With the rapid development of China's economy, China's freight forwarding industry is also developing rapidly, and various types of freight forwarders have emerged as the times require. We often talk about international freight forwarding. How much do you know about their roles

1、 Serving Shippers

1. Organizational coordination

International freight forwarders have always been known as "the designers of transportation", the organizers and coordinators of "door to door" transportation. With its transportation knowledge and other relevant knowledge, it organizes transportation activities, designs transportation routes, and selects transportation methods and carriers (or cargo owners)

Coordinating the relationship between the cargo owner, the carrier, and the warehouse keeper, the insurer, the bank, the port, the airport, the station, the yard operator, and the customs, commodity inspection, health inspection, animal and plant inspection, import and export control authorities can save the client time, reduce many unnecessary headaches, and concentrate on the main business

2. Professional service role

The main job of an international freight forwarder is to use its professional knowledge and experience to provide services for the consignor in the contracting, delivery, assembly, consolidation, unloading, and delivery of goods. It accepts the consignor's entrustment to handle procedures such as insurance, customs, commodity inspection, sanitary inspection, animal and plant inspection, and import and export control of goods. Sometimes, it is necessary to pay and collect freight, advance taxes, and government fees on behalf of the consignor

By providing various professional services to clients, international freight forwarders can avoid the need for clients to spend more effort and effort in business areas that they are not familiar with, and appropriately and effectively handle those that are inconvenient or difficult to handle on their own, helping to improve the work efficiency of clients

3. Cost reduction

International freight forwarders master the market conditions of transportation, warehousing, loading and unloading, and insurance of goods. They have long-term and close friendly cooperative relationships with transportation stakeholders, warehouse keepers, ports, airports, stations, yard operators, and insurers of goods. They have rich professional knowledge and business experience, a favorable negotiating position, and skilled negotiation skills. Through the efforts of international freight forwarders, they can choose the best transportation route for goods Transportation methods: The best warehouse keepers, loading and unloading operators, and insurers can strive for fair and reasonable rates, and even benefit all relevant parties through the consolidation effect, thereby reducing the business costs of cargo transportation stakeholders and improving their main business benefits

4. Financing function

"International freight forwarders understand each other, have a close relationship, long-term cooperation, and trust each other with the transportation stakeholders, warehouse keepers, loading and unloading operators, and banks, customs authorities, etc. of the goods. International freight forwarders can pay related fees and taxes on behalf of the consignee and shipper, settle relevant expenses with the carrier, warehouse keepers, and loading and unloading operators in advance, and rely on their own strength and reputation to provide information to the carrier, warehouse keepers, loading and unloading operators, and banks," The provision of fees, tax guarantees, or risk guarantees by the customs authorities can help clients finance funds, reduce capital pressure, and improve the efficiency of fund utilization

5. Communication control

International freight forwarders have extensive business relationships, developed service networks, and advanced information technology means, which can maintain effective communication between cargo transportation stakeholders, cargo transportation stakeholders, and other relevant enterprises and departments at any time, accurately track and control the entire process of cargo transportation, ensure the safe and timely delivery of goods to their destination, smoothly handle relevant procedures, and accurately deliver the goods to the consignee, At the request of the client, it shall provide information services and other related services throughout the process

6. Role of consultants

International freight forwarders are familiar with international trade, proficient in various transportation businesses, familiar with relevant laws and regulations, and familiar with relevant situations around the world. Their information sources are accurate and timely. They can provide information on the packaging, storage, handling, and care of goods, the mode of transportation, transportation routes, and transportation costs of goods, insurance of goods, import and export documents, and settlement of prices, consular, customs, commodity inspection, health inspection, animal and plant inspection Provide clear and specific advice to the client on the requirements of relevant authorities such as import and export control, assist the client in designing and selecting appropriate treatment plans, and avoid and reduce unnecessary risks, setbacks, and waste

2、 Serving the Carrier

When booking space with the carrier, the freight forwarder must provide both the carrier and the shipper with fair and reasonable rates, arrange appropriate time for delivery, and resolve issues such as freight accounts with the carrier in the name of the shipper

International freight forwarders have a close relationship with liner companies, and an increasing number of liner companies have recognized the beneficial role of international freight forwarders in improving their theory with a certain commission. In recent years, with the growth of container transportation in international trade, international freight forwarders have introduced "consolidation" and "LCL" services, enabling them to establish closer ties with liner companies and other carriers such as railway carriers

3、 Serving the Port

The freight forwarder can pick up and transport the entire ship's cargo or load most of the entire ship's cargo, and under the premise of a reasonable flow direction, it can strive for the ship to load and unload at the port where the freight forwarder is located, which will compete for a ship's cargo source for the port

4、 Serving customs

Because of this, currently, about 80% of the world's air cargo, over 70% of container cargo, and 75% of the general cargo transportation business are controlled by international freight forwarders

80% of China's import and export trade cargo transportation and transit business (including 70% of bulk cargo and 90% of container cargo), and 90% of international air cargo transportation business is completed through international freight forwarders.