Guides
Understand & decide
How to choose a freight forwarder for your imports
To choose the right freight forwarder, assess five criteria: coverage of the modes and trade lanes you need, transparent quotes (everything itemized, no hidden fees), the quality of tracking and alerts, the responsiveness of a named point of contact, and the ability to handle customs and carbon reporting. Always request several quotes and compare them line by line.
Digital vs traditional freight forwarder: which should you choose?
A digital freight forwarder brings pricing transparency, fast quotes, and online tracking; a traditional forwarder relies on the human relationship and field experience. The right choice no longer pits the two against each other: the best digital players combine a modern platform with a dedicated team, bringing together transparency and personalized support.
Shipping delays and transit times: why they happen, and how to make your imports reliable
Delays come mainly from external causes (port congestion, Red Sea/Panama reroutings, blank sailings, weather) and avoidable causes (customs prepared too late, incomplete documents, no plan B). You make your transit times reliable by working with realistic rather than optimistic transit times, tracking the shipment in real time with proactive alerts, preparing customs before arrival, and choosing a freight forwarder who acts on a delay - not one who merely reports it. Real resilience is built with buffers and a documented plan B.
Tracking your container in real time: supply chain visibility in practice
Tracking a shipment in real time now runs through a platform that aggregates data from carriers, terminals, and partners: vessel position, milestones passed, customs status, documents. What matters is not just seeing, but being alerted automatically as soon as a drift appears, and being able to act. A good digital freight forwarder offers a centralized portal (quotes, tracking, documents), proactive alerts, and above all a team that reacts when the dashboard turns red. Visibility without action is useless.
Switching freight forwarder and running a successful freight RFQ
You switch freight forwarders when the signals add up: ignored emails, no dedicated contact, repeated delays, opaque invoices, no visibility. Switching is less risky than it seems if you proceed in stages: scope your need, run an RFQ with a precise specification, compare the offers line by line (and not just on the base price), then migrate gradually while keeping an overlap. A good incoming forwarder knows how to organize the transition without interrupting your flows.
How to verify that a freight forwarder is reliable and legitimate
Verifying a freight forwarder rests on concrete proof: legal existence and track record, certifications and accreditations (AEO in Europe, FIATA, FMC license for US flows), insurance and the ability to cover your goods, pricing transparency, and references in your sector. Be wary of abnormally low prices, payments requested to personal accounts, and the absence of a clear address or point of contact. The quality of the answers during the quoting phase remains the best indicator.