With optimizing your supply chain, the roles of Customs brokers and freight forwarders are crucial. These professionals ensure your goods move smoothly across borders, adhering to all regulatory requirements and logistical considerations. Integrating the services of a Customs broker and a freight forwarder can revolutionize your trade operations, offering a seamless experience from origin to destination.
Fill out the form for a downloadable PDF version of the guide you can reference later.
Finding a Customs brokerage and freight forwarding company can be confusing, and no one wishes to further complicate the process of importing and exporting goods sourced from all over the globe.
Narrowing down the selection to a unified Customs broker and freight forwarder not only simplifies the decision-making process, but also fosters sustained consistency and compliance.
So why do some businesses choose to work with one company to manage their freight forwarding and another for Customs brokerage? The answer is they think they will pay less. Negotiating rates with two separate providers may seem a better strategy, but hidden costs, delays, or confusion between the different parties can quickly wipe out any savings.
Using one qualified company for Customs brokerage and freight forwarding reduces much of the logistical work on the customer’s end, while also making it easier to deliver Customs compliance and an optimal experience from pickup to delivery.
Before delving into the criteria for combining a Customs broker and freight forwarder, let’s first explore the underlying reasons for merging these services.
Combining Customs brokerage and freight forwarding services not only streamlines the logistics process. It also maximizes efficiency and ensures compliance with international trade regulations.
Here's why integrating these services can benefit your business:
Many freight forwarders rely on partnerships for Customs brokerage, but coordinating with two separate entities for distinct roles—Customs brokerage and freight forwarding—can lead to issues. Miscommunication or operational lapses may result in shipment delays, leading to demurrage fees.
In such situations, assigning blame is less crucial than finding a solution. Opting for a full-service Customs broker for freight forwarding enhances accountability in addressing such challenges.
Shipping industry relationships can endure generations or last only from Point A to Point B. If you’ve dealt with a large company’s customer service, you understand the frustration of being passed around without a clear answer. Picture trying to locate your shipment, and no one at your freight forwarding company can provide an answer.
A consistent point of contact familiar with your account can prevent headaches. Clear communication is crucial, especially when exchanging documents or filing entries with Customs. Compliance becomes challenging when working with multiple companies, risking delayed shipments and unexpected demurrage bills.Two separate entities handling your shipment reduce transparency and accountability, making it difficult to identify and resolve issues promptly.
Seeking the best deal for your company is part of your job, but selecting a freight forwarder or Customs broker based solely on price may not be a wise long-term investment. Initiating a bidding war can lead to overly optimistic quotes that may not reflect realistic costs.
When working with one company managing the entire process, you gain better control over costs for multiple shipments, adding predictability to your shipping budget. While various factors influence container movement costs, a reliable partner will collaborate with you to manage these variables effectively.
Working with a single company for the entire process allows you to evaluate performance against a standardized procedure, ensuring predictability and reducing the likelihood of surprises like extended transit times and extra charges.
While a cheaper rate may be tempting, it often comes with reduced service compared to slightly higher-priced options. Skimming the fine print might seem convenient, but overlooking secondary and tertiary factors could result in losing money on a seemingly generous quote.
A streamlined collaboration ensures a seamless flow of goods across borders, minimizing the risk of delays and additional fees.
Understanding the benefits of integrating Customs brokerage and freight forwarding lays the foundation for making an informed decision. The next step involves identifying the critical criteria that will ensure you partner with a provider capable of meeting all your logistics needs seamlessly.
Here are some key factors to consider:
Freight forwarders equipped with transportation management software offer a means for you to stay informed about the status of your shipments. This software is designed to streamline the logistics process, providing real-time visibility into the movement and location of your goods.
By leveraging transportation management software, freight forwarders can enhance communication and transparency throughout the shipping journey.
Whether it’s changes to industry regulations, questions about Incoterms, or other related topics, you’ll want whatever company you choose to be a reliable source of information. This means seeing what kind of resources they make available to clients. Do they have content available that demonstrates their expertise publicly?
Experiencing the frustration of being passed from one person to another when you have questions or concerns about your shipment is far from ideal.
Before you enter into a partnership, take the time to understand the structure of their team throughout the shipping process. Clarify responsibilities and accountabilities. What is the expected turnaround time for inquiries? Ideally, selecting a company with a dedicated point of contact ensures you have an advocate who can efficiently address your concerns and assist in resolving any issues that may arise
Providers take two main approaches to building an international network. Some establish their own offices abroad, meaning you only deal with the parent provider’s employees. This can be advantageous if service is consistently excellent across all offices.
However, if one office experiences recurring issues, it becomes challenging to address them without severing ties with the entire forwarder.
Alternatively, providers working with third-party agencies in certain locations can swiftly adapt and enhance service delivery.
In addition, consider the experience level of your partner’s employees. Knowing whether your contacts have extensive experience or are relatively new to the business is crucial. A forwarding partner with a mix of seasoned veterans and inexperienced staff may navigate challenges more effectively than one with a uniformly inexperienced team.
Customs compliance in international trade is intricate, involving adherence to diverse regulations, laws, and procedural intricacies across different countries and regions. Freight forwarders must be adept in tariff classifications, valuation methodologies, documentation procedures, and trade agreements to ensure lawful movement of goods across borders.
To ensure that they meet compliance procedures, ask your potential freight forwarder about their historical key performance indicators (KPIs). A thorough forwarding partner will have up to date KPIs that will give you a clear picture of their historical performance. If they do track KPIs, pay special attention to the following data:
Successfully integrating Customs brokerage and freight forwarding services requires a structured approach. The process involves meticulous planning, coordination, and continuous support to ensure that your logistics operations run smoothly and efficiently. Here, we break down the crucial stages of the integration process:
The integration process begins with a comprehensive initial assessment and planning phase. This stage involves evaluating your current logistics and Customs operations to identify any gaps or inefficiencies. During the assessment, the provider will analyze your shipping volume, trade lanes, compliance requirements, and overall supply chain needs.
A thorough understanding of your business objectives and constraints allows the provider to tailor a customized integration plan. This planning phase includes setting clear goals, timelines, and milestones to ensure a seamless transition and alignment with your logistics strategy.
Once the initial assessment and planning are complete, the next phase is implementation. This stage includes executing the integration plan, which may involve migrating data, setting up technology systems, and training your staff on new processes.
The provider will collaborate closely with your team to address any challenges and ensure that all aspects of Customs brokerage and freight forwarding are incorporated into your operations seamlessly.
We provide tailored solutions to meet your logistics needs with precision. Our goal of customer satisfaction drives us to deliver quality services that ensure your supply chain operates seamlessly. Here’s an overview of the core services we offer to streamline your logistics:
US Customs Brokerage
Our expert team offers dedicated Customs brokerage support to navigate the complexities of US Customs regulations. We ensure your shipments comply with all legal requirements, preventing delays and mitigating risks. Our robust knowledge and experience in tariff classifications, valuation, and documentation means you can trust us to handle your Customs brokerage needs efficiently.
Logistics Solutions
We provide end-to-end logistics solutions that optimize the movement of your goods. Whether you need air, sea, or land transportation, our strategic planning and execution ensures timely and cost-effective delivery. By leveraging advanced transportation management systems, we offer real-time visibility and seamless coordination for your shipments.
Warehousing & Distribution
We designed our warehousing facilities to meet diverse storage requirements. With strategically located distribution centers, we manage inventory efficiently and ensure quick dispatch. Our services include handling, packaging, and distribution, enabling you to focus on core business activities while we manage your logistics.
Meat Inspection
Specializing in the import and export of meat, Deringer ensures adherence to the strictest inspection standards. Our thorough inspection services guarantee that all products meet health and safety regulations before reaching their destination. We handle the complexities of meat logistics, ensuring compliance and quality at every step.
When you select Deringer as your supply chain partner, you can trust that your business is in the hands of dedicated, knowledgeable professionals, who have a strong commitment to carrying on the company's legacy of exceptional customer service. Our caring people work with you to develop tailored solutions that improve efficiencies, reduce overall supply chain costs, and manage the risks associated with global trade.
About Deringer
Trade Industry Leadership
Location
Copyright © 2024 A.N. Deringer, Inc.All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | 19 CFR § 111.29(b)(2)(ii) Notice of Method of Payment
