Top Five Things to Consider when Hiring a Freight Forwarder

Here at Alaska Air Forwarding, we have discussed a number of different topics in our recent blog posts. However, sometimes it’s nice to get back to the basics of what we do and share some key points about freight forwarding. There are several things to consider when hiring a freight forwarder and we’d like to share a few of those with you and showcase how Alaska Air Forwarding can service your needs.

FIVE THINGS TO CONSIDER

1. Their familiarity with the nature of the cargo you will be shipping. Some forwarders specialize in certain load types including dangerous/hazardous goods, expedited, high-value, cold chain, etc.
2. Their recommended routing and mode of transport including intermodal, ground, air, and ocean and their ability to handle the entire shipping logistics process as well as the handoff.
3. What delivery options they use including to port of entry and whether they also organize in-country transportation to get your products to the final destination.
4. What additional services they can provide including insurance, expediting, warehousing, site services, relocations, and general cargo.
5. Consolidation and warehousing abilities, i.e. receiving at the country of origin – which can include cargo packing; cargo handling; storage options to consolidate orders from different vendors, if desired; and storage at the destination should there be a change in the political, social or environmental climate.

HOW ALASKA AIR FORWARDING CAN HELP

Our specialty is shipping cargo to and from Alaska from anywhere in the United States. Here’s how Alaska Air Forwarding can meet your freight forwarding needs.

1. We’ve been in the freight forwarding business for about 50 years and in that time we have become familiar with many different types of cargo. When it comes to shipping hazardous material, we have a haz-mat professional on staff. If it’s legal, we can ship it.
2. Through our Freight Management Services division, we can handle shipments by water and we ship weekly to Dutch Harbor, AK.
3. We offer a number of different delivery options that are detailed here. We have a number of reliable partners that we work with throughout the state of Alaska insuring your cargo arrives safely and on time.
4. We also offer Nationwide Purchase Order Procurement Service, Proof of Delivery Confirmation, Insurance, as well as Shipment Consolidation Services.
5. Our Heavy-lift Air Cargo is one feature that sets us apart from other freight companies.

As we look at the general factors that are important to consider when hiring a freight forwarder, it’s easy to see that Alaska Air Forwarding meets and exceeds every consideration.

If you are looking for a reliable freight forwarder to ship your cargo to Alaska, contact us. We’ll make sure your cargo reaches its final destination on-time, safely and cost-effectively.