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From Dock to Door: Why Freight Forwarding May Be a Good Investment

Transporting goods to long distance destinations can be a lucrative business, especially if the people at the helm are well-versed in logistics. However, arranging transportation is a time-consuming process—no matter what the size or nature of your business may be. In fact, according to the U.S. Trade Information Center (TIC), exporting can be particularly daunting for small to medium-sized businesses.

freight forwarding train

"Freight Train" by Steve Loco 
Some Rights Reserved. Hosted on Flickr

The good news, it doesn’t have to be. Many exporters and other companies look to freight forwarders to get the job done. And here’s why:

Freight Forwarders are experienced experts in the complex field of freight forwarding—of course. They have the special skills and knowledge needed to advise and assists clients on how to move goods most efficiently from one destination to another, says TIC. Further, says TIC, a forwarder’s extensive knowledge of documentation requirements, regulations, transportation costs and banking practices can greatly ease the exporting process for most companies.

Here's a breakdown of what freight forwarders can do for your company, they:

  • Take care of cargo from “dock to door” (if your company chooses this option)
  • Correctly file export documentation
  • Make all arrangements with carriers
  • Coordinate packing, storage, and crating
  • Utilize services offered through affiliations with global organizations such as the International Air Transportation Association (IATA)

It gets better. Freight forwarding isn’t expensive. In fact, you will save money by going this route;

  • Not only because of the in-house time and labor savings you'll enjoy, 
  • but because freight forwarders have greater access to significant shipping discounts. The savings get passed along to you!

That said, just knowing that an experienced freight forwarding service will pay a tremendous amount of attention to detail (so your cargo will reach its destination safely and without delay), whatever the rate, it will certainly be money well spent.

Finding Freight Forwarding Services

The demand for freight forwarding is high, so you will no doubt find an impressive collection of freight forwarders that are A+ rated and ready to serve you. You can find a service by browsing through a freight forwarding services directory, you can check with the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFFA), or see what a company like Valley Box has to offer.

Topics: Wood, Services

Valley Box Company

Written by Valley Box Company

Valley Box demonstrates what is possible beyond just the typical wooden crate. This specialty crating manufacturer works with a wide variety of materials from wood to plastic, corrugated, metals and more. Discover how to take specialty crating to the next level.