Keeping freight forwarding costs balanced with technology

For shipping companies and transportation providers, freight forwarder in melbourne provides invaluable services. However, keeping track of freight forwarder costs and fees can be difficult, especially for smaller companies. Freight forwarding charges fluctuate, sometimes quite frequently and dramatically, just like most other things related to freight shipping and transportation. As e-commerce grows in popularity, the need for reliable freight forwarding services becomes even more evident. A simple question like how much a freight forwarder costs become much more difficult to answer when there is such a huge amount of pressure to deliver shipments fast, affordable, and reliably.

Supply Chain Empowerment with Freight Forwarders

In spite of this, it is important to note that freight forwarders don’t just act as transport intermediaries. Besides performing a wide variety of value-added activities, freight forwarders also perform a number of complex tasks, which require extensive knowledge, skills, and expertise.

‍In addition to negotiating long-term contracts with shipping companies, you may also negotiate spot shipments on the spot market, procure other logistical services, interact with Customs officials, plan contingencies, manage labor, and respond to emergencies promptly.‍

Fees charged by freight forwarders: Fundamental Influences

Since freight forwarders have a lot of sway over shipping companies’ freight forwarding costs, it is important to understand what factors influence freight forwarder prices at any given time.

Cost is influenced by five main factors:

• Transport mode – air freight is more expensive than road freight or ocean freight
• Fuel costs increase with distance/destination
• Charges are often based on the weight and volume of cargo
• A good’s value may have a significant impact on how much risk and cost they are exposed to 
• Costs can also be impacted by the type of contract – short-term or long-term agreements with forwarders

Shippers and freight forwarders can better plan for increases and decreases in ocean freight forwarding rates by understanding the influencing factors.

Costs and charges associated with freight forwarding

When shipping specialized products and goods, freight forwarders will usually charge a different freight forwarding fee. These include:

• Gases, corrosives, and flammable materials considered to be dangerous, harmful, or hazardous
• Fresh, frozen, and live animals – perishable goods and live animals
• Goods that are too big or overweight to fit into a standard container or truck
• A specialized load is something that requires a special crane, machine, or packaging to ship

It depends on the type of shipping, the destination, the amount of work required to get it from Point A to Point B, and how much a freight forwarder charges for ocean freight transportation. Freight forwarders and carriers sometimes charge additional fees for handling these products, so it is important to remember that costs vary based on the forwarder and contract arrangements.

In 2022, freight forwarding charges are expected to increase

COVID has had a significant impact on freight forwarding services. By all indications, freight forwarder costs are expected to rise and remain volatile in the years to come in 2022. 64% of importers have reported that they have experienced price increases as a result of fluctuating freight forward prices, according to National Review.

To maximize profitability, freight management parties use technology to control costs

In order to manage global freight visibility and innovation within the market today, shipping companies and transportation service providers rely on the current ocean cargo freight forwarder price range to stay on top of it all. When markets are already unstable and volatile, it can be hard to untangle the factors that influence freight forwarder fees and costs. In order for shippers and freight forwarding companies to come together effectively, they must work with industry experts and find the right ocean freight transportation partner. Get in touch with Cargologik today to find out how much freight forwarders charge and how the right tools and insight can help you achieve the right balance.