What Is Freight Forwarding?

Freight forwarding is the coordination and shipment of goods from one place to another via a single or multiple carriers via air, marine, rail or highway.

The importance of freight forwarding for global trade was recognized in Canada in 1948 with the establishment of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA). CIFFA recognized that forwarding freight, whether by land, marine, rail or air requires coordination, regulation and agreed-upon best practices to ensure that goods flow in a timely and proficient manner across borders, over seas, and throughout the world.