Legal Definitions - forwarding agent

A forwarding agent is a type of agent who is responsible for the transportation of goods from one place to another. They are also known as freight forwarders. They act as intermediaries between the shipper and the carrier, arranging for the transportation of goods by land, sea, or air. They may also handle customs clearance and other related tasks.

For example, if a company in the United States wants to ship goods to a customer in Europe, they may hire a forwarding agent to handle the logistics of the shipment. The forwarding agent would arrange for the goods to be picked up from the company's warehouse, transported to the port, and loaded onto a ship. They would also handle customs clearance and arrange for the goods to be delivered to the customer's location in Europe.

Another example would be a small business owner who wants to import goods from China. They may hire a forwarding agent to handle the logistics of the shipment, including arranging for the goods to be picked up from the supplier, transported to the port, and loaded onto a ship. The forwarding agent would also handle customs clearance and arrange for the goods to be delivered to the business owner's location.