Welcome to my blog. My name is Deborah. About 15 years ago, I bought an old home. We worked with several contractors to rehabilitate it, but ultimately, the foundation simply wasn't stable enough, and we had to tear it down. After that, we worked with a construction crew to build a home from the ground up. The experience was exciting and challenging, and I learned a lot through that process. I want to share construction and contracting facts and information with others so I decided to start this blog. I hope that you like the results, and I thank you for reading. Enjoy!
A freight forwarder is a company that picks up your freight or cargo at a state or international border and takes it to its next or final destination. This can be needed for shipping, as many trucking and shipping companies will only take your cargo to a certain border and no further, or you might need to change your method of shipment, such as having your items loaded onto a cargo ship or plane. If you've never used a freight forwarding service before, note a few things to understand about the process so you can find the best company and know what to expect.
1. Bills of lading may need to change
The paperwork that goes with your shipment or cargo may need to change at a border, as each state or country may have its own requirements. You may note a freight forwarding service that offers to handle the Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) paperwork for you, and this is just another term for a new bill of lading. Having your freight forwarding service prepare this can be very beneficial, as they may be more familiar with the requirements of each state or country when it comes to shipping.
2. Warehousing may be needed
If you find that a freight forwarding company offers warehousing services, note that this may be needed and not just a convenience. Forwarding freight over a border can mean many hours of trucking for it to reach its final destination, or because it may need to change its method of shipment, you may need to have it warehoused overnight or while in transit. Don't assume that you can or should go without warehousing services when choosing a freight forwarding company, but consider it as simply part of the needed services that they may provide.
3. Shipping rates can be volatile
You may notice that a freight forwarder will not lock in a shipping rate for a very long time, and this is because their own costs can be very volatile. Fuel prices can fluctuate a great deal and affect their area more than it may affect your own, or they may face terminal charges that go up and down constantly. Certain countries may also have holiday shutdowns during certain times of the year that make labor more expensive during that time, and even union negotiations with trucking companies and other carriers can affect their own prices. Expect these fluctuations as a normal part of doing business with a freight forwarder.
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