Freight Forwarder
Definition
A company that arranges the shipping of your goods from the supplier to your warehouse, booking space with carriers and coordinating paperwork, customs and delivery.
Want a deeper explanation?
Forwarder invoices are often the largest piece of landed cost after the product itself. Each one should be tied to a specific shipment so freight can be assigned to the right units.
Many forwarders also act as customs brokers. Watch for: forwarder invoices that arrive months after the goods were sold, which leaves early units understated in cost unless freight is estimated upfront.
Example
Your forwarder books a 40-foot container from Shenzhen, handles the bill of lading, coordinates with your customs broker and arranges trucking to your 3PL.