As well as freight services, its extraordinary strategic location has also led to Belgium having an important position in international politics, with the European Union, NATO and over 1000 international organisations having their base in Belgium.

There has been a remarkable development of trade and international freight transport from Bruges, Antwerp and the Walloon industrial basins that has its roots right back in the middle ages. It was in the 14th century that Antwerp started to develop as a port and today it is the fourth largest port in the world and the second largest port in Europe. Antwerp offers short transit times to all the world’s main destinations. In 2007, almost 17,000 ships carrying cargo of over 180 million tonnes docked in Antwerp. Antwerp is also the fastest growing port for container transport within the Hamburg – Le Havre range. As well as sea ports at Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ostend, Liege, Brussels, and Ghent, Belgium has also established an efficient freight transport infrastructure made up of motorways, railways and waterways.

Belgium’s extensive inland waterway network, which is over 1500 kilometres long, connects the major Belgian sea ports to Europe’s inland waterways, which are another important facility for shipping companies. Belgium’s main rivers, the Scheldt and the Maas, and their connecting canals and tributaries, cover the whole country.This is the second largest system of waterways in Europe and offers very efficient transport for freight forwarding that is both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient for the shipping company or freight company.

Belgium has a long history of investment in its international freight infrastructure and shipping companies. Its solid logistics and freight forwarding networks always rank highly in international surveys. It was one of the first countries in Europe to use trains and it soon built up the densest railway network in the world. The rail network transports over 62 million tons of freight every year, with high speed trains running up to ten times a day to London, Cologne, Amsterdam and Paris.

Waterways transport has been improved by the creation of boat lifts such as that on the Canal du Centre. The port of Antwerp has built up large dock yards and locks and the Berendrecht lock is the largest lock in the world. There are no less than seven international motorways, covering nearly 2000 kilometres, which connect Belgium with France, Germany and the Netherlands, making international freight transport straight forward by road for freight companies. In addition, there are over 12,000 kilometres of regional road networks. The airports are also modern and efficient. Flight times to most major cities in Europe are under two hours and some 18 million passengers used the airport in 2007. According to the Association of European Airlines (AEA) Brussels International Airport is the most punctual airport in Europe. It also offers the fastest turnaround for air freight transport and handled nearly 800,000 tonnes of freight in 2007. The airports of Liege-Bierset, Charleroi, Antwerp and Ostend also serve many foreign destinations.

With regard to freight services, Belgium has developed the concept of combined transport. A number of container ports for inland shipping have been built and the port of Antwerp has been expanded recently with a tidal container dock, the Deurganck dock, which allows ships to be dealt with even more quickly. The high speed rail infrastructure to and from Antwerp port is also being extended further.

So Belgium is continuing to consolidate its position as the European bridge to worldwide business and a world leader in shipping companies and freight transport.

Stephen Willis is Managing Director of RW Freight Services a UK based freight transport company, established in 1971 and operating specialist freight services to and from Belgium

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These are common questions from those interested in this industry. Let’s try to shed some light on these questions.

1. A freight broker is fully self-employed and is required to obtain his or her broker authority. A fully self-employed freight broker will do his or her own invoicing to customers and will pay the motor carriers. Essentially, the freight broker is running a complete business.

2. A broker agent works for another freight broker and does not need to obtain a broker authority. The agent works under the authority of his or her freight broker and is not responsible for invoicing or paying the trucks.

There are pros and cons to each option.

First, a fully self-employed freight broker is required to get their broker authority but they retain 100% of the profit on each load. Further, the freight broker is totally responsible for invoicing the customer and making collections as well as paying the motor carriers. Having sufficient capital and good cash management skills are an absolute necessity. Since time is required to run an entire business, the freight broker has relatively less time to search for new customers and find trucks.

Second, a broker agent is not required to get his or her broker authority and, therefore, this option is less costly. But the broker agent splits his or her commission on each load with the freight broker. Most of the agent’s time is spent searching for new customers and finding trucks.

Third, most freight brokers are seeking experienced agents. There are a few who will accept new inexperienced agents but these freight brokers are far and few in between. If an agent is new or inexperienced, the freight broker normally does not want to spend a lot of time training or “hand-holding”.

To recap, as a broker agent, you don’t need your broker authority. You work under the authority of another freight broker. It’s possible to begin as either a freight broker or broker agent and then switch to the other. The two fundamental differences are the scope of the duties and responsibilities and the fact that the broker agent does not need their authority.

Regardless of whether you work as a freight broker or broker agent, you may work out of your home. And you will meet and work with customers and carriers over the entire country.

All you need to get started is:

1. A good computer with a high-speed internet connection,
2. Preferably two telephone lines (one could be either a cell phone or internet telephone),
3. A good fax machine,
4. Proper education and the drive and determination to succeed.

For both freight brokers and broker agents, good, comprehensive training or on-the-job experience is absolutely essential.

Here are a few topics you can expect to learn if you take freight broker or broker agent training:

* How to use the Loading Boards
* How to find shippers
* How to search for trucks
* How to talk to shippers and dispatchers
* How to pre-qualify your motor carrier
* How to calculate rates
* Step-by-step procedures for booking a load
* How to get set-up with your motor carriers
* How to monitor and track your loads
* How to set-up and manage your information flow

Author Bio:
John is the sole owner and president of Atex Freight Broker Training, Inc. He trains individuals over the telephone and Internet to become fully self-employed freight brokers or broker agents. John is a certified public accountant by profession with over 25 years’ experience working with small business startups. To learn more about freight brokers and broker agents, you may visit his website at: http://www.atexfreightbrokertraining.com/Whatsthedifference.shtml

You may also view John’s blog, “John Thomas on Freight Brokering” at http://www.freightbrokeringblog.com

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Suppose you have an order to transport electronic goods from Taiwan in China to Hong Kong but you don’t have a freight order for the return trip and you would like to find return freight to enlarge your profitability. You can accomplish this by searching for return freight or ‘backload’ on a freight exchange.

So, keeping this thing in mind Freight Exchange System was made, these systems make available a stage that allows carriers to be in touch with freight traffic information to associate operators such as transporters, forwarders and logistics companies.

A freight exchange is an online, real time service where haulage contractors search for freight (eg. for a backload) and freight forwarders propose freight to be transported.

These Freight Exchange Services allow forwarders to advertise their freight either secretly or publicly to a large number of freight operators that are looking for loads. They also permit freight operators to propose vehicle space. Online systems are usually subscription-based with a little charge for advertising (posting) and searching (consulting). The world’s first electronic freight exchange was known as Teleroute and this was launched in France on the Minitel system in the year 1985 and now, there are many examples around the world providing many such services to haulage contractors and freight forwarders.

Freight Forwarding is an important part of Marine Business which needs to regularly updated with the on going requirements and progress in this field.

Author is operating a website related to Freight Forwarding and Container Tracking.

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When you are desperately hunting for the LTL freight carrier for the purpose of your business, never forget to ask for discounts – especially for LTL freight. Most freight carriers offer discounts from 10 per cent – 60 per cent – the more discount you get, the more money you save – saving on freight is what you need for your business.

The most important thing you should know about saving on freight is – never pay for services you don’t need. For instance, if expedited freight is not need by you, you don’t need to get an overnight freight, as they are very expensive. In advance plan your shipments and make sure it is ready at pickup time. Most freight carriers charge a return fee if the shipment is not ready at the pickup time. Try to avoid unnecessary fees and charges by making sure that your shipment is always ready in advance.

If you are not sure how to calculate your freight, especially if you have different delivery points, ask your freight carriers for solutions to meet the delivery date and save on freight charges both together. Most freight carriers would be willing to help you – if they want you as their regular customer.

For more information on ltl freight carriers and ltl shipping

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There are a variety of experienced companies and agencies that coordinate direct freight for business clients. Building a long-term relationship with a good direct freight company will help solve many of the managerial and logistical difficulties that arise from trying to juggle freight management on your own. Such companies are in a position to offer to their clients a variety of assets gained from experience and expertise in the field of freight using up to date logistics management software.

Management of direct freight can be a confusing proposition, with so many variables to keep track of in a variety of times and locations. Freight management involves making sound business decisions from a multitude of often-confusing options and time schedules. Transferring these decisions to an agency that specializes in them can relieve clients of the burdens of shipment-tracking, contact maintenance, and matching drivers and destinations.

Freight management companies can offer their clients a variety of services. Most have freight quotes immediately available on their web sites, a valuable tool for comparing prices and services. Experienced personnel will deal with your questions and requests. Account managers for the companies stay in direct contact with the drivers, and time-stamping is used for record-keeping and tracking of shipments. The best way to get the best rates in shipping freight is logistics management software.

A variety of shipment options are available for direct freight needs. Depending on the needs and schedules of the client, next-day delivery can often be guaranteed by the direct freight provider. A good direct freight company will be bonded and insured, work with trusted carriers, offer reasonable freight quotes, and negotiate fair prices for their clients.

Many freight companies offer overseas shipping, by air or ocean, for international businesses. They employ meticulous direct freight management plans that ensure the security of your shipment from loading to destination, coordinating every aspect of the shipping process. Access to intermodal transportation, which is the combination of modes of transportation such as planes, boats, and trucks, is another convenience for businesses and customers. Many companies also offer continuously-refreshed online load boards to assist customers in direct freight management.

Successful management of the direct freight needs of your business can be a cornerstone to your success in building your business and reliably meeting the needs of your customer. The best starting point is a complete understanding of the major elements and benefits of a dependable freight management system and logistics management software. Once you understand the foundations, you can put the pieces in place and start guaranteeing your partners and customers the timely and reliable service that ensures success.

If there was logistics management software out there that could help a business maintain and manage the company down to the smallest detail, whether you’re a large company or small company thus saving lots of money and time, I am sure you would want to know about it.

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We’ll explore some of the most often-used terms here:

Abatement – A discount allowed for damage or overcharge

Accessorial – Some service that is not considered ’standard’ and will incur additional fees. This can include inside delivery, insurance, lift gate service, and other services

Bill of Lading (BOL) – Essential shipping documents which state relevant names and addresses, places of origin and destination, description of the shipped goods, instructions for payment and other relevant information

Booking – Arranging for the transportation of freight by a carrier

Boxcar – A closed rail freight car

Carrier – The transportation entity which agrees to move freight by rail, truck, sea, air or any combination of these modes

Cartage – Local (as opposed to interstate or international) freight hauling on trucks

Claim – A demand made upon carrier for payment due to damage or other loss as a result of carrier’s negligence in transporting

Classification – Assigned rating for particular type of product, generally identifying the size, value and inherent difficulties in transporting that product. The correct class is imperative for an accurate freight quote

Consignee – The person or company to which the freight is shipped

Consignor – The person or company identified as the shipper of freight

Container – A large metal box resembling a truck trailer body that can be shipped via vessel or rail and then attached to a trailer chassis for further transport, containers come in many sizes and types

Deadhead – When a truck delivers a load and then completes one leg of a trip without any cargo

Declared Value – A shipper can sometimes receive a lower rate if it declares a lower than actual value for a shipment, this can be risky in the event of a loss

Density – The weight of cargo per cubic foot, this measurement is important to an accurate freight quote

Double Drop – An open deck trailer with a raised section in the front and rear and a lower section in the middle which can be used to transport unusually tall cargo

Drayage – Local hauling of cargo by truck Same as Cartage

Dry Van – Refers to a 53′ trailer which can be heated or vented but is not refrigerated

Exception -When a shipment is received by a carrier (usually at their terminal), the carrier notes any actual or suspected damage to the cargo prior to transport

Freight – Used in several different manners, can refer to the actual cargo or to the charges assessed to a shipper by a carrier for hauling that cargo

Gross Weight – Cumulative weight of cargo, packaging and freight car or container

HAZ MAT – Hazardous Material

Intermodal – Use of multiple modes of transportation to move containers of cargo – can include sea, rail, road and air freight transport

LTL or Less Than Truckload – Shipment in which cargo is not large enough to require an entire truck by itself, LTL shipments are generally in the 100 lbs to 20,000 lbs range

N.M.F.C. – National Motor Freight Classification (see Classification above)

Piggyback – An intermodal transport arrangement in which loaded truck trailers are placed on a rail car and moved to a destination

PRO Number – The tracking number assigned by the carrier to a specific shipment

Proof of Delivery – Receipt of delivery for a shipment

Pup – A short trailer used together with another short trailer to create a twin or tandem trailer

Quotation or quote – An offer to provide freight carriage at a specific price based upon certain shipment information and terms

Reefer – Refrigerated container or trailer

Stack-train – A specialty rail car which can carry containers stacked two high

Step Deck – An open trailer with a standard flatbed section at the front and a dropped section in the rear, used to transport taller cargo

Tare Weight – The weight of the empty railcar or empty container in rail, sea or intermodal shipments

Tariff – A publication establishing the rates and requirements of a specific transportation company

Terminal – An area in which freight is organized and prepared for loading and dispatch to final destination, cargo will often go to a carrier’s terminal after it is picked up and then placed in another container or trailer for transport to its destination, Inter modal cargo is often unloaded to a terminal before being organized and placed for final delivery

TL – Truckload freight (where the amount of cargo is sufficient to fill an entire trailer or container

Tractor – The power unit used to pull a trailer

Trailer – The portion of the truck in which the freight is loaded and hauled

Ventilated Trailer – A trailer with small openings in walls to allow air to outside air to circulate through when doors are closed

Warehousing -Storage of cargo

While this list may seem long, there are hundreds of other industry terms and catch-phrases that you might run across. Whether you are a novice or experienced shipper, you may hear a new term from time to time. Don’t hesitate to contact us to find out what any freight-related word means at any time.

Freightquote.com gives you instant comparisons from lots of great carriers. Choose the best freight rates and service options for truckload and less than truckload (LTL) shipping, intermodal, air freight services and international freight shipping. Our user-friendly tools automate everything – pricing, pickups, documents, and tracking. From trucking freight across the state or country to shipping across the ocean, customers trust us with over 500,000 shipments every year.

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Regardless of the size of your freight company, as long as they have experience shipping to your ultimate destination and they are experienced shipping the kinds of goods you need to have delivered, you will have no trouble. It is always advisable to stay away from freight services providers that do not have experience handling the kind of goods you need to ship and that are not set-up for deliveries to the country to which you are sending your goods. When it comes to commercial shipping, having a freight company that is experienced will mean a smaller chance of your shipment being held up due to errors.

No business that relies on shipping for its bread-and-butter can get by without a freight forwarder in their corner – especially when it comes to international freight. The right freight company will not only take care of the logistics involved in your shipment but they will take care of all your customs brokering needs as well. Unless you are willing to dedicate one person to overseeing the custom brokering aspect of your company’s shipments, then you should hire a freight company that will provide you with customs brokering services.

When it comes to choosing a commercial shipping supplier you might want to base your decision on the freight rates offered by different providers. However, it is best not to judge a freight forwarder solely on the shipping rates that they charge. Sometimes the more expensive freight companies actually do provide a better service – mainly because they have a bigger fleet of carriers, more agents on the ground and in a greater number of destinations and because they provide customs brokering services as well. Hiring a freight company that has agents all over the world is especially important if you foresee shipping goods all over the world. The freight companies that charge less for their shipping services might not have a support system in place that will permit them to deliver packages to certain areas of the world. Hiring such a freight company might be worth it if your business is relatively small and you do not foresee expanding your shipping area to cover a larger section of the globe.

Regardless of what you decide, hiring a freight company should never be done lightly. You should always vet the companies on your shortlist and you should always do a little research before signing on the dotted line – that way, you will not regret your decision.

Jake Freeman writes content about freight services, international freight and freight forwarding. Visit Freight Shipping site to check freight forwarders’ directory and get quotes & offers from freight companies around the world.

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If you are running a business, you may not have the resources to devote to organizing in-house freight deliveries. This is where a professional freight service can benefit you. Freight companies have a vast amount of experience in forwarding freight and can offer practical and affordable solutions for businesses. Whatever freight or cargo you need to transport freight companies can provide a streamlined service to ensure your goods get to their destination quickly and safely.

Freight companies can handle all kinds of cargo including personal/household effects, consumer products, plant machinery, vehicles and electrical equipment.

Benefits of International Freight Companies
If you need to transport cargo around the world, then an international freight company will be invaluable. They will be able to provide a number of different shipping options to fit any transportation requirements and budgets. It can take months or even years to build up a list of reliable contacts in the global shipping industry. However with international freight companies you will have access to a ready built a network of reliable contacts across the world. This will ensure your cargo is transported to its destination on time and in top condition.

Whether you choose ocean or air freight, an international shipping company will be able to take care of all the paperwork for you. This includes electronic access to customs all around the world to provide fast clearance and delivery for all goods. Licenses, duty and tax will be taken care of for you. Freight companies will also be able to explain import/export tariffs in more detail.

Choosing a Freight Company
Freight companies are divided into two main services. International freight forwarders organize cargo to be shipped globally from country to country. Domestic freight forwarders organize shipping within a single country. There are thousands of different professional freight services available around with world. To help you select a reliable company you should look for those that belong to one of the main industry organizations. These include the TIA (Transportation Intermediaries Association), FTA (Freight Transport Association) or IATA (International Air Transport Association). This will help to ensure that the company is genuine and operates under industry regulations and guidelines.

http://www.ccfreight.com/

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A freight broker is the sound choice in such an instance. The freight broker works as a go-between for the shippers and the freight companies. He is the one who eliminates the complicated part and understands the transportation needs of the shippers, and provides them with the most opportune freight services.

Every shipper has distinct freight needs. Some deal in oversized load freight, while the others have specialty freight. Accordingly, the trucking services they require are also bespoke and unique. The freight broker is associated with a number of distinct freight companies, who specialize in hauling a variety of freight. Most of these companies are equipped with specialties trailers like lowboy, multi-axle, step deck, removable goose neck, flat bed etc. The broker efficiently connects the shippers with the freight companies that suit their needs best.

Besides this, the freight broker also aids the shipper in more than one way. He is the one who maintains relentless communication with the shipper regarding the freight in transit. Before connecting the shipper to the cargo transportation company, the freight broker also ensures the employment of the most efficacious truckers, so that the cargo is hauled effectually and flawlessly.

Most freight transportation companies swear by professionalism. But laying hands over such companies is quite backbreaking; the freight broker, in such instances, comes to the rescue of the shippers, and connects them with the germane trucking companies.

Pricing is the other considerable element that determines the selection of the freight services. Most freight companies charge exorbitant prices for their freight services, taking up which would certainly make a hole in the shippers’ pockets. The freight broker holds a variety of freight companies in its kitty that offer both highly and lowly priced transportation services, the shippers can pick the most felicitous services, according to their spending capacities.

A number of trucking companies tender oversized load shipping services to the shippers. Like hauling of iron bars, concrete slabs, heaters, chillers, automotive parts, heavy machinery etc. These specialty goods need special trailers and trailing norms for flawless transportation. As they involve heavy investment, the shippers seek for the most immaculate oversized load shipping companies for its transportation, which again is not a snap. This is where the freight brokers come into the picture, and recommends the expedient freight company to the shippers.

Are you looking for a renowned logistics transportation services provider, ensuring both timely delivery and complete satisfaction? How about an oversized load shipping experts known for competitive pricing in hauling specialized cargo? Centerlinefreight and their logistics transportation services is where your search ends, so visit them today and book your timely delivery.

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The total figure for all logistics activity in China was nearly Yuan 90 trillion, which is more than four times the figure in 2000, showing growth right across the country.Investment by both the state and the private sector in freight transport infrastructure projects has given rise to new airports, railway stations, roads, container ports and logistics centres that set a new standard worldwide and have created advantage for shipping companies and freight services companies.

Examples of the steps forward to create a better future for freight forwarding in China include the new sea-rail inter modal service called the Coastal Express which has been set up by the Shanghai Railway Administration, Ningbo Port group and China Railway Container Transport Corp.. The service runs between Ningbo Beilun Port Area Station and Wenzhou West, running at 100 km/ hr and making the journey in less than four hours.

Indeed, rail is expected to become China’s most high profile freight transport mode in the coming years as China embraces high speed rail transport. This is now the subject of considerable government investment and many a shipping company and freight company are keeping a close eye on the developments. A Beijing scheme to build high speed links across the country will free up existing lines for freight transport, reducing freight forwarding costs for bulk cargo.

An example of this is the upgrade of the railway link between Jinhua and Wenzhou, which is to be upgraded to a high speed link over the next four years, with speeds reaching 200km/hr.

Meanwhile, the 189km Jinhua-Wenzhou line is exceeding its original projections for freight transport and is one of the most profitable joint venture railways in China.

For air freight transport too, there are many improvements happening right now in China.

FedEx has launched a new domestic transfer centre for freight services at Hangzhou Airport and UPS plans to create an Asia-Pacific transfer centre at Shenzhen Airport. What’s more, a new airport to be established at Kunming will create a major hub for international freight transport to South East Asia.

However, despite the impressive growth, there are still considerable weaknesses in the Chinese logistics and international freight transport infrastructure and these are now being addressed as a priority by the Chinese government, given the importance of fuelling demand for China import. These weaknesses include infrastructure that is sub-standard in some places, under-regulation of shipping companies, lack of standardisation and inadequate uptake of modern technology to enable streamlined freight services.

Shaken by the global slowdown and its impact on China, Beijing is now focussing on addressing these weaknesses as well as upgrading the physical infrastructure for international freight transport.

The structural reforms now under way are pervasive and include reducing market access barriers as well as increasing supervision of the freight transport market. Another area that is being addressed is support for the development of modern shipping companies and freight services companies that adhere to strict standards for service and performance.

These improvements will be especially significant for the areas of China that are most dependent on markets for China imports, such as Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta, which includes China’s second largest port at Shenzhen.The improvements also include items such as a reduction in inter-provincial tolls.

Benefits will also be seen in other areas such as South West China, which has also greatly upgraded its transport infrastructure, and North East China, which has become China’s gateway to Russia, with ports such as Manzhouli benefiting from the resurgence in Russia, increased demand for China imports and improved relations between the two countries.

So although the economic climate has been tough due to the global slowdown, China continues to invest in its freight services infrastructure and this bodes well for the future.

Stephen Willis is Managing Director of RW Freight Services a UK based freight transport company, established in 1971 and operating worldwide freight forwarding services including specialist freight services to and from China

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