The complexity of international transport requires very professional, well trained people that are familiar with the ins and outs and can manage to get the goods, the pivot around which transport evolves, to their destination by the shortest and most effective route, at the best price, with the best guarantees, in perfect conditions and in the agreed time. International transport is the life line of international trade and needs the most competent professionals to arrange it: those who, among other things, know how to solve all red tape efficiently, contract the necessary insurance for risks to be sufficiently covered, speak languages in order to enable communications, use technology to monitor the goods and their safety as well as to provide the customer with on time information. This is the freight forwarder.

 

 

Depending on his specialisation, the forwarder arranges his work in various ways and is available for the customer both at the origin and destination of the goods. He may specialise in the type of goods he transports, in the transport means he uses, in the geographical areas he covers or the range of services he offers. These are all aspects to be considered when choosing the professional that can best accommodate the customer's requirements:

· Appropriately acknowledged professionalism and trustworthiness.

· Availability of adequate means for the job.

· Relativity in prices when conditions are alike.

Article 126 of the Overland Transport Regulation Act defines the conditions necessary to practise the profession: financial capacity, trustworthiness and professional training.

 

 

 

WHAT DOES HE DO?

• He acts as an international transport operator.
• For his customer he co-ordinates:
  o The most appropriate transport systems depending on the goods and their destination.
  o Packaging
  o The application of foreign trade regulations.
  o Credit policies for shipments.
  
  
• He chooses the appropriate means in accordance with the transport contract (combined transport)
  
  
• He organises and plans the groupage of various shipments to make transport as economical as possible for the customers.
  
  
• He co-ordinates transport insurance formalities.
  
  
• He arranges goods storage and distribution.
  
  
• He issues internationally standardised documents - FBL, FCR, FCT, FWR, SDT, CMR, y DDC.
  
  
• He supervises the transport operation.
  
  
• He co-ordinates Customs formalities in origin and destination.
  
  
• He offers customers his foreign agents' services.
  
  
• He assists importers and exporters by making their job easier.

The FORWARDER serves industry and trade and, as a service company, is a necessary link in the development of the economy. He fulfils a relevant task by solving transport problems arising from foreign trade.

• The freight forwarder is a professional. He is the architect of international goods transport. He co-ordinates and arranges all the operations treating the goods as if they were his own.
  

• The freight forwarder has been technically trained. He has attended courses given by IATA or concerning dangerous cargo among others. He speaks languages. He has a good command of monetary and Customs matters. He knows all the rules in foreign trade and all the ins and outs of international and multimodal transport.
  

• The freight forwarder has a widespread organisation. He has agents in major ports, airports and cities world wide as well as networks, representatives, associates and branches in different places. He travels constantly in order to update and verify his knowledge and contacts. He is familiar with traffic flows and agents all over the world.
  

• The freight forwarder is responsible for his actions. He has set up his company in accordance with the laws in force in each country - in Spain the LOTT. He has all necessary permits and administrative authorisations, covers all types of insurance, guarantees his civil liability and covers the total value of the shipments specifically declared and accepted beforehand.
  

 

THE FEDERATION

The Spanish Federation of International Forwarders, Shippers and Transport related companies, FETEIA, is the national business organisation representing and developing the professional interests of freight forwarding companies. FETEIA is made up of its provincial associations: ATEIA. The federation is a group of professional, legally established companies. It represents the sector locally (ATEIA), nationally (FETEIA), in Europe (CLECAT) and world wide (FIATA). The federation provides basic training for beginners and specific professional training on particular topics, refresher courses for employees and courses to help to adapt to the changes and developments in the sector. It organises seminars, round tables, conferences etc... It also circulates basic business documents (C.M.R., FIATA documents, DDC, shipment contracts, agents protocol, etc..). Among its activities, ATEIA publishes internationally standardised transport documents for exclusive use by its members which, for the customer, is a guarantee of transparent contracting conditions. It publishes FCR documents (Fiata certificate of receipt), FCT (Fiata Certificate of Transport), FBL (Fiata negotiable bills of lading for combined transport), SDT (Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Cargo Transport), for members only and, besides, DDC documents(Community Transit Commitment Declaration) and the CMR (International Transport Card). It promotes Civil Liability Insurance, Quality, debt control systems and EDI implementation. Because of all this, the federation has an international projection. It is a member of international organisations in which it participates by publishing reports, studies and constant information through newsletters, circulars, magazines, e-mails and other means of communication.