Freight forwarding refers to the process of arranging the transportation of goods on behalf of shippers. This involves coordinating various aspects of the shipping process, including booking cargo space, preparing shipping documents, and often managing the logistics of transportation across different modalities (like sea, air, and land). Essentially, a freight forwarder acts as an intermediary between the shipper and various transportation services, ensuring that goods are shipped efficiently and in compliance with regulations.
This role is critical in international trade, as it helps businesses navigate the complexities of customs requirements, tariffs, and global shipping regulations. By handling these logistics, freight forwarders minimize the burden on companies, allowing them to focus on their core operations. Other answers do not accurately capture the comprehensive nature of freight forwarding and its primary focus on transportation arrangement, which is central to supply chain logistics.