A freight forwarder is an organization that arranges and conducts shipments of freight for companies or individuals, in order to transport the goods from the manufacturer, producer or supplier, to a specific customer, market or end distribution point. The forwarder does not actually transport the goods, but acts between the manufacturer and the carrier. The forwarder is responsible for drawing up a contract with the carrier to move the goods.
Freight Forwarding
Freight forwarders are experts in the logistics industry. They know the exact carrier to contact depending on the type of cargo you are shipping. Types of shipment include:
- Agricultural produce including livestock
- Manufactured goods
- Machine parts
- Vehicles
Your cargo can be transported through a variety of shipping providers which may include:
- Railroad
- Trucking
- Airplane
- Ships
Quite often, a single shipment may be transported using more than one type of carrier. If you are shipping your cargo overseas this type of shipment is usually handled by an international freight forwarder. This is because international forwarders have specific experience dealing with documentation and processing in relation to customs procedures.
Information and Documentation
Your freight forwarder will typically handle the following information and documentation:
- Commercial invoices
- Shipper’s export declaration
- Bill of lading
- Customs documents
- Import and/or transhipment documents
At Bonded Service we have been providing public warehousing, contract warehousing, order fulfillment, transportation and inventory management services since 1931. We are proud of the fact that we were one of Atlanta’s first logistics companies. We are committed to offering state-of-the-art facilities and services. We operate over 1 million square feet all over the greater Atlanta area and now have two new facilities in the Savannah area designed to meet demands of our clients needing close proximity to the Port of Savannah. Quality is one of our hallmarks so you can guarantee that you can trust our freight forwarding services.