If you are
planning to start a business that will involve importing or exporting goods to
or from your country, it is most probable that you will be using freight
forwarding services to make sure that your goods are transported safely.
Logistic solutions that are involved in international shipping are very
complex, so handling them on your own will not be a good idea. You will need to
look for a trustworthy freight forwarder that you will be working with in the
long run to avoid the hassle of shifting from one freight forwarder to
another.
So how do
you select the right international freight forwarding agent to work with?
Before you choose the freight forwarding agent, you must check and make sure
that they have good reviews from past customers. You can look for the reviews
on forums, websites or social media accounts on the internet. You can also
reach out to the people that have been able to work in the past with the
freight forwarder that you are considering and ask them about the experience
they had. If you come across an agent that has mixed reviews from past
customers, do not settle for them. Simply look for another agent
elsewhere.
Apart from
good references, you need to check and make sure that the international freight
forwarding agent you are considering has solid customer support. If you have
any rate related queries, you need to make sure that the agent is going to
answer you promptly. The agent should also give you step by step guidance on
import and export shipping. You should not just start working with them without
finding out what exactly they will be doing for you. Also, you need to make
sure that the freight forwarder you will choose is good when it comes to
keeping with timelines.
Another
thing that you need to check when choosing an international freight
forwarding agent is their payment options. Some of the lesser known
freight forwarders have very restricted payment options that may pose a serious
problem for your international business. Additionally, these companies may take
a lot of time to process your order and cause unnecessary delay of your
shipping. To be on the safe side, select a freight forwarder that provides a
wide range of payment options as well as faster processing of shipments.
Most
importantly, you need to make sure that the international freight
forwarding agent you are considering has the services that you need
for your shipment. Do not choose an agent that is only going to handle the
ocean shipping or air shipping part of your export or import. Look for a
freight forwarder that will handle that as well as the trucking or rail part of
your international shipping to avoid a situation where you will be forced to
work with more than one freight forwarding agents. Also consider the supply
chain value added services that are offered the freight forwarder that you will
choose.
To help
you select the right international freight forwarding agent to work with, check out here excelsior.ph for more related information.
