The Freight Forwarding Industry Has Hidden Traps: 3 Ways to Spot Resellers
Why is your freight forwarder for air freight to middle east always more expensive than others?
The answer is simple. You are working with a reseller.
This industry has many hidden traps. Many customers cannot tell the difference between direct forwarders and resellers, and end up paying extra margins to middlemen.
Many clients ask me: They know working with direct forwarders can save costs, but they have no idea how to tell real suppliers apart from multi-layer resellers.
The freight industry is indeed complicated.
If you cooperate with a reseller, you will face overcharged prices.
They also fail to offer stable service at critical times and always make excuses to avoid responsibilities.
With my 20 years of experience in air freight to middle east business, I will share easy tips to help you identify resellers quickly.
1. Check the company name on the formal contract
When signing a cooperation contract, please check the stamped company name of the service provider carefully.
Confirm whether the company that sends you quotes, signs contracts, issues bills of lading and provides freight invoices is the same one.
If the names do not match, or the partner refuses to sign with their official company information, they are most likely resellers.
2. Check the control of core logistics resources
You can ask direct and key questions directly.
For example, which airline will arrange the shipment of this air freight to middle east cargo? What is the booking number?
Do you own the container space or book prices from peer forwarders?
Which customs clearance agent do you work with at the destination port?
Is your overseas warehouse self-operated or under long-term deep cooperation?
Genuine direct forwarders know all these core details clearly and can give clear answers and valid proof at once.
Resellers always give vague replies. They need to ask their upper suppliers for every single detail and cannot reply in time.
We have strong confidence in this part.
Take DL as an example.
We purchase 20 fixed container spaces every week from two major airlines all year round.
It means we have stable and exclusive space on daily flights for air freight to UAE.
Even in peak shipping seasons with full cargo space, our reserved space will not be affected, because we have locked these resources in advance.
Resellers can only book space on demand. When space is tight, the limited space they get usually goes through several resale layers.
3. Judge inquiry response speed and information transparency
Send a complex inquiry, such as special goods with tight delivery time and multi-port delivery needs.
Relying on self-owned channels and stable resources, direct forwarders can reply fast with competitive logistics solutions and clear explanations.
Resellers always reply slowly with repeated confirmation from multiple layers.
Their quotes have huge price bubbles, and they cannot answer professional details when you ask further questions.
The core advantage of direct freight forwarders is controlling key links of the whole transportation chain.
We keep all information open and clear, with clear responsibility division and reliable after-sales service.
Resellers only profit from information gaps.
A longer service chain will bring higher shipping risks and service uncertainties.
You do not need to only trust my words.
You are welcome to visit our company for an on-site inspection.
You will fully understand our strength and have stable cooperation with us.