For people that are established exporters, they are well versed with the fact that selection of a reliable freight forwarding firm can be a very tough decision. This is because you need to be certain your goods are being transported by a reputable organization. It is even tougher for people that are seeking to use the services for the very first time. The selection of freight forwarding companies is a decision that requires lots of thought.
One of the first crucial things to look at is experience. The years of experience of a company will determine how well placed they are to offer services. It should be a company that has dealt with a wide array of situations, including strikes of dockworkers and shutdowns. They should be able to reroute cargo if need be and sort issues to do with customs. Such companies are able to avoid customs, warehousing and rerouting issues. This is done before the issues start.
You should ask about the network agents of the company and also their partners in the countries of concern. This is as regards either imports or exports. This will come in handy when dealing with international shipments. The forwarder should ideally have a strong network all over the world. They should be connected in the countries of origin of the goods as well as their destination. This is extremely important because some freight companies have the experience but without the right networks.
Customers should look at the services offered. The company needs to be in a position of handling more than just air or ocean shipping part of exports or imports. They need to be in a position to handle also rail and or trucking portion of the shipping. However, this will also be dependent on the specific services that you need. Things like cargo insurance and tracking are mandatory.
The company that you consider should have the right references. You will need to find out about clients they have served in the past. The most reputable companies have websites or pages with testimonials where clients can check references. The other best option would be to call the references and ask about what the services offered were like.
The aspect of customer services is a very important one. The most reputable firms are supposed to get back to their clients promptly as regards any questions or clarifications. When it comes to new customers, the company should take them through all the requirements and what they should expect. It is the good customer service that enables clients to have peace of mind knowing their cargo is well taken care of.
The charges for the services should be carefully considered. The charges imposed by different companies are different and it helps to make comparisons. You need not necessarily opt for cheapest options. Actually, the most reputable firms tend to charge more for their services.
The freight forwarder should be in good financial position. This is the reason one should check for bonding. They are required to obtain freight broker bonds before they are certified to operate.
One of the first crucial things to look at is experience. The years of experience of a company will determine how well placed they are to offer services. It should be a company that has dealt with a wide array of situations, including strikes of dockworkers and shutdowns. They should be able to reroute cargo if need be and sort issues to do with customs. Such companies are able to avoid customs, warehousing and rerouting issues. This is done before the issues start.
You should ask about the network agents of the company and also their partners in the countries of concern. This is as regards either imports or exports. This will come in handy when dealing with international shipments. The forwarder should ideally have a strong network all over the world. They should be connected in the countries of origin of the goods as well as their destination. This is extremely important because some freight companies have the experience but without the right networks.
Customers should look at the services offered. The company needs to be in a position of handling more than just air or ocean shipping part of exports or imports. They need to be in a position to handle also rail and or trucking portion of the shipping. However, this will also be dependent on the specific services that you need. Things like cargo insurance and tracking are mandatory.
The company that you consider should have the right references. You will need to find out about clients they have served in the past. The most reputable companies have websites or pages with testimonials where clients can check references. The other best option would be to call the references and ask about what the services offered were like.
The aspect of customer services is a very important one. The most reputable firms are supposed to get back to their clients promptly as regards any questions or clarifications. When it comes to new customers, the company should take them through all the requirements and what they should expect. It is the good customer service that enables clients to have peace of mind knowing their cargo is well taken care of.
The charges for the services should be carefully considered. The charges imposed by different companies are different and it helps to make comparisons. You need not necessarily opt for cheapest options. Actually, the most reputable firms tend to charge more for their services.
The freight forwarder should be in good financial position. This is the reason one should check for bonding. They are required to obtain freight broker bonds before they are certified to operate.
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