In the era of the booming e-commerce market, many of us rely on online shopping. We want the items and products we order to arrive on time and without any damage. Often, before something gets into our hands, it has a very long way to go, the course of which is organised by a person called a forwarder. Who is a freight forwarder and what does their job involve?
Freight forwarding is a branch of logistics that focuses primarily on organising the process of transporting goods. Sometimes other activities related to the movement of goods - such as packaging or storage - are also part of the duties of those employed in this industry.
To put it colloquially, the work of a freight forwarder is to 'look after the parcel' as it travels from one point to another. The freight forwarder's task is to organise the whole journey so that it runs smoothly and in accordance with the customer's expectations.
Main tasks of the freight forwarder
A person working as a freight forwarder has a very responsible job. Therefore, he or she must be characterised by decision-making skills, good organisation and communication skills. The tasks of those working in a freight forwarding company include:
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acquisition of new customers
This is one of the most important challenges facing a freight forwarder. Building up a customer and carrier base is really the basis of freight forwarding - it is obvious that new orders are won through this.
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monitoring orders and coordinating the shipment of goods
This is the basic area that the freight forwarder deals with. Before the goods set off, he creates a 'shipping instruction', depicting the route the goods will take. He must then inform the customer of this and agree any changes to the plan with them.
Once the goods have started their journey from point 'A' to point 'B', it is the freight forwarder's job to monitor and check their progress. In order to do this, he must be in constant contact with the carriers and those responsible for transporting the goods.
It is mainly about keeping an eye on the punctuality of the services provided - it will be the freight forwarder's responsibility to make sure that the process of moving the goods is carried out according to the stipulated deadlines and that there are no delays or inconveniences along the route.
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negotiations and "paperwork"
The work of a freight forwarder is largely paperwork. His or her tasks include drawing up contracts and signing them, organising and clearing customs clearance, as well as keeping accounts of goods or shipments. It is also the freight forwarder's responsibility to stay in constant contact with the authorities or contractors - including those abroad.
The freight forwarder also needs to negotiate skilfully with freight companies. More often than not, the issue involves negotiating freight rates in order to obtain the optimal solution for both the customer and the freight forwarding company.
Freight forwarding company vs transport company - differences
Although logistics, transport and forwarding are related fields that overlap to a large extent, it is worth remembering that a forwarding company is not a transport company. The latter's task is to transport goods or people from point "A" to point "B", while a forwarding company deals with the organisation of transport - i.e. seeking orders or creating documentation on transport.
One of the main tasks of a freight forwarding company is precisely to find transport companies, which are then commissioned to transport the customer's goods to their destination. It is worth noting that a freight forwarding company does not have its own means of transport (unlike transport companies, which have entire fleets of vehicles in use).
Is it easy to be a freight forwarder?
You do not need a degree in this field to start working as a freight forwarder. Of course, they are a great advantage, but above all it is the knowledge of a foreign language that counts. This is essential when organising the transport of goods and when communicating with foreign contractors or carriers.
So becoming a freight forwarder is relatively easy - all you need is the right courses or training. The situation is much worse when it comes to staying in this position. There are certain qualities a freight forwarder must possess, without which he or she will not be successful in this profession. These include:
- responsibility,
- good organisation of work,
- multitasking,
- independence in carrying out assignments,
- ability to work as part of a team,
- patience,
- resistance to stress.
It is important to remember that working as a freight forwarder is very much a decision-making job. Usually, all matters must be handled independently and on an ongoing basis. That is why multitasking is so important. The course of work is usually supervised and consulted from time to time with the company's supervisor.
Think carefully about your decision before you decide to work as a freight forwarder. Although it may seem that all you need to succeed is a good command of a foreign language, the job is very demanding. Your interpersonal and negotiating skills, as well as your ability to organise your own time, are also important.
