Often in the field of logistics, one comes across terminology that is unclear to the uninitiated, especially to customers who are choosing the shipping service to which they will entrust a delivery. So, in order to better understand the options offered by the various couriers, let us clarify the meaning of these terms, and in this article we will talk in particular about the freight shipments, and we are also going to list some of the most important companies in web shipments offering this type of service.
What does freight forwarding mean?
When we speak of freight forwarding, we mean the transport of large or irregularly shaped objects, and as far as weight is concerned, this generally refers to packages that exceed 68 kg. You can make these shipments both nationally and internationally, and generally make use of a pallets rather than a traditional parcel, to give the goods more stability and minimise the chances of them being damaged during transport.
Freight forwarding is usually little used by private individuals, and much more common in the corporate sector, as companies with locations in different territories may frequently need to move goods or raw materials from one place to another in large quantities that could not be handled by the ordinary freight forwarding service.
From this definition, one might think that freight forwarding is the same as cargo shipments, and indeed it is often the case that these two terms are used interchangeably, but the substantial difference would be in the means of transport by which the shipment is made. In fact, we refer to freight shipments as those that are made on wheels, by truck or train, whereas cargo shipments are made by sea or air.
However, the fact remains that the distinction between the two terms is not very clear, and even several shipping sites use the term Air Freight to indicate air shipments of large and heavy parcels.
How to pack parcels for freight forwarding
As we have said, although they are not very popular among private individuals, freight forwarding can still be used, for example when you are moving house and want to ship furniture to your new address, or when you need to ship bulky or irregularly sized items to Italy or abroad. When choosing this type of shipment, certain precautions must be taken with regard to the packaging of the goods, which may also depend on the means of transport.
For example, if you are transporting by ship, you will need to use materials to protect the shipped item by various factors, such as heat or cold, sunlight and water. In general, however, it is necessary to pack the goods in such a way that the package is well sealed and does not open for any reason during transport, and you must also ensure that there are no protrusions, which could lead to the transported object breaking or being damaged.
In addition, it will also be necessary pack the article inside the container, using materials that will cushion any shocks. To do this, you can use wrapping paper, bubble wrap, polyethylene foam, inflatable packaging or polystyrene foam. Before doing this, however, you will have to obtain a parcel or a pallet of a suitable size for the article to be shipped, and you will also have to check any special requirements of the courier, particularly with regard to the type of shipment in relation to the weight of the article. In fact, it is possible that above a certain weight some couriers require the use of a pallet, and if this requirement is not met, the shipment may not be carried out.
Some freight forwarders
Now that we have explained what freight forwarding is and how to pack such a parcel, let us look at some of the services that major freight forwarding companies offer for the transport of heavy, large or irregularly shaped goods.
For example, TNT offers freight forwarding by both air and road. The first solution is ideal for foreign shipments, and the speed of delivery can be chosen directly by the sender according to his needs. in addition, all possible customs formalities are included in this type of shipment, and it is recommended if you want to ship parcels weighing more than 100 kg or larger than 1 cubic metre. Road freight forwarding is available both nationally and internationally, and guarantees direct and secure delivery, which can also be done using a dedicated vehicle.
Also DHL offers a range of services concerning freight forwarding, which can be carried out by road or rail. Road transport involves different types, which have different prices and characteristics, and include shipments LTL (Less than Truck Load), PTL (Part Truck Load), FTL (Full Truck Load), but also shipments temperature-controlled and with a high level of security for valuables. Rail shipments, on the other hand, are made throughout Europe and linking Europe and Asia, and even in this case containers can be partially or fully loaded. For DHL shipments international, it also offers a consultancy service to take care of all the required customs formalities, and thus avoid incurring delays or penalties.
Moreover, for both of these couriers espresso freight shipments are always traceable at all stages, allowing both sender and receiver to be kept up-to-date on the status of the delivery and any delays.
