Logistics & Operations: find professionals

Logistics and operations covers freight brokers and freight forwarders, customs brokers, warehousing and order fulfillment, for businesses that ship goods.

A freight broker finds trucking carriers for full or partial truckloads. A freight forwarder arranges international shipments by ocean, air and ground. Customs brokers prepare customs paperwork, calculate duties and clear goods at the border. Warehousing and fulfillment companies store inventory and pick, pack and ship orders for online stores.

In Canada, customs brokers are licensed by the Canada Border Services Agency. Ask which routes, modes and volumes a firm handles, how they price, who is liable if goods are lost or damaged, and what insurance covers your shipments while they’re in someone else’s care. Agree in writing who arranges that insurance, who is responsible at each stage of the journey, and how delays, storage and unexpected charges are handled.