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Freight forwarder

A freight forwarder is a company that arranges the movement of goods from origin to destination on behalf of a shipper, using carriers across air, ocean, road and rail. Most forwarders do not own the vessels, aircraft or trucks that carry the cargo. Instead, they buy capacity from carriers and manage the full journey.


Freight forwarding is the service itself. It covers:

  • planning routes
  • booking space
  • consolidating shipments
  • preparing documentation
  • coordinating customs clearance
  • keeping customers updated as goods move.