Glossary
What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a customs broker?
A freight forwarder arranges the transport of goods; a customs broker files the declarations that clear them across the border. Many companies do both, but the two roles carry different responsibilities and different liability. |
What is freight forwarding?
Freight forwarding is arranging carriage on someone else’s behalf booking space, consolidating cargo, issuing house transport documents and coordinating the movement door to door. A freight forwarding company does not own the ships or aircraft. It buys capacity and sells a managed service on top of it.
What a customs broker does differently
The broker’s work starts at the declaration: classifying goods, calculating duty and VAT, and submitting the entry as the trader’s representative. Under direct representation the customs debt stays with the importer. Under indirect representation the broker becomes jointly liable for it.
Which one do you need?
- Moving goods and want a single point of contact a freight forwarder
- Running your own logistics but need entries filed correctly a customs broker
- Most importers appoint a forwarder that holds broker capability in-house, so one contract covers both
iCustoms gives forwarders, brokers and their clients one shared view of every declaration. |
