Forwarder: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used in the logistics industry to refer to a company or individual that arranges the movement of goods on behalf of a shipper. This term may be used for both air and ocean transportation.

• The forwarder took care of all the paperwork for our international shipment.
• If you need help with customs, you should contact a forwarder.

The entity, often the owner of the goods, who is responsible for initiating a shipment and typically contracts a freight forwarder or logistics provider to move the goods. This term can be used in various industries, including freight and transportation.

• As a shipper, it’s crucial to keep track of all your shipping documents.
• The shipper must ensure that all goods are properly packed and labeled before transportation.

Specifically refers to a company or person that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer, or final point of distribution. Often includes additional services such as storage, documentation, and customs clearance.

• We hired a freight forwarder to handle the export of our products to Europe.
• The freight forwarder managed the entire logistics process from start to finish.

A broader term than 'freight forwarder,' it refers to a company that offers a wide range of services necessary for the transportation, warehousing, and distribution of goods. This may include supply chain management and additional value-added services.

• Our logistics provider offers inventory management and last-mile delivery services.
• By partnering with a logistics provider, we were able to streamline our supply chain.

Use when referring to a company or person that handles the logistics of shipping goods from one place to another.

• The forwarder ensured that the package arrived in perfect condition.
• We hired a forwarder to manage our international shipments.

Use when referring to a person authorized to act on behalf of another person, or in computer networks where it refers to a server that sends requests on behalf of clients. It often carries a technical or formal tone.

• I appointed him as my proxy to vote at the shareholders' meeting.
• The internet traffic was routed through a proxy to protect user privacy.

Use when referring to a person or organization that acts as a mediator or link between parties to facilitate a process or transaction. It is often used in business, legal, and diplomatic contexts.

• The intermediary helped to negotiate a fair agreement between the two companies.
• She acted as an intermediary to resolve the conflict.

Use when referring to a device that directs data traffic between different networks, commonly used in technology and networking contexts.

• The router needs to be reset to fix the internet connection.
• He configured the router to improve network performance.