What to Expect From a Freight Forwarder (And What You Shouldn't Have to Chase)
Not every freight forwarder operates the same way, and it's worth knowing what should be handled for you versus what you'll end up chasing yourself.
Booking and Carrier Coordination
A forwarder should be comparing carrier options and booking capacity on your behalf, not simply relaying a single quote. That includes managing the relationship if a carrier changes schedules or routing.
Documentation, Start to Finish
Commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading and customs filings should be prepared and checked by your forwarder before they become a problem at the border, not after.
One Point of Contact
You shouldn't need to separately track a trucking company, a shipping line and a customs broker. A forwarder consolidates that into a single relationship and a single status update.
Visibility Into Your Shipment
You should be able to get a straight answer on where your cargo is and when it's expected to arrive, without submitting a support ticket and waiting days for a reply.
Problem Handling, Not Just Problem Reporting
Delays and complications happen in freight. The difference between an average forwarder and a good one is whether they're actively resolving the issue or just passing along bad news.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Book
- Who is my single point of contact once the shipment is booked?
- How will I be updated if something changes in transit?
- What happens to documentation if there's a customs query?
At Inqube Relocation Shipping, one coordinator manages your shipment's freight booking, documentation and customs process end to end, so you get one relationship instead of three.