International freight forwarders provide numerous advantages to their clients, but commonly held misconceptions surrounding them can lead to companies neglecting the benefits they bring. Read on as we debunk 4 misconceptions surrounding international freight forwarding.
1. International freight forwarding is expensive.
One of the most common misconceptions companies have about international freight forwarders is that it is more expensive to hire their services, as compared to directly liaising with shipping carriers themselves. In actuality, freight forwarding companies leverage the volumes achieved across diverse customer bases to negotiate better rates with shipping carriers, compared to if clients were to arrange for their own shipping. This allows freight forwarding companies to offer reduced rates, which they pass on to their customers.
Established freight forwarders in Singapore, such as Star Concord, feature an open book policy whereby they state all costs upfront, charging handling fees per shipment or transaction without any additional markup. They also provide quotes upon request, allowing clients to factor in freight forwarding costs into their budget for a smooth and seamless arrangement.
2. International freight forwarding offers less control.
Another common misconception is that by hiring an international freight forwarder, companies have less control over the entire process as compared to directly liaising with the shipping carrier. The reality is that choosing to handle the shipment process requires extensive interaction between multiple points of contact within a supply chain, such as the on-and-offboarding of cargo at multiple ports, as well as storage of goods at warehouses prior to shipping. In addition, many carriers themselves are not service-oriented, making it difficult to ascertain if they are ideal for shipping specific types of freight.
International freight forwarders have connections with logistics and shipping personnel across the globe, allowing them to easily tap into them to help customers arrange for seamless shipping. This allows companies to receive all their info from a single point of contact for ease of communication and coordination. Star Concord also provides additional services such as online tracking of shipments from initial collection to final delivery, along with door-to-door delivery within 48h for time-critical cargo.
3. International freight forwarders favour clients which ship larger volumes.
Smaller companies such as SMEs may be reluctant to hire the services of freight forwarders in Singapore, due to a misconception that freight forwarders only provide their full range of services and favourable rates to companies which ship larger volumes. In reality, reputable freight forwarding companies deliver impeccable service to all their clients regardless of shipping volume. This is because they need to optimise their shipping capacities and efficiency of shipments, and both a combination of large and small volumes from diverse clients is key to doing so. In addition, LCL consolidation as practiced by freight forwarders allows for optimal use of container space, which further lowers costs for all parties.
4. International freight forwarding lacks sufficient security and safety.
Yet another misconception regarding international freight forwarding is that it is less secure and safe, due to the possibility of hiring less reputable shipping companies and crew in a bid to keep costs lower. As a reputable freight forwarder in Singapore, Star Concord works with experienced crews who are well-versed with handling perishable and hazardous goods, carrying out regular inspections en route to ensure that goods are in optimal condition. In addition, we offer transparency in our actions as well as ease administrative workload by preparing necessary custom clearance in advance, ensuring a smooth loading and unloading process to expedite delivery timelines.
Looking for a reputable freight forwarder in Singapore? Contact us today to find out more about our rates and weekly shipping schedules and destinations.
Tags: freight forwarder singapore, international freight forwarding
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