International freight forwarding  

The freight forwarder generally assumes responsibility for consignments until they reach their destinations, depending on the trade and transport terms agreed, such as the Incoterms from the International Chamber of Commerce.

A very important role of a freight forwarder is to collect and consolidate consignments that are less than a truckload or a container load, and obtain common carrier transportation for the long-haul transport of the consolidation, thus making its transport more efficient and reducing transport costs. Freight forwarders often also act as custom broker and undertaken Customs and other clearance formalities on behalf of the shipper.