International freight forwarder

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An international freight forwarder is an individual or company that books or otherwise arranges space for shipments between countries via common carriers. Freight forwarders do not ship cargo themselves but instead arrange for its carriage by others. International freight forwarders also prepare and process the documentation and perform related activities pertaining to their shipments. Some of the typical information reviewed by a freight forwarder is the commercial invoice, shipper's export declaration, and other documents required by the carrier or country of export, import, or transshipment. Much of this information is now processed in a paperless environment.

International freight forwarders are sometimes referred to as simply freight forwarders, even though there are domestic freight forwarders. Freight forwarders have been called travel agents for freight.

In these cases the `forwarding' company takes on prime responsibility for the entire transport operation, specified in each contract, for a charge or fee which covers the total transport operation and, in turn, pays the actual carriers for the transport services rendered to it.

In the United States, a freight forwarder involved with international ocean shipping is licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary.