If you have built a relationship with your freight forwarder, changing your freight forwarder may seem like an unnecessary challenge to take on. Maintaining a good relationship with your freight forwarder is critical for the success of your business. However, it is not always the easiest thing to do.

It takes a lot of time for businesses to maintain a good relationship with their chosen freight forwarding service. Training a freight forwarder on your business and company procedures, as well as the service requirements you expect takes time. So, it is completely understandable if you are struggling to make a switch or let go of your old freight forwarding partner.

Experiences with freight forwarders vary from excellent to poor; some individuals enjoy fantastic relationships with their freight forwarders while others sadly struggle to maintain some sense of stability due to unfulfilled promises and endless frustrations. A partnership with your freight forwarder that simply is not working can have debilitating consequences for your business. So how do you know that is time to change your freight forwarder?

Top signs that changing your freight forwarder is necessary

Your freight forwarder is lacking in customer service

The kind of customer service that your freight forwarder provides is one of the things that should set your freight forwarder apart from other competitors. When your freight forwarder ceases to provide you excellent customer care, then it is time to pull the trigger and make a switch.

If your current forwarder is not supplying you with the level of professionalism and personalized service that you deserve, then you should not stand for it. Freight forwarding is a customer service-based business that is developed and grown based on personal relationships. You should not settle for a forwarder that is unprofessional or uncaring to your concerns and queries.

Your business or the freight forwarders has changed

All the best companies are bound to change with time. As your business grows and expands, you may start to demand more from your freight forwarder. If the freight forwarder can no longer meet your needs, you must find a forwarding service whose services can match up otherwise you might find yourself unable to or meet your expansion objectives.

If your freight forwarder’s business expands, on the other hand, you might also be forced to look for an alternative freight forwarding service. This is because the forwarder might not be able to be as attentive as they once were when you first partnered up.

Your freight forwarder is still using old and outdated technology

Technology is moving at an alarming rate, which is advantageous for many modern businesses. As such, if your freight forwarder has not done anything to embrace these technological changes, taking the plunge and finding a new freight forwarder may be needed. The use of advanced technology has several advantages including easier and faster online communication, electronic billing, as well as the enhanced ability to track your goods in real time.

Your freight forwarder is not easily contactable

When dealing with sensitive shipments such as pharmaceuticals or if your shipments are last minute, it is imperative that a freight forwarder replies speedily with a clear response to your queries. Whether you have a concern, or a general question regarding a future shipment or those in transit, contact with a freight forward should be of the utmost importance.

Freight prices have gone up

If there has been an increase in your freight pricing, it might help to shop around for other freight forwarders with more affordable pricing. If your business is working on a budget, shopping around to find a freight forwarder that will provide you value for money should become a top priority. If you feel that you are paying too much for a service, then you should not waver to request a competitive bid from a competing freight forwarding firm for your business.

Repeated failures

Shipping is a complicated process that is often impacted by numerous unforeseeable variables such as weather, customs issues, transportation delays, damaged freight, and so on. However, if your freight forwarder has failed to deliver time and time again, the repeated failures will start to harm your business in the long run, in which case, it is clear that you need to make a change.

Financial difficulties

If your freight forwarder’s bank account is almost or completely empty, that can be a big problem for your business. Freight forwarding, is just like any business, which means some freight forwarders do not survive. If your freight forwarder is not in the best shape financially, the stress of it all may lead to a sudden increased demand for payment of freight to it may even cause shortened credit terms. In some cases, it may cause a high employee turnover, which could affect the stability of your shipments when you have to deal with a new company representative with each new shipment.

Ship with us

Are you looking for a new freight forwarding partner? Ship with us! When you choose Sidoman for your freight forwarding services, we will ensure that the switching process is as painless as possible. Contact us today to learn how we can help!