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What is a Freight Forwarder?

A vibrant cargo ship docked at a bustling port, highlighting the essential role of freight forwarders in managing global shipping and logistics.

What is a Freight Forwarder?

The concept of freight forwarding is simple. A freight forwarder is a shipping company that gets goods from a point of origination to a specific destination – domestically or internationally – on behalf of an individual or an organization. Sounds easy, right? Not really. Between those two points are shipping rules and requirements; export, import and customs policies and documentation; multiple forms of logistics networks and carriers; and other practices necessary to keep shipments safe and delivered on time. The freight forwarder manages the complexities and administrative processes required to arrange and transport large items or a high volume of goods.

Freight forwarding is a regulated industry. In Canada, various policies and rules that a shipping company must abide by are enforced by Transport Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Transport Canada is responsible for programs to support safe and efficient transport across all parts of Canada’s transportation system. The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for border security and customs services. Freight forwarders are registered with the CBSA and must follow strict rules of compliance with its import and export rules.

Now that you are comfortable with working with a freight forwarder, how does it work?

Getting Your Goods From Here to There

After you contact the freight forwarder and provide the shipping company with information about the shipment, they will begin the process of determining the most efficient and cost-effective way to use the domestic and international transportation system to deliver your items. There are three primary carriers that are considered: air freight, ocean freight and ground freight. Often, a freight carrier will work with multiple types of carriers to move a shipment from door to door.

Air Freight: A Fast and Flexible Option

For smaller items or time-sensitive palletized cargo, air freight is often a great choice. Air freight often provides time-definite shipping and tracking, offering a high degree of confidence and peace of mind. Because the customer often has a choice of delivery speeds, as well as the opportunity to ship to multiple locations and international destinations, the flexibility of air freight is unsurpassed.

Ocean Freight: Save Time and Money Going By Sea

When shipping oversized items, such as an automobile; large personal shipments, such as household furnishings; or commercial orders, ocean freight is a dependable way to ship. Ocean freight is based on container shipping, and a freight forwarder like World Cargo can help you move Full Container Loads (FCL) and Less than Container Loads (LCL) to major ports around the globe.

Ground Freight: When the Best Route is Over Road or Rail

A key shipping method for domestic transport, ground freight can http://www.goworldcargo.com/quote-requestalso be used to deliver your trans-border shipments. Ground freight is another flexible mode of transportation, offering shipping of any size and volume from an entire Full Truck Load (FTL) to consolidation of container items through Less than Truck Load (LTL) freight handling. In addition to point-to-point ground freight, freight forwarders frequently use truck and rail shipping to move cargo to air terminals and seaports.

Make World Cargo Your First Choice in Freight Services

Making the decision about transporting your personal or commercial shipments can be a complex one. Rather than struggling with the many options, policies and paperwork, it’s easy to contact World Cargo, provide them with details about your freight and shipping needs, and leave the heavy lifting to a shipping company with more than 35 years of experience serving the Vancouver community. Whether its home furnishings, beloved vehicles or commercial orders, World Cargo is in business to keep your shipment safe – and every customer satisfied.


The best way to get help is by talking to an expert. With years of experience under our belt, World Cargo is well-equipped to tackle any challenge and find solutions that fit your needs. Our dedicated team is here to guide you through the complexities of logistics. Contact us today, we can help you understand shipping.