If you are involved in the import and export of goods, it is essential that you know what a freight forwarder is, the services it offers and the difference between a freight forwarder and a customs broker.
Definition of freight forwarder
It is imperative to know the definition of freight forwarder before delving into its different aspects. A freight forwarder is a company dedicated to the logistics management between the importer and exporter, including and organizing all the participants in the operation.
They are usually dedicated to the management of all aspects that affect transportation, however, their functions go much further, performing a deep work of logistics coordination, so explaining what a freight forwarder is can extend to much more than a few lines.
Freight forwarding company services and functions
Having a freight forwarding company to manage our goods transport is crucial, no matter what type of goods you intend to move, whether it is plastics or
transport of live animals
The complexity is not only about the type of goods. As we will see below, other factors such as destination and method of transport also play a role.
Among the main functions of a freight forwarding company are all the intermediation tasks between importer and exporter related to transportation:
- Transportation management: method, timing, additional services.
- Warehousing, logistics, packaging.
- Other services, such as insurance, banking and customs clearance.
Difference between freight forwarder and customs agent
As we have seen, a freight forwarding company is responsible for coordinating the transportation of goods. This concept is often confused with others in the industry, so it is important that you know the differences between freight forwarder and customs broker.
Customs brokers are the professional team with an official authorization from the Customs Directorate to act as legal representatives of importers and exporters. In addition, they are authorized to clear goods and are in charge of making customs declarations.
There are other less common services that customs brokers also perform, such as handling a possible free circulation
clearance for free circulation
They can also be present at inspections, provide advice or issue certificates of origin, among many other operations.
However, it is common to find companies offering freight forwarding and customs brokerage services, as well as a wider range of services that are useful to importers and exporters.
At Partida Logistics we are
Authorized Economic Operator
and we offer services of customs broker, freight forwarder and logistics operator specialized in different sectors and customs. If you need our services we will be pleased to guide and advise you in all your commercial operations.
