What Does A Freight Forwarding Company Do?

A freight forwarder books cargo space with airlines, shipping lines and transporters; prepares documents such as the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill; arranges inland transport and insurance; and coordinates customs clearance. It acts as your single point of contact, which is why many importers and exporters prefer a forwarder that also handles clearance. BLC combines freight forwarding with customs clearance, air, sea and road transport and warehousing under one team.

Clearing And Forwarding Agent Vs. Carrying And Forwarding Agent

The terms are easy to confuse. In freight, a clearing and forwarding agent clears cargo through customs and forwards it onward — the work BLC does for importers and exporters. In distribution, a carrying and forwarding agent is a stockist who stores a manufacturer's goods and dispatches them to dealers, which is a different business. Check which one you actually need before you start your search.

What Affects Freight Forwarder Charges?

• Mode of transport: air, sea or road
• Weight and volume, and whether the cargo is FCL or LCL
• Origin, destination and routing
• Cargo type, such as dangerous or perishable goods
• Incoterms, which decide who pays for each leg

Customs duties and taxes are separate from the forwarder's fee, so ask for an itemised freight forwarder quote. The cheapest quote is not always the lowest total cost once clearance, port and delivery charges are added.

How To Choose A Freight Forwarder

Look for experience on your trade lane, in-house customs clearance, a range of transport modes, clear communication and transparent pricing. This matters just as much for small businesses as large ones, so ask whether the forwarder handles smaller shipments as carefully as larger ones. BLC operates from its head office in IMT Manesar, Gurgaon, with offices across Delhi/NCR, Ahmedabad and Mumbai — see our full range of services or request a quote to get started.