With so many options for businesses available in the logistics market, professionals in this field are always concerned about finding a reliable freight forwarder to work with. After all, considering that in this field most transactions are done by distance, trusting your business partners is essential.

However, how to know the reliability of a freight forwarder? Well, there are many factors that can indicate whether you are working with a trustable agent or not. In this post, we have listed some of the things that implicate you are working with an unreliable agent.

We hope that this post can help you identify the quality of an agent before closing a deal with them. This way, you will have fewer chances of facing any issues and ensure smooth and hassle-free logistics operations. Check it out!

Indications of an unreliable freight forwarder

1. Miscommunication

First of all, it is no news that effective communication is the key to developing a successful business. Therefore, a freight forwarder who is not able to establish good communication with you is not the best choice of partner. Miscommunication can lead you to commit simple mistakes due to the operations not being aligned.

2. Lack of infrastructure

Another factor that is directly parallel with the reliability of a forwarder is whether they have a high-quality infrastructure. Some businesses in the market don’t offer this, and working with them might be a hassle. After all, only a company with a good and modern structure is able to represent your freight in their area and ensure total effectiveness and optimization of the logistics operation as a whole. Therefore, before hiring a freight forwarder, make sure to analyze if their structure will be able to attend your individual necessities!

3. Not having a website or institutional materials

Corporate materials and a website are the main things that represent a company towards prospects and clients. They help a business have more credibility with the public, strengthening their brand and encouraging engagement between the company and everyone who comes across it. Therefore, this makes it quite hard to trust a business that does not have a website or materials such as institutional presentation and brochure. It only shows that the company does not worry about sending out their message to the public, not investing in building relationships and strong connections.

4. Disrespecting rates

Some freight forwarders will lower their rates just to get the deal. This means they can send quotation with a certain price and once they close the deal, make the price higher. This is another factor that shows the unreliability of a forwarder. Make sure to work with professionals that are truthful about their rates, not making any “scam” to attract prospects. If you are wondering how to do that, we have some tips. First of all, get feedbacks from agents who have previously worked with the forwarder you are considering to hire. You can also ensure that everything is properly stated in a document (including their fees and regulations). This can help to avoid any miscommunications and problems with the operation.

5. Lack of certifications

A major thing that certifies the quality and reliability of the agents you are working with is their certifications. For instance, let’s pretend you are looking for a freight forwarder to represent your perishable cargo. Choosing someone who has certifications and awards that prove the quality of their services will assure you that you are making the right choice. On the other hand, an agent who has none of those might not be the best option of partner.

Besides all of these indications, there is one thing that can definitely help you to know how reliable your partners are: meeting with them in person. You can do this by attending logistics conferences, such as Twig Talk 2018, that allow you to interact and build relationships with freight forwarders worldwide. See more about why you should develop personal relationships with your business partners in the post below!