A party who arranges shipping, warehousing, distribution and other goods movement on behalf of goods providers and shipping companies.
The term third-party logistics, or 3PL, is widely used in logistics circles as also referred as a Logistics Intermediaries. They outsources the firm logistics activities to another firm that then manages the activities, without taking an ownership position in the inventories.
The most common intermediaries in International logistics are freight forwarders; after the sale is completed a freight forwarder can handle nearly of all the logistical aspects of the transaction. Indeed, large forwarders may assume responsibility for managing the firm’s international distribution and supply channels.
Export Management Companies
Export management companies (EMCs) are intermediaries that market another firm’s products overseas. They have three to five-year exclusive representation contracts, investigate potential customers’ credit standing, and can handle complementary, non-competitive products. EMCs are professional exporters. An EMC does not manufacture. The business of the EMC is finding and servicing markets overseas on behalf of domestic manufacturers
Export Packers
Export packers are the specialized intermediary. They assis the export with special packaging requirments needed to reach some export markets.
Customs house Brokers
They often tied to freight forwarders in exporting nations. Customs house broker meets the importer’s shipment, and guides it through customs seeking to use tariff classifications that involve the smallest charges. Then he or she delivers the goods to the importer’s place of business.