What is a freight forwarder?

A freight forwarder is a service provider that takes care of the safe and efficient organization, planning, and execution of national and international freight transport. The freight forwarder acts as an intermediary between the client and the various transport service providers, such as carriers, shipping companies, air freight companies, or railway companies, or performs the services itself.

Main tasks of a freight forwarder

• Transport planning and organization: Freight forwarders coordinate the entire transport process from picking up the goods at the sender's premises to delivering them to the recipient. They select the appropriate means of transport and transport routes (road, rail, air, sea).
• Logistics services: In addition to pure transport, many freight forwarders offer additional logistics services such as storage, handling, picking, and packaging of goods.
• Customs clearance: For international shipments, the freight forwarder takes care of the necessary customs formalities and ensures that the goods are transported across borders legally and efficiently.
• Consulting and optimization: Freight forwarders advise their customers on the best transport strategies and offer solutions for optimizing the supply chain in order to save time and costs.

Difference between freight forwarder and carrier

It is important to understand the difference between a freight forwarder and a carrier. While a freight forwarder acts as an intermediary and organizes the transport, the carrier is the one who actually carries out the transport with their own vehicles. However, freight forwarders can also act as carriers if they have their own vehicles or means of transport.