What is a Freight Forwarder?
In the simplest of terms, a freight forwarder (sometimes known as a NVOCC – non-vessel operating common carrier ) is a travel agent for your cargo yet there is so much more than that. Some say that a freight forwarder is an ‘architect of transport’ and some are experts in supply chain management.
The legal definition at 49 U.S.C. § 13102 (8) is:
“Freight Forwarder—the term ‘freight forwarder’ means a person holding itself out to the general public (other than as a pipeline, rail, motor, or water carrier) to provide transportation of property for compensation and in the ordinary course of its business — (A) assembles and consolidates, or provides for assembling and consolidating, shipments and performs or provides for break-bulk and distribution operations of the shipments; (B) assumes responsibility for the transportation from the place of receipt to the place of destination; and (C) uses for any part of the transportation a [surface carrier] carrier subject to jurisdiction [of the Department of Transportation] of under this subtitle.”
International freight forwarders facilitate product movement between countries. A forwarder contracts with a variety of carriers that can include truck, rail, air and sea carriers.
They have expertise assisting with necessary documents:
- filings (AES, ISF, AMS)
- commercial invoices
- packing lists
- certificate of origin
- legalized documents
- bills of lading, letters of credit
- hazardous materials declaration
- country specific documentation (i.e. Australia wood packing declaration)
- Free Trade Agreements (i.e. NAFTA)
- In-Transit documents
Superior Freight Services, Inc. is an International Freight Forwarder and is available to assist you. Please feel free to contact us superior@supfrt.com or 800.298.4305.
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