What is a freight forwarder?
A freight forwarder ensures that goods move from sender to recipient efficiently and at a reasonable cost. Freight forwarding includes selecting the mode of transport and route, preparing consignment notes and export documents, and arranging collection, customs clearance and delivery.
For international shipments, the freight forwarder can also manage transshipments between different modes of transport and liaise with ports, terminals and agents in the destination country. The freight forwarder acts as the hub of the transport chain, with an overview of what needs to happen, when it needs to happen and which parties need to be involved.
What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a carrier?
A carrier performs the actual transport using its own vehicles, ships or aircraft. A freight forwarder manages the entire shipment, including documentation and customs, and appoints carriers to move the goods. Many freight forwarders and forwarding companies do not operate their own vehicles, while Posti provides both freight forwarding and transport services.
Freight forwarding with Posti
As an international freight forwarder, we have extensive experience in cross-border logistics and a broad network of carriers and partners around the world. This enables us to manage the entire forwarding assignment and negotiate competitive transport solutions based on your needs. Because we also operate transport services ourselves, we are not solely dependent on external carriers, giving you greater flexibility and efficiency. If the goods also need ongoing warehousing and distribution, freight forwarding can be combined with contract logistics (3PL).
The right mode of transport for every shipment
An important part of the planning process is deciding the best way to get your goods to the recipient. The choice between road, sea and air depends on factors such as destination, lead time, volume, weight and cost. In some cases, one mode of transport is the obvious choice, while other shipments require several options to be compared or combined, for example using a truck to and from the port and sea freight for the main leg. Posti's transport solutions include road, sea and air freight.
Goods requiring special handling
Sensitive, valuable, bulky or temperature-sensitive goods place specific demands on packaging, the transport environment, documentation and the choice of carrier. Posti has the experience and resources to manage shipments that, for various reasons, fall outside standard logistics flows.
When your shipment crosses customs borders
When a shipment crosses several customs borders, the regulations can quickly become complex. Customs requirements, documentation and local procedures may differ between countries, particularly when goods move outside the EU or between different customs territories.
Posti can coordinate the practical and administrative steps between markets, from export in the country of origin to import and onward delivery to the recipient, with customs clearance included in the same flow. This means fewer separate contacts for you and better continuity throughout the journey.
How it works
Tell us what you need to ship. Complete the form with details about the goods, where they should be collected, where they are going and when they need to arrive. Please include the weight, dimensions and any special handling requirements.
We send you a quote. We create a suitable transport plan, recommend the mode of transport and schedule, and provide a price. Once you approve the quote, we book the transport.
We book and carry out the transport. Your goods are collected, and the shipment is monitored from sender to recipient. When required, we prepare export documents and manage customs formalities along the way.
We track your shipment through to delivery. We coordinate carriers, terminals and any transshipments until the goods reach the recipient.