FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A freight forwarder organizes shipping for domestic and international trade. They arrange the logistics for how goods will be moved and stored during transit and work closely with the importers and exporters to make sure all customs clearance and other documentation is in place. 

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While a freight forwarder doesn’t physically move the goods, they’re an efficient and cost-effective way to get products to market, especially for those exporting large volumes. Freight forwarders act as an intermediary between businesses and shipping companies and can use their network of trusted freight services to get good deals on freight charges. 

 

Freight forwarders are often seen as a middleman between various transportation services involved in the journey. They are not distributors, shippers, importers, or exporters, but they play a part in ensuring that all those different parts of the shipping process work well together, with ease and efficiency. 

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A freight forwarding company will normally arrange the entire shipping process for their clients – from the storage of goods in a warehouse to shipping their merchandise internationally. They help eliminate the paperwork to fill out, regulations to understand and abide by, and processes to have laid out to ensure smooth delivery and transit. All these things can be daunting for people new to international trade and shipping. 

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The line between 3PL providers and freight forwarders can sometimes become blurred thanks to their somewhat similar roles.  

 

Freight forwarders offer a broker-type service, allowing companies to get the best rates and combination of carriers figured out on their behalf. They act as a middleman and coordinate pretty much everything from booking cargo space to filing insurance claims. However, freight forwarders do nothing beyond this—their services end at organizing how your products will get from point A to point B. This means that you’ll have to organize warehouse storage, picking and packing, and other tasks. 

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3PL providers are difference in the sense that they can be full-service, meaning that they’re able to take care of your entire supply chain. This includes warehouse storage, picking and packing, as well as shipping. Companies can reap many of the same benefits from 3PL providers as from freight forwarding and even more depending on whether they decide to take advantage of all of their services. Third-party logistics services offer some flexibility as well since companies can pick and choose which services they’d like, that's why we offer it all. 

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A third-party logistics (3PL) company, like Image International Freight, will have the expertise to provide reliable warehousing and storage services. 3PL warehouses make order fulfilment and distribution simpler for retailers, manufacturers, and other businesses. 

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3PL Warehouse operations are characterized by product storage, order fulfilment, shipping & receiving, and more. Businesses that need to outsource these logistical tasks rely on 3PL providers. These companies offer varying levels of service, available space, and technology.