GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Freight forwarding
Freight forwarding is the service industry built around organising cargo movements on behalf of shippers – covering rate negotiation, carrier selection, documentation, customs clearance, and final delivery coordination.
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Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spedition
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Freight forwarding is the service industry built around organising cargo movements on behalf of shippers – covering rate negotiation, carrier selection, documentation, customs clearance, and final delivery coordination. A forwarding company acts as the operational link between the shipper, carriers, and government authorities, taking on tasks that most shippers lack the scale or expertise to handle in-house. Core services include booking cargo space, issuing bills of lading or air waybills, filing import and export declarations, and arranging cargo insurance. Many forwarders also specialise in less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation, temperature-controlled logistics, or hazardous goods handling. The defining distinction from pure transport: freight forwarding is about managing the process, not moving the goods.
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