Are you a born organizer? Do you love to talk about the minute details of your plans for the day? Do you dot every I and cross every T when it comes to filling out paperwork? If you do, the job of an air freight forwarder may be perfect for you.
A freight forwarder arranges transportation for importers and exporters. There are a few steps you will have to take if you are interested in this profession.
Step One: Get Some Experience In Shipping
Becoming an air freight forwarder is expensive and time-consuming. You may want to work for a freight company or an air freight forwarder before you actually obtain your license. People will ask you about your experience before they hire you as a forwarder. Hence, it is a good idea to work in the shipping field before getting your license and starting your own business.
Step Two: Decide on How You Will Register Your Business
Before you begin the application process to get a freight forwarder’s license, you will have to decide whether your business will be a sole proprietorship, a corporation, or a partnership. If you run a sole proprietorship, you will register your business under your own name. If you run your business under a corporate name, you will fill out your application under the name of the business.
Step Three: Obtain a Freight Forwarders Licence
According to https://dedola.com/solutions/air-freight, there are separate licenses for each mode of transportation, and each of them is issued by a different office. Air freight is the only mode of transportation that does not require a federal license. Instead, you will have to become a member of the International Air Transportation Association. The IATA will provide you with a training program and a membership number.
Many freight forwarders register for more than one mode of transportation. If you are an air freight forwarder, you may want to get a forwarders license for trucking from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If you want to offer full service to your customers, you should be able to get their product to the airport, on the plane, and to their final destination.
You will then register for a license with the FMCSA’s Unified Registration System. You will pay a $300 fee per registration. Your application will be published in the FMCSA Register. This gives people the opportunity to protest your licensure if they feel that it is necessary. You will be able to contest anyone who does this.
Step Four: Obtain Insurance Policies
When your application is approved, you will get a letter from the FMCSA. You will need this letter to obtain Insurance and a bond. The amount of insurance you must carry will depend upon your mode of transportation and the kind of products you plan to transport.
Step Five: Obtain a Trust Fund Agreement or Broker Bond
Freight brokers in the United States must carry a $75,000 freight broker surety bond. You must obtain either a trust fund agreement or a broker bond. This is a line of credit from a surety, and it is considered a contract between you, the surety, and the FMCSA. The bond exists to protect you in case you cannot fulfill your obligations to your clients.
Freight forwarding is not a profession that anyone enters into lightly. However, if you’ve got the right stuff, you can be a part of letting people sell their products all over the world.
