In simple terms, a freight forwarder is an individual or company that arranges the import and export of goods.

In longer terms, a freight forwarder, forwarder, or forwarding agent, also known as a non-vessel operating common carrier, is a person or company that is responsible for the transportation of goods from one destination to another.

Freight forwarders organise and arrange shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer or final point of distribution.

Freight forwarders often manage the entire process for their shippers which can include export packing, warehousing of items until finally shipping them via land, air or sea.

The freight forwarding process can be broken up into six key stages, including:

• Stage 1 – Export Haulage: In export haulage, the export of goods is arranged and the cargo is transferred from the shipper’s original destination via a lorry, train or combination to the two to the export warehouse.
• Stage 2 – Export Customs Clearance: Export customs clearance by a licensed customs house broker and registration of cargo is required by the origin country’s border authorities before the cargo can leave the country. At the end of this stage, goods receive customs clearance to leave their country of origin.
• Stage 3 – Origin Handling: In origin handling, cargo is unloaded, inspected and validated against its booking details. The warehousing team will review the items received to ensure the shipment was transported properly and not tampered with. After this, a forwarder’s cargo receipt is issued to the shipper documenting that the cargo has been received for shipping.
• Stage 4 – Import Customs Clearance: Import customs clearance by a licensed customs house broker and declaration of cargo is required before cargo can move through a country. It is the process of preparing and submitting the cargo’s declaration outlining the type of goods and value used for registration and levying any duty payments and required documentation to customs authorities.
• Stage 5 – Destination Handling: Destination handling is the handling of cargo once it reaches the destination office, including transportation to the import warehouse. Destination handling is the handling of cargo once it reaches the destination office which includes the process of receiving documents from the freight forwarder, checking them and submitting the original carrier bill of lading to the shipping line. After this, the cargo is collected at the port and brought to a warehouse where it is opened, inspected and sorted for haulage or collection by the consignee.
• Stage 6 – Import Haulage: Import haulage is the transfer of cargo from the import warehouse to its final destination at the consignee’s address.

Project logistics is the arrangement of a massive single piece of cargo whilst freight forwarding is the process of constantly arranging the imports and exports of goods.