Reasons Why You Should Hire a Freight Forwarding Company Right Now

excelsior on July 31, 2019

Thanks to modern technology, physical boundaries are not the main issues anymore when it comes to building a successful business. Every company must be aware of the fact that shipping their goods on a wider scale requires the skills and expertise of a reliable freight forwarder. These professionals possess all the necessary knowledge in dealing with all outgoing and incoming shipments in ways that can further enhance efficiency and overall productivity.

Many businesses today tend to experience some difficulties in creating a thorough plan for product shipping. Time is a very valuable resource and that’s why freight forwarders can be helpful in this kind of situation. If you’re a business owner and still quite undecided on hiring a freight forwarding company, here are some of the most entailing reasons why you should do so.

Reason #1: It optimizes your supply chain

Shipping your goods from a specific country often involves the utilization of different carries as well as some knowledge on the shipping laws of two nations. One of the main responsibilities of a freight forwarder is to take good care of everything related to the supply chain of your company.

Reason #2: It ensures that your goods are going to be delivered on time

Ensuring the timely arrival of your goods to its intended receiver is a vital factor to promote your company’s reputation. Fortunately, many freight forwarding firms do utilize the power of technology in order to notify you about the current status of your shipment in real time.

Reason #3: It makes shipping faster and easier

Shipping your goods internationally can make you accountable in undergoing a long and arduous process in the hands of customs authorities. But with the service of freight forwarders, business requirements can become much more bearable as they have a well-established network of agents, carriers, and even some customs officers that allow them to transport freight quicker than you can expect.

Reason #4: It helps you to effectively manage your logistics and prepare essential documents

Regardless of whether you’re still in the verge of selecting your carrier or preparing your documents, a freight forwarder can always help to guide you through. Simply let them know about your shipment’s destination and they can take over all the legalities and formalities that you are supposed to deal with.

Reason #5: Provides your supply chain with a broader network of logistics connection

Hiring the service of a freight forwarding company gives your business access to an expansive network of agents, carriers and customs officials. It means that with more options to choose from, you can determine ideal shipping price, saving you more money in the long run.

With all of the benefits mentioned above, hiring a freight forwarder is a good investment indeed, especially if you’re still starting to gain a competitive foothold in your line of industry.

Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience worth more than a decade in the business. Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our service.

3 Most Common Freight Forwarding Scams And How To Avoid Them – Infographic

excelsior on May 30, 2019

Hiring freight forwarders is definitely one of the most needed essentials of any business owners looking to ship their products abroad. Their skills and expertise in logistics are proven to be extremely useful in making all of the requirements involved with transporting goods from one place to another much easier to bear.

However, the rise of competition amongst freight forwarding companies also gave emergence to fraudulent individuals who would take advantage of the situation. And as the client, it is highly vital for you to be aware of certain acts of deceptions used by scammers in the shipping industry, as well as how you can avoid them.

Scam #1: Holding your good’s Bill of Lading (BOL) for ransom

This kind of scam usually happens online. The scammer will pose as a freight forwarder on some popular shopping sites. They can be fairly easy to identify because they offer their “services” on a ridiculously low rate.

Once they found an unwitting client, negotiations will take place, and once the goods are packed from the port of loading, the scammers will deny the release of an important legal document called the Bill of Lading or BOL. This document serves as the proof of contract of carriage and receipt of the client’s goods. And without the BOL the port of destination will not allow anyone to claim their shipment. The client will then receive an email demanding for a specific amount of money, or hence, they will not receive their goods at all.

How to Avoid This Scam

Before contacting any freight forwarding company, be sure to know the normal cost of your shipment. Many new importers nowadays lack some diligence when it comes in the current costs of their shipment, and that’s why they easily get attracted by any low or discounted offers on the net. Be sure to look for a company that manages their own official website and try to find any client’s reviews and testimonies about them.

Scam #2: The Duplicate Name Scam

Another common example of freight forwarding scam is by making a fake site with a name similar from a legitimate company site. While it’s possible for companies to have identical names, some of these sites are designed to steal money from clients who don’t know how to distinguish a legit site from the bogus ones.

How to Avoid This Scam

You must know how to identify a legitimate site properly. First is by looking at the site’s URL. If you know the exact spelling of the company’s name, head over to the URL and see if there are any misspelled letters around. Also, pay attention to the site’s domain name. If the URL has a free hosting website on it like .wix, .homestead, or .hubspot, there is a very good chance that the site is fake.

Scam #3: Cargo Theft

Scammers doing this act of theft tend to target clients with high-valued cargos. Same with the BOL scam, they will pretend as freight forwarders offering you with suspicious discounted rates and then seemingly vanish into the thin air once they got hold of your shipment.

How to Avoid This Scam

Vigilance will always be the key. Aside from knowing whether their company website is real, you must also be curious about how they do their work as well as their terms and conditions. Ask them everything that you wanted to know and be sure that you have their respective contact numbers, including their shipping and billing address.

Finding a reliable freight forwarding company for your shipping needs is a big step towards success. You just have to practice vigilance at all times to ensure that you will not be a victim to certain scams that can cost you a lot of money before you can even start your business.

4 Common Traits of the Best Freight Forwarders – Infographic

excelsior on April 29, 2019

Freight forwarders can be a firm or a company that specializes in services that make your shipping needs much easier to handle. People that engage competitively in the business industry today usually require the help of freight forwarders so that they can free themselves up from the complicated nuts and bolts of the processes involved with both importation and exportation.

With the growing number of freight forwarding companies always available to render their services to any willing client, picking the best one might prove to be very tricky. However, some characteristics can easily distinguish an excellent freight forwarder from the rest.

By knowing these four traits, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices in case you’re stuck with a list of freight forwarders that you can potentially hire in the future:

Trait #1: Has a Good Track Record

A good freight forwarder will be much more obliged and willing to share some of their history and past achievements with potential clients such as you. Do not hesitate to ask questions about the age of their company, the number of their staff, and other relevant questions that makes them pretty reliable.

Also, be sure to visit their official website to see if they received any awards or recognition as well as testimonies from former clients.

Trait #2: Has a Reliable Network

Having a wide network of contacts from different carriers and customs officials on an international scale is a true mark of a competitive freight forwarding company. If they can communicate with people involved with the shipping process, then you don’t have to worry about the current status of your shipment which can also prevent problems like late arrivals and damages.

Trait #3: Can Establish Effective Communication with the Client

One way of knowing whether a freight forwarder you’re contacting with is definitely one of the best is the way of how they establish communication with you. If they are successful in making a friendly relationship with you right from the start to the point that you don’t have to ask them questions any further, then congratulations, you just found the one!

Trait #4: Services that Suits Your Needs

The best freight forwarders usually offer a wide range of services that are highly compatible with any kind of client. This trait makes them a very versatile partner that ensures the stability of your supply chain. So, it is highly recommended to ask them questions about all of their available services.

Take heed of these four traits, and you’re now several steps ahead of finding the best freight forwarder that can help you succeed with your business!

The Impact of Natural Disasters on Freight Shipping

excelsior on April 15, 2019

In terms of economy, any country will always rely on the continuous transportation of goods and materials that keeps the relationship between suppliers and manufacturers in harmony. This process is very critical for maintaining economic growth because any moment of disruption could bring serious adverse effects. Some of these disruptions are caused by certain deregulations in the financial industry that are to some extent, quite avoidable. However, another thing that can affect a country’s economy is freight shipping, which can sometimes depend on several factors that unfortunately are beyond our control: natural disasters.

Speaking about natural disasters in the Philippines, the likes of floods, typhoons, and earthquakes, are quite common. These calamities typically leave most of the routes that are essential for freight shipping operations unsafe such as roads and seas. This reason is also why you should also be aware of the following ways of how nature can make a significant impact on freight shipping:

The Price of Fuel

One of the most critical prices to look out for when there’s a natural calamity going on is the price of fuel in the world market. Since the cost of most goods and other services are very much dependent on the value of fuel as the source of transportation, your chosen carrier can charge you more than usual. The worst-case scenario in this situation is when there’s a typhoon going on oil refineries strong enough to make it temporarily shut down due to damages.

The Expected Arrival of your Goods

Time is more than just gold in the world of business. Importing your goods in a faraway place requires a definite amount of time to keep up against competitors that are nearer than your target customer. Moreover, if you sell something that thrives on punctuality to retain its usefulness such as food, you should know by now that delayed delivery can ruin its condition. So, if you just shipped your goods during a storm, you better expect for the worse. Carriers tend to choose longer routes over the shorter ones if they find the latter impassable due to the dangers involved.

Refusal of Carriers to take your Cargo

Natural disasters will always make most carriers to be more vigilant to take anyone’s goods. Denial of your goods directly gives detrimental effects on your supply chain, eventually losing considerable revenues in the long run. Just imagine all of your business operations being halted in such a significant amount of time.

Freight Shipping Rates

Rates for freight shipping is always flexible especially on the event of calamities. A domino-effect will most likely happen until it makes its way for you. From the impassable roads making the fuel much more expensive to the delayed accomplishment of shipping service, most financial burdens will be passed into you.

Conclusion

As a business owner looking to ship your goods, anticipating natural disasters is a key for preventing any financial loses that can delay your company’s growth. Always take heed of the weather updates and recent news before making any move.

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5 Questions to Ask your Freight Forwarder – Infographic

excelsior on March 31, 2019

One of the true marks of a successful and competent business owner is how to make the best out of a freight forwarding service. In the world of commerce, freight forwarders are usually the one in charge of facilitating all the transfer and shipping process of certain goods from one place to another.

If you’ve never tried affording a freight forwarding service before, you should be aware that there are several questions that you should ask while contacting a freight forwarder company. Here are five of the most important ones:

Question #1: Do you have any packing services?

Packing services will always depend on the freight forwarding company you hired. Some may offer to seal up your goods as they guide you through the process, while others might not. So, it may not hurt to ask the company first in case you don’t have much time to pack up everything you’ll need for shipping.

Bonus tip: If you’re planning to pack them your own, be sure to do some research on properly packing your specific cargo as it might affect its condition while on board.

Question #2: How extensive is your network?

This is where the competition among freight forwarders comes in: who has the most comprehensive network of connection? Having an extensive network of shipping lines enables a freight forwarding company to give you the best options available as well as providing you the best shipping rates you can surely afford.

Additionally, it also helps with speeding up all of the other client’s requirements and demands.

Question #3: Will I be able to track my shipments?

Once your cargo is currently on its way to the target destination, it is very important to track its condition, location, and the expected time of arrival. In other words, telling this question to your chosen company beforehand gives you the assurance that your goods will always be in good hands.

You can now focus more on planning your other business schedule.

Question #4: What are the specific requirements for the shipping process?

One crucial job of freight forwarders is to make sure that you can complete all of the requirements of shipping as fast as possible. But it might also help a lot if the client is also pretty curious on all of the paperwork that must be taken care of. In fact, it’s more of a self-responsibility than a favor, since import requirements will always vary from country to country.

Question #5: Can I see any of your accreditations?

If you wanted to take a peek on the company’s history, credibility, and reliability, it is your right as the client to be informed about all of the accreditations that company already have. This question is especially useful when you’re still looking on the list of potential freight forwarding companies that you are opting to hire. You can also look at their official website and see all the testimonies and comments from former clients.

Having a freight forwarder’s expertise in keeping your business up and running is definitely a convenient way to avoid all the hassles associated with requirements in both importation and exportation.

6 Basic Stages of the Freight Forwarding Process – Infographic

excelsior on February 28, 2019

In the world of commerce, transporting goods or products from one place to another is one of the most efficient methods in maintaining the flow of profits at a desirable rate. This is where freight forwarders really shine when it comes in providing such services.

Freight forwarders is a person or firm that specializes in facilitating shipments for clients such as private individuals or corporations. While freight forwarding can be a pretty complicated topic to talk about, having some fundamental knowledge about its process is a true mark of a successful business owner. Not only it will give you the edge over your competitors, but it also protects you against freight forwarding scams.

Here are the six basic stages of the freight forwarding process:

Stage 1 – Export Haulage

The first stage is called export haulage. This is where the goods to be shipped by the client are brought to the freight forwarder’s warehouse. Depending on the geographical location, type of goods, and the travel distance, this stage usually takes around several hours to a few days.

Stage 2 – Items Checkpoint

Upon the arrival of the goods, the freight forwarders will then thoroughly check everything to see if there are any problems or is it illegible to be shipped to the target location.

Stage 3 – Export Customs Clearance

Once the freight forwarders approved the shipment, it’s time to clear the requirements. Before putting them inside the carrier, some important details about the goods must be validated by the customs authorities of the exporting country.

This is also the stage where freight forwarders work together with customs brokers since they have the required expertise in this kind of legal activity. They can as well submit appropriate payments on behalf of the client.

Stage 4 – Import Customs Clearance

This stage is basically the same with export customs clearance; only this time the goods must adhere to the legal requirements imposed by the receiving country. It can be performed either by the freight forwarder or the nominated customs broker.

Stage 5 – Destination Arrival and Handling

After clearing all the necessary requirements, the freight forwarder shall now take all the important forms for the shipment. These forms may include documentation, carrier bills, among others. This is the penultimate stage of freight forwarding.

Stage 6 – Import Haulage

The final stage of the whole process where the goods are transported from the receiving warehouse to the main recipient. Bringing the goods to the intended destination can still be performed by the freight forwarder or the consignee by simply hauling it themselves.

These stages may prove that freight forwarding isn’t too complicated as it supposed to be. As long as you have your trusty freight forwarder with you, exporting and importing will always be hassle-free as ever.

Indications of a Reliable and Trustworthy Freight Forwarding Company

excelsior on February 15, 2019

A freight forwarding company is a firm that offers the arrangement of shipping goods in place of an individual client or company. Many businesses today prefer hiring the service of freight forwarders in order to sustain their competence in the world market.

While there can be a wide variety of companies to choose from, finding the most reliable and trustworthy freight forwarder can become quite tricky since there are indeed some risks involved concerning the safety and timely arrival of your products from one place to another.

So, without further ado, here are the telltale qualities that can easily help you determine a reliable and trustworthy freight forwarding company:

Possesses good credentials

One of the most easily identifiable signs of a competitive freight forwarding company is a list of credentials. These can be awards, testimonials from former and existing clients, and specific accreditations from the government. Knowing this can almost guarantee that a freight forwarder is capable of providing the best quality of services available.

Strong and wide network of contacts

A strong and wide network of contacts is an essential tool of a reliable freight forwarder, especially when conducting international shipments. The company must utilize their contacts with carriers to move the goods. They should also maintain friendly relations with several custom brokers as well as other forwarding agents in foreign countries. This will help them establish effective communication when they are trying to request for any updates about the status of the package, which can prevent possible delays on the arrival of goods.

A range of quality services

A trustworthy freight forwarding company usually doesn’t only provide one kind of service. Instead, aside from product shipping, they also specialize in an extensive range of services such as trucking, assistance in the requirements of importing and exporting, breakbulk agency, among others. Having a range of services is a testament to a company’s ability in singlehandedly managing a set of complicated but important business requirements.

Excellent knowledge in document processes

Being an expert in the nuts and bolts of running the documentation procedures of shipping is a perk of a trustworthy freight forwarding company. This enables them to do their job efficiently by properly guiding and assisting the clients in the step-by-step process that can prevent them from spending too much money as well as precious time due to utter confusion.

Customer Service

Most experienced clients prefer a freight forwarding company that grants them information regarding their best rates and options. Moreover, having an active website, email, or contact number that regularly interacts with the customers looking for inquiries makes that kind of company a highly sought-after one.

A decent packaging service

Another trait of a trustworthy freight forwarding company is its skill in sustaining the safety of the products through a proper and foolproof packaging service. Packaging serves as the main protection of goods during the shipping time, so it is most vital for the company to have the proper kind of packaging regardless of what kind of goods they’re transporting.

Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn more about importation and exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience for 17 years in the business. Visit our website today at www.excelsior.ph to learn more about our service.

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What’s the Difference Between a Freight Forwarder and a Customs Broker – Infographic

excelsior on January 31, 2019

Some exporters nowadays often mistook a freight forwarder for a customs broker and vice versa. While may be working in the same industry, both are fairly different from each other. Here are some of the telltale facts that draw the fine line between the two professions.

1. Definitions

A Freight Forwarder is an agent or company that specializes in logistics and organizing of shipments in place of an individual or a company, to transport their goods. This kind of service usually requires a great deal of connection in the supply chain.

On the other hand, a Customs Broker is a private individual or firm that serves as guide for both importers and exporters in meeting the necessary requirements given by the customs authorities.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

Freight Forwarders are the ones responsible for handling all the processes when it comes in exportation of a cargo. From bringing the goods to its mode of shipment (e.g. truck, plane, or ship) to its arrival at the target destination, the freight forwarders have it all covered. They also give advice as to how to get the best deal for the cost of transportation, as well as guarantee the safety and timely arrival of the goods. To know more about the importance of a freight forwarder please check out the infographic

here.

Customs Brokers are in charge of submitting all important documents like clearances in order for the shipments to be legally allowed to enter its country of destination. They also tend to have a wide area of knowledge when it comes in every entry procedure, including other payments like taxes and fees for imported merchandise. In addition to that they can also help shippers through the following:

Customs bonds
Importer Security Fillings
Dispatching for final delivery
Duty drawback
Reconciliation

One thing custom broker can be similar with freight forwarders is that they can as well give recommendations. Only this time, they do it for the purpose of providing the client on getting the most efficient way of clearing their goods in accordance to customs entry rules and regulations.

3. Can a Freight Forwarder be a Customs Broker at the same time?

Since Freight forwarders can be a wider term compared to customs brokers which has a more specific job, there are cases in which a freight forwarder can offer services similar to that of a customs broker. However, not every customs broker can be a freight forwarder.

For many business owners trying import or export their goods, having both freight forwarders and customs brokers are very critical in ensuring its proper arrival on time while adhering to the complicated rules and process of international shipment.

Freight Forwarding in the Philippines: Tips to Achieve Competitive Cost Saving When Importing From China?

excelsior on January 15, 2019

One of the most critical success factors of an import business is learning how to minimize shipping costs. Whether you’re just new in the international trading industry or have already established a big company, managing shipping cost is an aspect that warrants extreme scrutiny and judgement as it can impact your business’ bottom line really hard.

With that being said, here are some tips that can help you ship from China to the Philippines in a cost-effective way:

1. Choose a Reputable Chinese Supplier

The first step to ensure you get a competitive cost-saving when importing from China is to choose a supplier that is reliable and trustworthy enough to cater to your needs.

If your supplier doesn’t comply with regulations and doesn’t have any certifications, it can lead you to serious legal problems once your cargoes arrive at the port destination, which can ultimately result in delays, additional logistical headaches and shipping costs.

2. Hire a Freight Forwarder in the Philippines

Most freight forwarders in the Philippines are affiliated with numerous international transport organizations and companies worldwide, including local Chinese logistic companies. Hence, you should choose a freight forwarder that can and will use its connections to negotiate for better prices on your behalf.

Furthermore, your chosen Philippine freight forwarder should also be knowledgeable about the freight peak seasons in China (e.g., Chinese New Year) because during peak seasons, importing can become complicated due to high demand, high prices, and a probability of container shortage.

3. Choose Incoterms Wisely

Incoterms are international commercial terms that serve as the basis of agreement between the supplier and the buyer that trades internationally. There numerous Incoterms to choose from, so selecting the most competitive one can be quite challenging.

In general, Incoterms often used to import from China, such as EXW, FOB, and CIF, are the most ideal as they put you in charge of choosing a freight forwarder, shipping routes and times, and other details that allow you to balance all costs so you can stay competitive. However, keep in mind that your negotiation skills and the type and value of goods could also affect the type of Incoterms you should choose.

If you’re unsure of which Incoterm to choose, do read our post on how to select a competitive and safe Incoterm.

These are the steps to follow in order to achieve significant cost saving when you import goods from China to the Philippines.

Here at Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics, we have equipped people who are knowledgeable regarding import procedures and are committed to reducing your expenditures as much as you are.

We also conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation & exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge & experience for 17 years in the business.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines – Why Do You Need One? (Infographic)

excelsior on December 31, 2018

Freight forwarders or forwarding agent have vital roles in the shipping world. In the shipping industry, freight forwarders serve as the support and assistance for the import and export process. This is very, very important in the shipping world as it is one of the most delicate parts of the global supply chain.

In the Philippines, 21.1% of the transporting storage and establishments are freight forwarding companies. They compose the biggest chunk of transporting service in the country – just to ensure that all your goods are delivered to warehouses the fastest and safest possible way.

Businesses become bigger through time, and as they expand, there is much competition in the industry. Products and services ultimately differ in terms of technology and advanced features, including transport service. However, keeping up with the number of shipments going in and out of an import/export company can be challenging; This is where freight forwarding company in the Philippines thrives. They manage the huge efforts in shipping, so you can stay focused on product operations.

If you are still not convinced, here is a list on why you need the help of a freight forwarding company in the Philippines.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines Makes it Easier to Manage Shipping

Handling the entire logistics in-house or using another logistics provider can be very costly and messy. Choosing a freight forwarding company makes a lot of difference as they have the capability and resources to organize all the demands of your shipping.

They are the experts in the import and export industry. Your cargos will be transported to their destinations with the knowledge that they employ the most skilled workers to do the job and they have the machinery to handle even the unexpected. In fact, these employees comprise 10% (~18,000 workers) of the total workers in the transporting industry. They have the processes to make everything systematic, and some even have distinct features to ensure their customers do not worry. All of these will help save you a lot of time and effort.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines: Features and Services

Freight forwarders employ various features to keep you calm, without anything to worry – as their cargos get transported to your customers. Some of their features are:

Warehousing Shipping and Export Documents
Efficient Cargo Space
Freight Management

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines is Cost-efficient!

Freight forwarders provide specific services at a price that is not heavy on your pockets! They have some bundle deals that are better than 3PL companies which have wider scopes of services such as arranging transportation options. They have a huge network which can help you negotiate with carriers for a less steep price, due to the volume of containers they with each carrier every day.

They can also look for good freight quotes and have the inside information on which carrier has the best routes, enabling your shipments to land in their final destinations the quickest way possible, at a much-ideal cost.

Freight Forwarding Company in the Philippines Makes Everything Controllable and Simple

Dealing with a lot of volatility in the shipping industry can give you a headache that it can cost you a lot of money for every single mistake, especially when your business is growing bigger and bigger by the day. You only communicate with the company, and they handle all the time, money, effort and frustration; they offer you flexible options and gives you full control.

They also give that assurance that would increase your marketability and your service credibility. They are experts in limiting risks, so they can recover quickly whenever there is a loss of shipments or any other unforeseen circumstance. They can offer transparency necessary for your shipment delivery.

Here at Excelsior Worldwide Freight Logistics, we treat our clients as partners. We also conduct free orientation for those who are willing to learn about importation and exportation. It is our advocacy to share our knowledge and experience for 17 years in the business.

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