The services of courier and cargo happen to be an important industry in current times. It is one of the most dynamic domains of independent business in recent times and also acts as a major support system for a number of other business domains. The freight forwarding companies and agents are but an important part of this industry that often moves goods and consignments from one destination of the world to another.
Freight forwarding is an activity that is guided and controlled with own set of determined rules. In every sense of the term, it is a science in its own right, where certain sets of rules are followed as common guidelines.
What is freight forwarding?
Freight forwarding is a planned activity where goods are transported from one place to another anywhere in the world. This transport of the consignment is done through a channel of air freight, road and railway freight an also ocean freight. In certain cases, a mixture of some of the aspects is done and in others, all the modes of transport are blended for a proper movement of the consignment. These freight forwarding agents take care of all the freight forwarding agents in India fragmented portions of the entire project of hiring and managing the different modes and fleet of transport, storage of the consignment in the process of transit and also merchandising as and when required. These agents are responsible for moving the consignment through a route that will prove to be both cost-effective and safe for the consignment.
An Impetus to Globalization
In the current era of globalization where most of the commercial brands are dreaming to make it international and cater to the global markets, the freight forwarding agents serve as the wings and the feet of the commercial brands and allows them to reach far and distant market corners of the world. Transporting products and items with the help of the freight forwarding agents is one of the safest and smartest options that are available with the modern business houses of contemporary times. They act as a huge benefit and advantage for all types of businesses.
Offers a Large Array of Services
These freight forwarding agents are not a mere supply chain partner of any business brand. Apart from the transportation and the logistics of the company goods and products these companies also take care of a large number of other things like
- Insurance
- Clearance of customs
- Packing
- Export and import documentation
- Inventory management
- Storage
Clarity of Documentation
One of the aspects that you must bear in mind while dealing with a freight management agent is that this is a task that happens to be both lengthy and also rather meticulous in its nature. Freight forwarding as a process often has as many as sixty key stages. Hence all documents and paper related work related to the services must be clear to both the parties who are involved in the contract. Once again there are certain items that are not transported as consignments by the various freight forwarding agents. These items are dangerous and highly inflammable items like
- Alcohol
- Flammable liquids
- Toxic items
- Batteries
- Drugs
- Sharp objects and
- Perishable goods.
At the time of hiring such freight forwarding companies it is elementally important that you do find out in details about these organizations, for how long they have been in the market, the kind of clients that they have handled, the consignment nature they deal in, the areas which they can cover, their license details and so on. This is how you can be sure of hiring quality supply chain and logistics partners for your business.
