Freight forwarder

A freight forwarder is an organiser of the transport of goods, the 'architect' of goods transport. The freight forwarder takes care of transporting goods from A to B on behalf of a shipper. As such, the freight forwarder is an intermediary between the shipper and the actual carrier (express carrier, road haulage company, airline or shipping company). Thus, the freight forwarder does not transport himself with his own means but provides the most suitable transport solution for the shipper. In doing so, the freight forwarder's responsibilities include administrative formalities, applying for licences, negotiating prices and booking shipments with the carrier, shipping company or airline, storing goods, carrying out any customs formalities, coordination between all parties involved, etc. A freight forwarding company is in the tertiary sectors and thus provides services to third parties.

Logistics Service Provider

A Logistics Service Provider is a logistics service provider that handles the global flow of goods and associated information for a shipper. This involves organising, planning and controlling the flow of goods with the aim of delivering the right goods, at the right time, at the right place, in the right quantities at minimum cost.

This does not have to be exclusively the transport of a shipment from A to B, but can also include warehousing (storage of goods), developing logistics concepts, value added logistics (assembly, labelling, invoicing, etc) and handling customs formalities. All possible modes of transport can be used: road transport, sea freight, air freight, inland navigation and rail transport. In case this is done by own means, a logistics service provider acts as carrier. When a logistics service provider subcontracts the transport to another carrier, a logistics service provider acts as freight forwarder.