Are you a business that needs to ship a large quantity of goods overseas? Maybe you need to ship a low number of goods that are large for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Don’t look to your big name shipping companies to take care of such services, as it will not be cost-efficient. You should certainly consider using international freight forwarders. Freight forwarding services are third party companies that do the logistics, scheduling, and shipping of your goods from one location to another, regardless of whether your goods are commercial items or personal items. If this is all new to you, logistics is organising the intricate process of planning the storage, delivery, and movement of goods and services from the point of departure to the destination point. Freight forwarding services send your goods through a carrier, whether it’s a ship, an airplane, or a land vehicle like a truck or train.

When you are choosing freight forwarders in Melbourne, be conscious of several things. First, do your research on the web. There are many freight forwarders in Melbourne: compare prices, the details of what would be your agreement with them, their reputation and accreditation. Thanks to the internet, there are many sites that let customers of all sorts of businesses post their reviews: make use of these valuable tools and read up on what past customers have to say about the international freight forwarders you’re thinking of using.

You will obviously want a freight forwarder that is accredited and reputable. Check to see that the international freight forwarders you want to deal with are licensed and members of a recognised international shipping or freight association or agency. Each country has specific and often strict rules and regulations about the importation, exportation, and shipment of goods. Good freight forwarding services will be able to navigate this tricky territory with ease. They will know how to properly deal with fees and charges, customs clearance and commercial invoices, export declarations, and bills of landing.

So what do you do to book international freight forwarding services? Contact them to confirm that the shipping prices, dates, and conditions are to your liking and consistent with what they advertise on their website or brochure. Make sure there is an understanding the goods will arrive at the location you designate and that it is stated on the shipping contract. International freight forwarders can arrange for the packaging of goods and put them into containers for you. A good freight forwarding service is an expert in this field, so perhaps it is wiser to let them do it to minimise the risk of damage to your items during transport.

They will then reserve the space on the airplane, ship or land vehicle for your goods and prepare freight documents. Freight forwarders in Melbourne can also work with customs brokers overseas to make sure your goods meet foreign standards, laws, and regulations. Your freight forwarders overseas will then make sure that your goods are delivered to the correct destination in excellent condition. If you are looking to import/export goods, you should definitely use the expert advice and services that a freight forwarder can offer.