Development and responsibility division of international freight forwarders

       International freight forwarding (Internationalfreightforwardingagent) refers to the entrusted import and export goods the consignee, the shipper，In the name of the principal or himself，Engaged in international cargo transportation and related business for clients，Economic activities in which payment for labor is received。

 

       The division of responsibilities when appearing as a pure agent。

 

       As an agent, freight forwarder plays the role of a bridge between the owner and the carrier, and the owner and the carrier sign the contract of carriage directly。The agency works on commission and has little responsibility。In the event of loss or damage to the goods, the owner may lodge a claim directly with the carrier。
 

 

Division of responsibilities in the presence of parties:

 

       The freight company contracts with third parties (carriers) in its own name。

 

       Use your own warehouse or carrier to arrange storage and transportation。

 

       Arrange transportation, LCL collection, to charge a certain price difference。

 

       In the above three cases, for the shipper, the freight forwarder, as the carrier, should bear the responsibility of the carrier。

 

Liability when appearing as a NVOCC:

 

       A freight forwarding company engaged in non-vessel carrier business, after issuing its own non-vessel carrier bill of lading, it becomes a non-vessel carrier operator and is regarded as a legal carrier, that is, it has the dual nature of a carrier and a shipper。

 

When appearing as a multimodal transport operator, responsibilities are divided：

 

       If a transport agent is responsible for multimodal transport and issues a bill of lading, he becomes an multimodal transport operator (MTO) and is considered a legal carrier。

       The United Nations Convention on Multimodal Transport states that an MTO is liable for the loss of or delay in delivery of goods:

 

       Compensation for loss of or damage to goods shall be limited to 920SDR per piece or kilogram, or 2 SDR per kilogram.75SDR is the limit, but the maximum shall not exceed。However, if the carriage by sea or inland waterway is not included in the contract, the liability of the international multimodal carrier for the loss or damage of the total weight of the goods is less than 8 per kilogram.33SDR calculation。

 

       With regard to late delivery of goods, if the MTO specifies a 90-day delivery period, the MTO's compensation for late delivery is limited to 2 of the freight cost of the late delivery of goods.5 times, and not more than the full freight stipulated in the contract。

 

China's Maritime Law stipulates that MTO shall be liable for the loss of goods or delay in delivery:

 

       For cargo loss or damage: 666 per cargo or other transport unit.67SDR, or 2SDR per kilogram based on the gross weight of loss or damage to the goods, whichever is higher;

 

       With respect to delayed delivery, the Maritime Law of our country provides that the time limit for delivery of the goods is 60 days, and the MTO's compensation for the delayed delivery is limited to the freight paid for the delayed delivery of the goods, but it is not subject to this limitation due to the intention or omission of the carrier。

 

Division of responsibilities when presented as "hybrid" :

 

       Freight forwarding company, a wide range of business, in addition to acting as a freight forwarding agent, customs declaration, inspection, transportation arrangements, but also use their own employees, with their own vehicles, ships, aircraft, warehouses and loading and unloading tools to provide services, land transport as the carrier, to sea as an agent。The confirmation of the forwarder's legal status can not be simple and rough, but should be analyzed according to the specific situation。

 

Division of responsibilities according to contract terms:

 

       Usually, the responsibilities of freight forwarders are detailed in the standard trading conditions of different countries。These standard trading conditions are often combined with a certificate from the consignee or a similar document issued by the freight forwarder to the shipper。

 

综述：

 

       The development of international freight forwarding industry in the world is not balanced。In general, the developed countries of the international freight forwarding industry has a higher level of development, the system is relatively complete, most of the international freight forwarding companies are large, the network is relatively sound, the quality of personnel is higher, the business is more developed, control the world international freight forwarding service market。The international freight forwarding industry develops slowly in developing countries, the system is not perfect, most of the international freight forwarding industry is small in scale, fewer service outlets, lack of training personnel, mainly in the domestic business, the market competitiveness is weak。