
Freight Forwarder vs Broker
There is often confusion about the differences between freight forwarders and customs agents and brokers. What are the differences in their roles and responsibilities and
As an expert international freight forwarder, we offer freight transportation services for a variety of cargo including out of gauge and heavy items. We also provide an in-house, high-quality export packing service and can handle dangerous goods including, radioactive cargo.
We are a trusted and established freight forwarding company based in Leicestershire. Almost 50 years of experience, specialist knowledge, passion and commitment is reflected in everything we do. Helping businesses succeed in global trade for almost half a century, our business has been built on expertise in managing the complexities of moving cargo across international borders whilst meeting our customer’s targets. Underpinning our customer service is the assurance that we provide shipment visibility and reliable communication through one point of contact and our online tracking system. You can be confident and reassured that your cargo is in safe hands with Pinnacle Freight. As experts in international freight forwarding, we offer freight transportation services for a variety of cargo including out of gauge and heavy items. We also provide warehousing, ecommerce fulfilment services, an in-house, high-quality export packing service and can handle dangerous goods including radioactive cargo.
We pride ourselves in providing outstanding worldwide logistics solutions, covering all modes of transport.
Our dedicated air freight team use their knowledge and experience to offer the best solutions tailored to your needs at the right price.
Pinnacle offer a flexible and responsive sea freight service. We offer you choice, cost efficiency, and reliability to support your supply chain requirements.
Pinnacle own and operate three fully operational and modern global warehousing facilities; two in the Midlands, UK and one in Virginia, USA.
We pack all types of goods, from
the smallest item to heavy plant
and machinery.
With owned offices and facilities on both sides of the Atlantic, Pinnacle is perfectly placed to help your transatlantic business succeed.
Logistics is a key pillar for many businesses. With Pinnacle Freight, you can entrust that your valuable cargo is in the hands of an experienced freight forwarding company that knows exactly what they are doing.
As the industry has evolved, so have we. We have adapted to and invested in high-quality technology and innovation that can integrate with your IT systems to help you drive efficiencies.
Alongside our track & trace and warehouse management systems, we also offer a PO Management system that enables you to manage your supply chain effectively and efficiently in one place. We integrate your and your supplier’s operating systems with our online portal, giving a one-stop-shop solution for visibility and supply chain management.
Want to learn more about Pinnacle Freight’s reputation and past projects? Check out our case studies.
Memorable past international freight projects where Pinnacle have excelled.
Delivering 72MW of power to a power plant in Burkina Faso, changing the lives of the people living there.
Delivering vital and quite literally priceless space tech components, working closely with NASA.
Pinnacle were contracted to ship, transport, and install in final position four 335te engines, four 78te generators, and two 76te transformers.
Latest news and industry insights from the freight forwarding world.
There is often confusion about the differences between freight forwarders and customs agents and brokers. What are the differences in their roles and responsibilities and
The importance of the history and modern-day relations between the United States and the United Kingdom should not be understated. With strong cultural and financial
In 2021, China overtook Germany to become the UK’s biggest single import market for the first time since records began. This spans all major industries
Yes, a freight forwarder will arrange to clear your goods through customs. In order to do this, they will have the right software to communicate with HMRC’s systems. At Pinnacle, we offer this solution as a part of our end-to-end shipment service for imports.
The exporter of record is usually the owner of the goods, rather than the freight forwarder. For more information about the export process, see the Gov UK export guidance.
The importer of record is usually the owner, purchaser, or consignee who has ownership of the imported goods at the time of importation. For more information about the import process, see the Gov UK import guidance.
Freight forwarders provide transport solutions to businesses wanting to send packages, crates and containers from one country to another. Freight forwarders act on behalf of importers and exporters to get their client’s goods to their destination on time and in good condition. This means booking cargo with shipping lines, airlines, rail or road carriers.
Other responsibilities also include preparing and checking bills of carriage, arranging insurance, ensuring the lowest possible customs charges are levied and, where necessary, arranging storage.
Whilst a freight forwarder is not mandatory for importing or exporting goods, enlisting the services of one will most likely save you a lot of time and effort. This is because a freight forwarder will guide you through the entire shipping process from start to finish, taking on the responsibility of getting your goods from A to B and helping you to avoid any unforeseen costs or unwelcome surprises.
Importing and exporting goods is often far from straightforward. Using a freight forwarder makes the shipping process as smooth as possible. Freight forwarders have all of the industry expertise and knowledge necessary to ensure that costs are reduced where possible, any documentation is all correct and submitted on time and any mistakes are avoided.
Freight forwarders offer any or all of the following services: warehousing, shipping, documentation preparation, obtaining insurance and handling claims, consolidation of freight, booking cargo space and tracking goods.
At Pinnacle, we offer the full range of freight forwarding services from air, sea and road freight, import, export and domestic warehousing.
At Pinnacle, our quotations and invoicing are transparent so that our customers are clear on what they are being charged. We can also structure our costings to suit our customer’s requirements where possible, such as giving a detailed breakdown of individual costs or giving a lump sum figure.
Here is a list of common charge categories:
Yes, we provide you with 24/7 access to tracking information through our online Global Track & Trace service. It offers the ability to view live event updates, documentation and more. You can also schedule bespoke reports direct to your inbox. Alongside this, we also have a comprehensive online PO management system that enables you to manage your supply chain effectively and efficiently via one system.
This depends on the shipping line, consignee requirements and the local transport regulations. As a general rule of thumb, we would usually recommend approx. 23,000kg -25,000kg / 30cbm per 20ft container and 25,000kg -27,000kg / 71cbm per 40ft high cube container.
Please note, however, that these figures are estimated and vary according to the shipping line. It’s always best to check with one of our advisors before confirming your load plan.
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