How to find a freight forwarder who is dedicated to your success?
Professionals or individuals who need to export or import find it difficult to find freight forwarders who live up to the services they promise.
The abundance of freight forwarders in France is sometimes confusing.
First of all, it is important to choose a company that is registered with the national register of transport commissioners, as per the appendix to Article D1432-3 of the Transport Code.
"It is presumed liable for damage resulting from transport, its organization and the execution of ancillary services and specific instructions. "
It is preferable to choose a company with several years of international experience if your transport and logistics needs are outside France. However, if you need to ship goods or personal effects to the African continent, it is best to choose a freight forwarder who specializes in this continent, such as 5AM LOGISTICS.
What is a freight forwarder?
The freight forwarder is, by definition, a freight transport professional whose objective is to ensure that its customers benefit from the best costs, deadlines and packaging of goods throughout their transit, in compliance with regulations.
5AM LOGISTICS has therefore built its expertise on its ability to identify and implement the best logistics routes: Sea, air, multimodal transport, etc. Everything is designed to facilitate import-export for global trade players, as well as customs procedures.
Why is it important to choose a good international freight forwarder?
The transport of goods is often described as transport from point A to point B, but the complexity of the transport of goods lies in the multiplicity of the elements that make it up, and in reality it is more like a point A to a point Z, because it includes a large number of stages that are difficult for many companies to manage, especially VSEs & SMEs, which have limited financial, material and human resources.
There are two major obstacles along lines A and B:
- The competitive landscape requires your costs to be as low as possible.
- The supply chain is a confusing mess of potential routings, leading to risks of error with late penalties and additional costs.
Choosing a freight forwarder means ensuring compliance with the regulations in force in each country, as each has its own regulations regarding customs formalities and authorized goods. It also means ensuring that transport is adapted to your needs and budget, while avoiding problems with goods traceability, or the risk of penalties and delays.
Our expertise, acquired over more than 20 years in international logistics project management, gives us an advantage in analyzing risks and organizing complex logistics services, in order to deliver goods to the right place at the right time.
How to find a competent freight forwarder?
A good freight forwarder should simplify the international transport process as much as possible, but it must also guarantee you peace of mind regarding the proper execution of import and export documents, as well as compliance with the rules and regulations in force.
You can find many offers to carry out freight forwarding services, but remember that the most important thing is to make the right choice for your company's needs.
Here are some tips for finding a good freight forwarder:
- What services can they provide?
It is important for you to know if they offer the type of transport for your goods. Some mainly offer freight management by sea, while others include air, road, etc. Some specialize in national transport, others in Europe, or like 5AM LOGISTICS, specialize in the African continent.
- What is the experience of the transport commissioner?
The second thing you need to do is analyze the experience of the transport commissioner. Which companies has he worked with, what has he accomplished in the past, what is his company mission and values, etc. Customer testimonials on his website will be a good source of information.
It is wise to focus on the size of the company; a smaller company with experience will be closer to its customers. Can you count on 24/7 shipping service? Some companies are excellent but too busy. In such a situation, the transport of goods may be hindered.
- Did he take the time to create a website?
You can also browse the transport commissioner's website. Does he have the same values as you? Has he put in place a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) plan? Did he take the time to create a clear website? With information that is easy to find?
The website is the soul of a company... is the website attractive and easy to understand? It can tell you a lot about the company behind it...
5AM LOGISTICS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS DESIGNED TO OFFER YOU THE BEST
Our priority: 5AM LOGISTICS starts and ends with you, our customer.
Our 5AM family is dedicated to your success. We are the preferred partner for companies for all their multimodal freight transport operations - ROAD, AIR and SEA - as well as customs and removals abroad.
We do not consider ourselves to be your FREIGHT FORWARDER; we are an extension of your company.
We develop unique solutions in collaboration with you, and we remember to have fun along the way!
