• Freight forwarders are businesses involved in international movement of goods on behalf of other people or companies.
• They work with both exports and imports and became particularly important following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

3.1 EXPORT

• Expert advice: routeing, documentation, packaging and country-specific export regulations.
• Transport arrangements: select the appropriate mode such as air, road, sea or rail and arrange the necessary services.
• Forwarders can often obtain services more cheaply because of the volume of traffic they generate.
• Documentation: prepare documents on behalf of clients where permitted; exporter-only declarations remain the exporter's responsibility.
• Customs: liaise with Customs and prepare/present documents.
• Payment of charges: consolidate transport, ferry, warehousing and documentation costs and issue the exporter with a single invoice.
• Insurance: advise on suitable international cover and arrange insurance.

3.2 IMPORT

• Notification of arrival: particularly for groupage, the forwarder may receive early arrival information and notify the importer.
• Customs clearance: enter goods to Customs, pay necessary duty and obtain release on behalf of the client.
• Forwarders may have established Customs arrangements and bank guarantees that help minimise clearance delays.
• Final delivery: use own transport or regular professional carriers; goods may also be broken down and delivered to several locations.