Many Polish entrepreneurs sell goods abroad or import them into the country from foreign manufacturers. Operating in international trade, companies very often face the problem of optimally organizing transport. Organizing transport on their own or support from an experienced freight forwarding company? This is the dilemma of most companies in Poland.
Why is it worth cooperating with a freight forwarding company?
Cooperation with an experienced freight forwarder brings only benefits to the client who needs to deliver goods of various sizes, over long distances (including to various corners of the world) and to several recipients. The main advantage of a freight forwarding company is its knowledge of the transport market. Thanks to this, it is possible to choose the optimal mode of transport and the route for transporting the cargo. A freight forwarder – thanks to the execution of many forwarding orders – is also able to negotiate better price terms with shipowners, carriers, customs agencies, or companies operating warehouses. It turns out that despite hiring a freight forwarding company, the client incurs lower costs related to the delivery of goods than if they decided to organize transport on their own.
– By overseeing the formalities related to transport, including documents and deadlines, and by organizing customs clearances, the freight forwarder primarily relieves the client of procedural matters as much as possible and protects their interests – says Anna Grulkowska, CEO of Leartes.
Features of a good freight forwarder
There are many freight forwarding companies on the market, which is why choosing a reliable freight forwarder is not easy. It depends on the client’s needs, the direction of operation, and expectations towards the freight forwarding company. The first thing to pay attention to is the seniority and experience of the freight forwarder. Knowledge of the market in which the client operates determines the client’s sense of security. An equally important element is the timeliness of deliveries. This is particularly important in a situation where goods are delivered to production lines, where a delay in delivery can result in a production stoppage, which exposes the recipient to huge financial losses. When deciding on the offer of a specific freight forwarder, a company should also be guided by their reputation among clients and the overall positive impression of contact and comfort of communication with them. The latter aspect, which is important in obtaining current information and solving potential problems, is evidence of good cooperation. Another important criterion is the comprehensiveness of the service. If a freight forwarder has experience in sea, rail, road, as well as air freight, then when choosing the method of delivery, they will be guided solely by the client’s interest (time, delivery costs) – they will decide on the most optimal solutions for the client, and not on those that they are able to perform.
In sea freight, there are also situations where a client receives a low freight rate but is not warned that they will have to wait a very long time for space on the ship. This results in the company incurring additional costs. A freight forwarder eliminates such traps thanks to a very good knowledge of individual shipowners, their procedures, and ways of operating. The above examples show that a low price does not always translate into high quality of the service provided. Sometimes it is better to pay more initially and have a guarantee that the goods will be delivered without any problems, and the final price for the service will be as expected.
Freight forwarding companies act as advocates for their clients. They primarily sell knowledge, control the carrier and warehouse operators, and look after the client’s interests. A good freight forwarder – thanks to their knowledge of the transport market and more favorable transport rates – will not only efficiently organize the delivery of goods but will also allow for reducing the costs of the commercial transaction. However, it is worth choosing this business partner carefully so that the transport process is effectively implemented and the client does not suffer market losses related to poor organization of forwarding.