Pablo_Escobar

Working within the freight forwarding industry can be tough at the best of times, so it’s only natural that as freight forwarder you want to make the process as quick and easy as possible for both you and your clients. In an industry where security and time management are an essential part of day to day work, it makes sense to have a series of guidelines to run alongside. Take a look at the list below for information and inspiration on how to function better as a freight forwarding business.

 

Documentation, Documentation, Documentation

So nice we say it thrice. Seriously though, keep hold of all documentation you can. Whether they come from the sender or receiver, it is essential to keep all documents on the service you are providing. Starting with the Consignor and ending with the Consignee will allow you to keep a chronological file, which if the need arises will support any possible problems that could arise at a later date.  

 

The action of interaction

One of the biggest methods of promoting trust between you and your clients is interaction. Now I know reading that might make some people say “We are always interacting with our clients, what do you mean?” However within freight forwarding this is more than simply selling them a product and sending them on their way. In order to keep information correct and as up to date as possible you must always be tracking the cargo/shipment and keeping in contact with the driver.  This provides comfort for your clients and allows you to be one step ahead should any problems arise and in turn can be the difference between a highly annoyed customer and a well-managed job.

 

It’s customary to go through customs

I cannot stress enough the need to understand clearly the regulations and legality of transporting goods from country to country.  Unless you’re Pablo Escobar you’re probably not going to be shipping large hauls of illegal substances around the world and might think this does not apply to you but believe me it does. Not every country allows the same things to be imported or exported, take Australia with their delicate ecosystem for example, what might be normal at home might be devastating to others.  This said it is always beneficial to check any changes to customs regulations. With the current migration situation it is also advised to keep up to date with any issues or delays that may arise. The union custom codes will change in May, stay tuned for more information closer to the date.

 

Keep your shipments in ship shape

No one likes receiving damaged post from the postman so why would a business be any different when receiving damaged cargo or shipments?  This is something that can be easily prevented within ALL industries, be it freight forwarding or floral arrangement. Make sure you know what you’re shipping and make sure it is properly secured. If this is noticed at the beginning it is much easier to fix problems and if they can’t be fixed you can let the client know that you have investigated the matter.( Remember what we were saying about documentation? 😉 )

 

With any luck this will have given you an insight into correctly providing freight forwarding services to clients and I hope it will help you in the future.

 

Tony & The Espace Team

%d bloggers like this: