, using a freight forwarder should make your life easier. But how exactly does that happen? Here are five reasons why a freight forwarder will make shipping easier.
1) Reduce hassle and gain time
Many businesses decide to use a freight forwarder to reduce the work involved in managing and organising shipping. Rather than trying to handle everything yourself and dealing with multiple shipping companies, a freight forwarder will complete documentation, coordinate each element of the shipping process and provide a single point of contact to which you can direct all your shipping queries. As well as having direct access to a team of knowledgeable and experienced freight forwarders, you’ll also be able to access tracking information 24/7 and view reports whenever you need them through innovative online tools.
Taking away much of the administration required when organising shipments, a freight forwarder will free its clients from the time and hassle involved and outsourcing to an expert can often be more cost-effective than trying to struggle through the process yourself.
2) Peace of Mind
Let’s face it, we all have enough to worry about without waking up at night because you can’t remember if you completed the customs declaration for your latest shipment! Import and export procedures can be complicated, particularly as different countries have varying rules and regulations with which you must comply. A freight forwarder will make sure all the relevant documents, licenses and fee payments are in place, so you can relax in the knowledge that your shipments will clear customs – and arrive at their destination on schedule.
3) Knowledge and Expertise
Having someone you can rely on at the end of the phone, is invaluable when it comes to shipping. A professional freight forwarder will give you access to an unbiased range of services offered by sea, air, road, rail and combinations of each to ensure cost-effective transit of goods in line with timescales required to meet your business’ deadlines. Without a freight forwarder, you’ll need to go directly to every carrier yourself which can be a lengthy and time-consuming activity, especially if you’re not familiar with the options available.
4) Back up plan
Unfortunately, the world of shipping doesn’t always go according to plan and delays or issues beyond your control can impact your shipments. However, a freight forwarder will keep you apprised of any problems likely to affect your shipment and source alternative solutions to keep your goods moving. Many events can delay the shipping process, but an experienced freight forwarder should be able to mitigate them, as opposed to you struggling to handle delays after the event.
5) Cost Reduction
Reputable freight forwarders have excellent relationships with carriers, and significant buying power thanks to their large volumes, which means they can negotiate competitive shipping rates. Some freight forwarders offer additional services too which provide similar economies of scale such as your freight forwarder organising your road freight or warehousing needs. Ultimately, freight forwarders are experts in securing the most cost-effective shipping options that balance costs with reliability. By working in partnership, they’ll get to know your requirements and support you in planning your shipping needs over the long term to secure value for money into the future.
If you’d like to find out more about how freight forwarders can help you manage your shipping needs, speak to our friendly team today.