What is a Sea Freight Agent?
A sea freight agent regulates the logistics aspect of transporting cargoes by ship.
A freight agent works under a freight broker where both serve different purposes. While a freight broker requires to be licensed, it is otherwise for an agent thus the little or no liability. Freight brokers can be seen as the organisers who are responsible for regulating shipments from an initial point to a final destination. On the other hand, freight agents focus more on the customers to cater to their shipping needs. Despite being entities that cover different roles, both a freight agent and broker work very closely together as their roles are intertwined with one another.
What are the factors to consider when deciding whether to use sea freight?
Why engage a Sea Freight Agent?
Personalised Touch
In order to be able to cater to and solve customers’ shipping needs, freight agents will maintain communication with them. Also, the agents will keep customers updated on their freight status to ensure that deadlines are followed for a smooth delivery.
Vast Connection of Network
Engaging a freight agent would mean that shippers can tap on the relationships with carriers that have already been established by the freight brokers that these agents are working under. This would therefore save traders that require international sea freight a lot of time.
Lower Prices
Together with other freight agents under the same broker, they may merge all of their customers’ cargo together and request for discounts. This will then be converted into lower shipping prices for customers. A freight agent that is working under a more reputable broker would be able to provide more generous discounts.