Freight Company & Quotes

A freight company can be used to move goods of a commercial nature. They will assume liability for the value of the items they are moving; therefore, it is in their best interest to run their business in a legal, responsible and safe manner. But with a sea of companies to choose from, where do you begin your search? Start by filling in our quick form to receive up to 5 free quotes from reputable freight companies in our global network.

Every freight company will issue a bill of lading which lists the contents of the shipment, fees, and outlines the limits of liability and procedures concerning transfer instructions and claims. If the freight company offers a Guaranteed Pick-up and Delivery Service then you will be reimbursed if there are any delays in the shipment. One charge you might see appear is a Line Haul charge if you used trucks or vans for some portion of the journey. Be sure to keep your bill of lading in a safe place, because you will also need to show this document to obtain insurance.

Sometimes a freight company will also offer storage and warehousing services. New technologies like Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) are allowing companies to remain on the cutting edge of the import-export business. These days, a shipper can confirm the manifest, or list of items to be shipped, by scanning entire consignments without unpacking or unloading the goods inside. Not only does this make the process easier, it also saves time and money.

The non-profit International Road Federation (IRF), the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and the European Union Road Federation (ERF) promote the use of road transportation to benefit the economic welfare of each country's population. But the Freight Best Practice program from the Department for Transport (DfT) in the United Kingdom helps people in the freight industry learn more about the benefits behind intermodal transport such as reduced carbon emissions, lower costs, less reliance on petrol and diesel, improved road safety. In Europe, approximately 520 million tonnes of goods are shipped via inland waterways, and this number can increase in the future as it replaces road and rail transport. Every road freight company these days needs to consider the fact that a combination of transport modes will allow them to be more flexible, offer better service and translate into cost savings.

If you have dry bulk to transport, such as iron ore, coal, grain, bauxite, alumina and phosphates then you will most definitely need an ocean freight company. They run massive vessels, the biggest is over 340 metres in length, in order to move large amounts of raw materials around the world. An estimated 5000 bulk carriers are in operation today, and they go full steam ahead to ship nearly 5 million tonnes of dry bulk daily. And, a bulk carrier can hold enough grain to feed 4 million people for an entire month!

For smaller shipments, sea freight or inland water freight companies should be sufficient. The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) articulates the needs of over 200 inland ports in almost 20 European countries, making them a great source of information and news.