Do you know the people who transport your goods? Are they as professional as you imagine? If you are in doubt, we recommend that you ask your freight forwarder the following essential questions.

Questions to ask a forwarder to make your shipment a success

If you want to make sure you are working with the right companies in your business, we advise you to ask your freight forwarder the following 6 questions; as not all of them work in the same way.

1) What is the extent of the agent network?

This question is very important, since the larger your freight forwarder’s network, the more likely it is to deliver.

Not only will it be able to offer you more services, but you will be able to make sure that everything will go well, or at least more likely than a small one.

2) Can I track my cargo?

More and more freight forwarders are transforming digitally. So you can find professionals that allow you to follow your container in real time; 24/7.

So if you want this service, ask your freight forwarder if they offer it. We recommend that you do so.

3) Do you offer assistance with customs clearance?

Customs clearance is a critical moment. Therefore, most freight forwarders manage it for their customers. But there are some that do not, so you should make sure that your freight forwarder does.

4) What do the rates include?

This question is also very important, as more and more digital freight forwarders are betting on price transparency.

Of course, the ideal is to see the breakdown of services. So it is important that you ask about it to avoid surprises in terms of cost overruns.

5) Will there be expenses at the destination?

Shipments are subject to a number of charges.

And while most forwarders with extensive agent networks can assist you in paying destination charges, this may not be the case if you have your own agent at the destination, as you may be able to work with him. Ask him.

6) Are there any additional costs?

To make sure that the rate to be paid is the maximum we will pay, it is important to ask if there will be additional costs. There are surcharges or items that may be beyond your control, such as EBS. Keep this in mind.

These are the main questions we recommend you ask your freight forwarder. If you have any further questions, just ask us!