|
The www.CargoYellowPages.com
will provide you:
Freight Forwarders Cargo Agents Forwarding Agents, forwarders companies, transportation, logistics, forwarding addresses, cargo brokers, shipping directory, local forwarder,
forwarding, special transports, transportation companies, logistics providers, freight, traffic, contacts, trucking companies,
shippers company, air, ocean, railroad, land
transportation services, addresses, phone numbers, emails, websites.
In
the shipping industry the term "agent" or "shipping agent" could be
defined as follows:
The Shipping Agent is a permanent representative, who in a local/foreign
port of call, looks after the owner's interests, in the latter's name
and at his expense.
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
A freight forwarder, forwarder, or Forwarding Agents is a person or
company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get
large orders from the manufacturer or producer to market or final point
of distribution. Forwarders will contract with a carrier to facilitate
the movement of goods. A forwarder is not typically a carrier, but is an
expert in supply chain management. In other words, a freight forwarder
is a "travel agent," for the cargo industry, or a third-party
(non-asset-based) logistics provider. A forwarder will contract with
asset-based carriers to move cargo ranging from raw agricultural
products to manufactured goods. Freight can be booked on a variety of
carrier types, including ships, airplanes, trucks, and railroads. It's
not unusual for a shipment to move along its route on multiple carrier
types.
International freight forwarders typically arrange cargo movement to an
international destination. International freight forwarders, have the
expertise that allows them to prepare and process the documentation and
perform related activities pertaining to international shipments. Some
of the typical information reviewed by a freight forwarder is the
commercial invoice, shipper's export declaration, bill of lading, and
other documents required by the carrier or country of export, import, or
transshipment. Much of this information is now processed in a paperless
environment.
The FIATA short-hand description of the freight forwarder:
As the 'Architect of Transport' illustrates clearly the commercial
position of the forwarder relative to his client. In Europe there are
forwarders that specialize in 'niche' areas such as rail-freight and
collection and deliveries around a large port. The latter are called
Hafen (port) Spediteure (Port Forwarders). A forwarder in some countries
may sometimes deal only with domestic traffic and never handle
international traffic.
Freight forwarder roles in different countries
USA
In the U.S., a freight forwarder involved with international ocean
shipping is licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an Ocean
Transportation Intermediary. Similarly, freight forwarders that handle
air freight will frequently be accredited with the International Air
Transport Association (IATA) as a cargo agent.
UK
In the U.K., freight forwarders are not licensed, but many are members
of the British International Freight Association (BIFA). Freight
forwarders in the UK consolidate various goods from different consignors
into one full load for road transport to Europe, this is often known as
groupage. Some freight forwarders offer additional related services like
export packing and case making. The regulations regarding exporting
untreated timber pallets and cases has become increasingly more strict
and in many countries an exporter will be expected to provide a
phytosanitary certificate or risk the expense of having their cargo
fumigated.
Australia
In Australia most licensed Customs Clearance Agents (now more commonly
referred to as Customs Brokers), operate under a freight forwarder.
Ireland
Even in smaller markets, such as Ireland, the role of freight forwarders
is strategically important. International merchandise trade is worth
€148 billion to the Irish economy [5]. 82% of manufactured products are
exported, further highlighting the importance of the freight forwarders
to a nations' economy. Associations like the Irish International Freight
Association and FIATA help maintain the professionalism of this industry
through educational and representative roles. The FIATA Diploma in
Freight Forwarding is an example of how this can be achieved.
Nigeria
Nigeria is a very large market dealing with import and export.
Freight-forwarding in Nigeria has been in place since the exporting of
groundnut as a cash crop since 1914, though not initially as freight
forwarding but as the means of transportation of both goods and services
from one country to another. Following the methodology of their British
forebears, agents were used to facilitate the transport of goods and
services.
About freight
forwarding:
The original function of the forwarder, spediteur, or transitarios, was
to arrange for the carriage of his customers good by contracting with
various carriers. His responsibilities included advice on all
documentation and customs requirements in the country of destination.
His correspondent agent in far-away lands looked after his customers
interests and kept him informed about matters that would affect movement
of goods.
In modern times:
The forwarder still carries out those same responsibilities for his
client. He still operates either with a corresponding agent overseas or
with his own company branch-office. In many instances, the freight
forwarder also acts as a carrier for part of a movement it can happen
that in a single transaction the forwarder may be acting either as a
carrier (principal) or as an agent for his customer.
|