Freight Forwarder
Intermediary specialized in the organization and coordination of international freight transport.
Freight Forwarder
The freight forwarder is an international transport professional who organizes and coordinates the end-to-end transport of goods on behalf of his clients (shippers or recipients).
Role
The freight forwarder is an intermediary between his client and the various players in the logistics chain: shipping companies, airlines, road and rail carriers, handlers, warehouses and customs.
Services
Organization of transport (choice of mode, freight reservation), customs clearance (if also RDE), transport insurance, warehousing and distribution, consolidation and deconsolidation (LCL consolidation), documentation and monitoring.
Distinction with the transport agent
In French law, the transport agent commits to the result (he guarantees the proper execution of the transport from start to finish) while the forwarding agent (in the strict sense) only coordinates the operations without guarantee of result. In practice, the distinction becomes blurred and the two terms are often used interchangeably.
NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier)
An NVOCC is a freight forwarder that issues its own bills of lading (House B/L) and purchases freight in bulk from shipping companies to resell to its customers. He acts as a carrier towards his client.
Selection criteria
Experience on the routes and countries concerned, network of agents at destination, quality of customs service, price competitiveness, responsiveness and tracking tools.