A proper grasp of freight forwarder roles and responsibilities will help you save time and money when seeking nearby freight services or managing shipments from China to the USA and Europe as well as other destinations.
This article explains the freight forwarder role and distinguishes freight forwarders from brokers while showing how to find the best freight forwarder to obtain freight quotes for air and sea freight services.
As an exceptional freight forwarding company Topshipping delivers services that streamline international trade operations.
What Does a Freight Forwarder Do?
Freight forwarders roles are similar to travel agents for cargo by managing the transfer of goods through various transportation modes without owning any ships or planes. Topshipping and similar freight forwarding companies manage customs documentation while arranging freight rates and booking transport for ocean freight or air freight services.
When shipping goods from China to the USA, freight forwarders manage either sea freight forwarding tasks, which take 25–40 days at $100–$300/CBM for LCL, or air shipping, which takes 3–7 days with air freight rates per kg at $5–$15. Industry guides highlight how their international freight forwarder expertise results in effective cargo delivery.
Freight Forwarder vs. Freight Broker: What's the Difference?
Understanding the difference between a freight forwarder vs broker is essential. Freight forwarder companies manage your shipment from start to finish by issuing a Bill of Lading and managing customs clearance, while they frequently offer cargo insurance and warehousing solutions.
A freight broker functions to connect shippers with carriers. Freight forwarding services provide better control and risk management, making them superior for international trade compared to brokers specializing in domestic transportation.
Top Services Offered by Freight Forwarders
Freight forwarding companies deliver 3PL solutions, including sea freight logistics and air freight transportation from China. They excel in:
- Ocean Freight: Ocean freight forwarding companies enable cost-efficient transportation of both LCL and FCL shipments.
- Air Freight: Air shipping between China and any other countries provides competitive freight rates per kg suitable for transporting urgent items.
- Customs Brokerage: Customs Brokerage entails handling HS Code documentation and securing clearances.
- Digital Tracking: Real-time track & trace for shipments, enhancing transparency. Importers receive efficient cargo delivery through freight forwarding services, which operate with SLA (Service Level Agreements) support.
Choosing the Best Freight Forwarder
Finding the ideal freight forwarder requires an assessment of third-party logistics evaluation criteria, including its international reach and customer service capabilities.
Topshipping is a leading freight forwarding company that provides Incoterms support through FOB and DDP options and contract logistics solutions for shipments from China to the USA.
Seek freight forwarders with access to major ports like Los Angeles or Rotterdam and digital booking tools such as Freightos for simple freight quote acquisition.
When evaluating shipping agents, reliability should be paramount, as DHL Global Forwarding with 1.8M TEUs and Maersk with 12M containers dominate ocean freight. At the same time, Flexport excels at providing online shipping quote tools.
Why Work with a Freight Forwarder?
Working with international freight forwarders such as Topshipping reduces your logistics risks and saves time. The company manages customs paperwork and uses cargo consolidation to optimize port-to-port routes while providing budget-friendly air freight from China which reduces your shipping costs by 10-20%. Access Topshipping's free freight quotes at any time for straightforward pricing which simplifies freight forwarding to enable smooth international trade operations.
Freight Forwarding Essentials
Topshipping provides services including sea freight forwarding together with air freight pricing per kg and digital tracking while also offering multimodal freight solutions in conjunction with ocean freight forwarders and KLM Cargo.
Select a Forwarder Top freight forwarders provide port access, support Incoterms and offer reliable service Freightos evaluates 3PL criteria
Topshipping together with other freight forwarders enable smooth international commerce by providing freight forwarding services that enhance cargo movement from China to the USA and other destinations with efficient delivery and clear pricing.
FAQ
DHL serves as a freight forwarder through its DHL Global Forwarding division which manages air, sea, road, and rail freight alongside customs clearance and essential documentation such as Bills of Lading. They operate as logistics coordinators for cargo delivery without owning transport assets. Smaller parcels benefit from DHL's courier services which are provided through the DHL Express network.
FedEx operates as a carrier by utilizing its fleet of planes and trucks to provide air freight services between China and the USA and perform domestic deliveries. FedEx Trade Networks enables the company to act as a freight forwarder by handling multimodal freight and customs brokerage through third-party assets while maintaining its carrier operations for flexibility.
