As you know, a good freight forwarder adds a lot of value to your supply chain, especially when you’ve reached a volume of business beyond which organizing your own transport is out of the question. But how do you find the best forwarder for your business? Here are 10 points to clarify on your first contact.
And then…once you’ve chosen the forwarder you think is the best, remember to challenge him every year to do everything in his power to remain your partner!
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Expertise specific to your field: a forwarder qualified for your activity will provide you with customer references for transport comparable to yours. It’s a guarantee of experience and expertise that is often useful, if not indispensable.
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Belonging to a network: Integrated networks may seem more reassuring at first glance, but in reality they are more restrictive and limited than networks of independent agents. An independent forwarder is free to compete and find the best service provider for each destination. Through independent networksnetworks, he can count on partners all over the world who, like him, know their geographical areas and their specific features inside out. These networks reference and audit specialists in each speciality, with the necessary approvals to provide a quality service: medical logistics, automotive, aeronautics, industrial projects, e-commerce…
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Its ability to diversify modes of transport: a forwarder who juggles with multi-modal transport will always be able to offer you the optimum option to meet your cost/time constraints.
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Its capacity for consolidation: if a company doesn’t have sufficient volume to fill a container, it can benefit from consolidation, with the corollary of lower transport costs.
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Approvals and certifications: he must of course be an IATA and FIATA agent, and a Registered Customs Representative. Ask him if he is an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO-Full, AEO-C or AEO-S). AEO-Full certification guarantees a high level of quality, compliance and reliability. This European customs seal of approval is recognized internationally, helping to speed up and streamline certain procedures.
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His insurance policies: which ones does he take out? What are the guarantees?
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Its other services : can it provide you with services such as warehousing, packaging, distribution to multiple recipients?
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Its tracking policy: how does it communicate on the progress of your shipments? Does it offer tracking of your goods online? Does it wait for you to do the monitoring yourself, or will an operator monitor your movements to alert you to any anomalies?
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Staff: how long have employees worked for the company? Experience is a guarantee of reputation and peace of mind.
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Its ability to respond quickly and precisely to your request, with details of costs, services and deadlines. To evaluate it, ask for a quote.
