If you are looking for a freight forwarder in Montreal, you must check a set of aspects that guarantee that you are working with the right company. Let’s discover some tips that will help you make the right decision and select the most suitable freight forwarder for your needs.
Food transport companies and selection of a freight forwarder
Tip #1: Look for someone with experience
The freight forwarder you choose should have expertise in handling dangerous goods, transporting multi-dimensional loads, emergency shipping, and providing temperature-controlled transportation services.
In addition, the freight forwarder must have experience shipping to the cities and countries to which you ship and receive merchandise.
Tip #2: Check Services
Just before contacting freight truck dispatch services forwarders and FTL carriers, it is important that you draw up a detailed list of your requirements. This way, you can be sure that the company you have contacted will be able to provide you with the required services.
You will also need to determine the volume to be shipped before contacting the freight forwarder. The list of requirements you develop should include the following:
When is asset-based transport required?
The speed you prefer, in terms of delivery of the goods
The products to be shipped.
Any type of specific packaging that may be required.
What are the conditions of sale (provision of service)?
The types of volumes you intended to ship.
Tip #3: Assess their networks
The freight forwarder you select must have a strong network of partners and agents in other countries. This network will allow for a timely and open flow of communication.
In addition, such a network will facilitate the cargo tracking operation in a global manner. This way it will also be easier for you to check the progress of the shipment.
Tip #4: Analyze Financial Performance
Before choosing freight forwarders and food transport companies, you should analyze their financial performance. This way, you can ensure that your shipment will not be delay due to their financial problems.
For example, you will probably find that your cargo is block because the freight forwarder you have entrusted with the operation is unable to pay the carrier.
Tip #5: Check Their Business Certification
If freight forwarders and companies that offer asset-based transport service have a certification of their activity, you will therefore have the guarantee that they are providing quality services to their customers.
Among the types of certifications that freight forwarders in Canada should have is PIP certification or Partner Protection certification which comes under the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) program.
Certification is based on the following:
Securing the commercial chain.
Strengthening border security.
The fight against the practice of smuggling.
Also, the freight forwarder you want to work with should be register with Transport Canada. This record is a building block of the Air Cargo Security Program (ACSP) and remains quite similar to the PIP. However, this program is focuse primarily on air cargo requirements.
Another point but not the last, the freight forwarder you are looking for should be part of the Canadian Association of International Freight Forwarders “CIFFA”.
The role of CIFFA is to ensure that all freight forwarders, members of this association, adhere to the security requirements and specific measures adopted by this association.
Tip #6: Examine their abilities
Another element to check is whether the company you want to choose as a freight forwarder has the necessary capacity to manage your business in a comprehensive way. In this sense, it will be necessary to examine the service contracts concluded with this freight forwarder.
In the event that it is necessary to ship your goods by the ship that circulates first, you will then have to choose a forwarding agent who has several contracts with the carriers. Consideration of this aspect will be essential during the high season, since obtaining the space required for shipping is often a problem.
When dry cargo carriers and freight forwarders are able to provide multiple options for shipping, the likelihood of your cargo being pick up increases many times over. In fact, this remains feasible because the freight forwarder can find other options when he has contacts with several transport operators.
Tip #7: Analyze the quality of customer service
For any type of business, customer service remains an important aspect to consider. Indeed, your goal should be to select a freight forwarder that responds quickly to your needs and queries.
In addition, the relevant shipping information and required forms should be available for download from their website.
Tip #8: Review the shipments they can process
During your search for a good international freight forwarder, you will need to check whether the latter is capable of handling different types of shipments. For example, you may currently only import goods from France by sea freight, but in the future your needs may change and you may start importing from the United States by air freight. or you will export to China.
So, your goal should be to find someone with experience, technical know-how and partners in difficult and distant countries so that you can handle any type of shipment you may need.
Tip #9: Consider the different aspects
Shipments can be sent using several modes of transport and there can be different products (clothing, machinery, perishable goods, cars, dangerous goods, food products, etc.) according to various regulations (ITAR, BIS, OFAC, etc.) as well as to multiple destinations and from multiple origins.
Tip #10: Check if they have insurance
Finally, you need to check if the company has the necessary insurance for the freight you are shipping.
