Freight Companies & Quotes

Freight companies around the world base their reputation on how quickly, efficiently and safely they can move their clients' goods. You'll no doubt be doing a lot of research in order to find the company that can best attend to your needs. By filling out our quick form below, you'll receive up to 5 free quotes from our international network of cargo companies. Don't delay! See how fast and easy our service is!

When shopping around, be sure to consider the size of the company's network such as the number of ports, cities or airports they operate in. You should also only cooperate with freight companies that are bonded, insured, and licensed by the appropriate authorities. A good price isn't necessarily the most important factor to consider. Be aware that price quotes can differ based on the size of the container you will ship. There are two standard sizes in the industry: TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) and FEUs (Forty-foot Equivalent Units).

If you can fill an entire container then you will be shipping FCL / Full Container Loads. In this case, the containers can be picked up from your warehouse, factory or port. On the other hand, if you don't have enough goods to fill up an entire container, you will share it with others. This is referred to as an LCL shipment, this means Less Than Container Load. Some freight companies will do the packing for you and your products will be placed on a pallet; others require you to prepare everything in advance.

You may need to mix different methods of transport, for example, move your consignment via road or rail in order for it to arrive at an airport or seaport. Intermodal transport allows you to take advantage of the benefits each method brings. For instance, ocean and sea freight is better for the environment because ships utilize more renewable energy sources and produce less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Moreover, transporting goods via road allows you to move sealed containers without having the delays or hassle of Customs and border control along routes.

Independent freight companies and groups who are dealing with freight transport such as shippers, freight forwarders, transport operators and Customs will all come together at a logistic centre. They might also find storage, maintenance and repair facilities here, too. It's logical to house all these players under one roof so that efforts can be coordinated, saving time and money. For example, an ocean freight company might want to team up with a freight forwarder who can help them extend their network inland. Crowded ports and increasing regulations could encourage them to seek new revenue streams.

Freight companies will often become members of industry associations in order to bolster their reputation and keep them current. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is one such example that covers road, sea and air freight in the UK market only. Although serving just one country, their influence is large. Their network includes over 90% of rail freight companies, over 70% of sea and air exports, an estimated 1 million light vans and over 200,000 lorries. They publish the monthly Freight magazine which keeps avid readers up-to-date on transport policies and legislation.