5 Ways to Know if You Found a Reliable Freight Forwarder
When you are shipping goods from one country to another, it’s important to know that you use a reliable freight forwarder. But if you only recently became an importer/exporter, how do you know what to look for in a freight forwarder to be sure you can rely on them? We have compiled a list of 5 points against which you should always test a freight forwarder to know whether they can be trusted and you can use their services.
1. Choose a freight forwarder who can meet your storage and shipping requirements
Before you start considering freight forwarders, it’s important that you are clear about your needs. If you need storage but the freight forwarder you choose has little to no access to storage facilities, this can create a problem for you down the line. You need to be clear about what your needs are and convey this to your freight forwarder. If they can’t give you guarantees regarding every aspect of your shipment, you may need to look elsewhere. A reliable freight forwarder won’t only say yes to everything you ask for; they will be able to tell you what the exact solutions are they are going to use to get your shipment from point A to point B.
2. A reliable freight forwarder will have proof of their track record
They say that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior; it holds true for freight forwarders. A reliable freight forwarder will have references from previous clients that were happy with the service they delivered. If you research a freight forwarder and come across loads of bad publicity, it might be better to steer clear and look for someone more trustworthy and reliable.
3. Does your freight forwarder belong to a professional body?
Every freight forwarder should belong to a professional body that oversees their dealings. Macro Clearing is registered with SAAFF, giving our customers an extra layer of protection when we are dealing with their cargo. SAAFF requires a high level of ethical and moral conduct from its members; if your freight forwarder is registered with SAAFF, you can rest assured that their conduct has to be above reproach.
4. Look at the quality of your freight forwarder’s network
Import/export works like a chain, where different parts of the shipping process is handled by different parties. Your freight forwarder might have warehousing facilities but will have to make use of an international shipping company to transport your goods over water. Inquire about the depth and quality of this network. A reliable freight forwarder will have a broad network to ensure that you get the best, most secure service for the transport of your goods.
5. Do some mystery shopping
If you are going to entrust a freight forwarder with a valuable load of cargo, you need to have peace of mind that you are dealing with someone trustworthy and reliable. The transport of goods has many pitfalls and in many cases it’s the freight forwarder’s duty to deal with things that can go wrong during this process. To see how they will handle issues that come up, you may want to call in to the office or visit them to ask about their handling of problems with freight. If they can’t give you a satisfactory answer to your (imagined) problem or it takes days for them to get back to you with a possible solution, you may not want to trust them with your shipment – keep shopping.
Trust Macro Clearing with your shipment
If you are looking for a reliable freight forwarder you have to look no further. We adhere to all the above requirements and are able to give you the best service at an affordable price. Contact us for all your freight forwarding needs.