A freight forwarder is a company that dispatches shipments via carriers and books or otherwise arranges space for shipments. Carriers could include vessels, airplanes, trucks or railroads.

Freight forwarders arrange cargo to an international destination. They are also referred to as international freight forwarders, and have the expertise that allows them to prepare and process the documentation and perform activities that are needed for international shipments. Some of the information reviewed by a freight forwarder is the commercial invoice, shipper's export declaration, and other documents required by the carrier or country of export, import, or transshipment.

Common services of freight forwarders are:

• Air freight
• Sea freight
• Shipping
• Logistics management
• Trucking
• Rail freight
• Specialized transportation.

Freight forwarders associations

http://www.fiata.com/
FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations
http://www.clecat.org/
CLECAT, the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistic and Customs Services.
http://www.ciffa.com/
CIFFA - Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association
http://www.bifa.org/
The British International Freight Association
http://www.ncbfaa.org/
National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc.
http://www.effa.com/
European Freight Forwarders Association, London

Find international freight forwarders.