Freight forwarding services companies arrange the transportation of goods from a point of origin to a final destination on behalf of shippers, coordinating with one or more third-party carriers across ocean, air, rail, or road transport. These providers typically do not own the vehicles, vessels, or aircraft used to move freight; instead, they act as an intermediary that consolidates shipments, negotiates rates with carriers, and manages the logistics and documentation required to move goods across borders. Freight forwarders are commonly used by supply chain, procurement, and logistics teams to simplify international and domestic shipping, reduce transportation costs, and ensure regulatory compliance.
In addition to booking transportation, many freight forwarding services providers offer customs brokerage, cargo insurance, warehousing, and shipment tracking. These providers often work alongside third-party logistics (3PL) companies and may overlap in scope with supply chain consulting firms.
To qualify for inclusion in the Freight Forwarding Services category, a service provider must:
- Arrange the transportation of goods on behalf of shippers, coordinating with carriers across one or more modes (ocean, air, rail, or road)
- Provide additional support related to moving goods across borders or long distances, such as customs documentation, cargo insurance, or warehousing