10 Best International Freight Shipping Companies in 2022

What's in this article?

The global market is constantly changing, and businesses must adapt in order to stay competitive. To expand into new markets, you need a reliable freight shipping company.

But with such a large number of freight carriers, choosing one that matches your needs can be difficult.

To help make it easier, we've compiled a list of ten of the best companies in the industry. Read on to find out everything you need to know about international freight shipping and to see a list of some of the best companies in the business.

What Is International Freight Shipping?

International freight shipping is the process of transporting goods and materials by land, sea, or air.

Freight shipping companies offer a variety of services to businesses and individuals who need to ship goods. These services include transportation, warehousing, packaging, and logistics.

Why Use International Freight Shipping Companies?

There are many reasons why you might need to use an international freight shipping company. Perhaps you run a business that imports or exports goods overseas. Or maybe you're planning a move to another country and need to ship your belongings.

In either case, there are many benefits of using international freight shipping companies.

First, they have the experience and expertise to handle your shipment since they've been doing it for a long while. They can help you avoid customs delays and fees and also take care of all the paperwork and documentation required for international shipping services.

Secondly, they can provide door-to-door service. This saves you the stress of going to the port to pick up your shipment.

Thirdly, most freight shipping companies offer tracking services, so you can always know where your shipment is until it reaches its destination. With the advent of online tracking, this is even easier.

Additionally, shipping companies can provide insurance for your cargo in case of damages. You can rest easy knowing that no matter what happens, your shipment is covered.

Finally, shipping companies can arrange for consolidated shipments, where multiple smaller shipments are combined into one larger shipment. This allows businesses to save money since the cost of the shipment is shared between multiple parties.

How to choose the right freight shipping company for your business?

Not all freight shipping companies are created equal. Here are some things you should consider when choosing a company:

Shipping routes

The company should have experience shipping to your destination. If they're not familiar with the routes, there's a high possibility of losing your items.

Also, some shipping companies only ship goods on certain routes. So, it is important to check the routes of the shipping company before shipping.

Transit time

How long will it take for your shipment to reach its destination? As expected, the faster the better. Make sure the company you choose is reliable and can deliver on time as promised.

Keep in mind, though, that unforeseeable events such as adverse weather can cause delays. Be sure to plan ahead to make sure your shipment arrives when you need it to.

Costs

Freight shipping can be expensive. It's even worse due to the logistical hiccups caused by the pandemic and increasing gas prices.

So, you should take your time to compare rates from different shippers. Or ask for quotes from several different companies to get the best price.

Then, if you find a competitive rate that fits your budget, go for it.

Customer service

There's nothing worse than trying to track the progress of your cargo and getting no response. Or trying to search for your missing shipment, and getting no assistance from the freight company.

Hence, the company should be responsive and easy to communicate with. You can assess this from your first contact with them.

Experience

How long has the company been in business? The longer, the better. This information is generally available on the company's website.

Reliability

Can the company be trusted to ship your goods on time and without incident?

As a business, you'll want to find a shipping company that has a good reputation and is known to have fast delivery times. You can easily gauge a company's reputation from customer reviews on popular review sites.

Freight shipping options

What kind of services does the freight company offer? Some offer additional services such as flat-rate freight shipping, warehousing, preparation of documents, etc.

Also, do they have special expertise in a certain area? For example, some focus on door-to-door shipping while others do port-to-port.

Take your time to go through their services, and make sure they offer the services that you need.

Types of goods being shipped

There are two main types of goods that businesses ship internationally:

Hazardous materials
Non-hazardous materials

Hazardous materials are any materials that are flammable, explosive, or poisonous. They must be shipped according to special regulations set by the government. Non-hazardous materials are any materials that are not flammable, explosive, or poisonous.

If you plan to ship hazardous goods, ask the companies you are considering if they are able to ship them.

Destination country

The destination country is the country where the goods are being shipped. When shipping internationally, businesses must consider the following:

Customs regulations
Import/export taxes
Shipping restrictions

Each country has its own customs regulations, taxes, and restrictions that must be followed when shipping goods. These regulations vary from country to country, so it is important to choose a shipping company that is familiar with the regulations of the destination country.

Insurance

When shipping internationally, businesses must insure their shipments. This is because there is a higher risk of damage or loss when shipping goods overseas.

The cost of insurance varies from company to company, so it is important to compare rates before choosing a shipping company.

Additionally, businesses must consider the coverage offered by the insurance policy. Some policies only cover the value of the goods, while others cover the cost of shipping as well.

You'll want to make sure your shipping company offers that type of insurance you need.

Top 10 International Freight Shipping Companies

Now that we've gone over what to consider when choosing a freight shipping company, let's take a look at 10 of the best freight shipping companies.

A-1 Auto Transport

A1 Auto Transport is a leading international freight shipping company founded in 1988, with over 2 million deliveries, across over 190 countries.

The company ships RVs, heavy equipment, automobiles, and household items, within the U.S.A., and internationally. As confirmed by customers, they offer competitive prices without undercutting value or quality.

They fully insure all shipments before transportation, which adds an extra layer of protection. Additionally, you get 20% off and a free quote when you get in contact with them.

They offer other additional services such as state-to-state moving, door-to-door pickup and delivery, and car importation into the US.

DHL

DHL is a leading freight shipping company with over 500,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

The company offers a wide range of shipping services including air, ocean, and ground freight shipping, to both individuals and businesses.

What sets them apart is their strong network of global partners, which allows them to offer competitive rates and transit times to different countries around the world, even including sanctioned counties like North Korea and Iran.

Freight costs start at just $35 per shipment. DHL offers a wide range of value-added services such as warehousing, packaging, document preparation, flat-rate shipping, international freight shipping, and cheap freight shipping.

FedEx

FedEx is one of the largest logistics companies in the world, with over 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company offers a wide range of shipping services including air, sea, and ground freight shipping.

FedEx was the first to implement overnight shipping and structure the system for tracking shipments in real time.

Today, they use cutting-edge technology to offer competitive rates and transit times.

Importantly, they have their own fleet of aircraft and trucks which allows them to offer reliable and on-time delivery.

Additionally, they offer a wide range of value-added services such as warehousing, packaging, document preparation, and international freight shipping.

Although DHL surpasses them in terms of global reach, FedEx operates in the U.S. without restrictions since it's an American company.

Rates start at $32.26 per shipment for airfreight and $49.50 for ground freight shipping.

UPS

UPS is the oldest freight shipping company. It started as a messenger service in Seattle, Washington, in 1907 but has since grown into a behemoth, with over 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

Customers may choose from a number of freight shipping options, including air, sea, and ground transportation.

UPS was the first to offer real-time tracking of shipments and Saturday delivery. They're popular for their reliability and on-time delivery. In fact, they boast a 99% on-time delivery rate for their shipments.

Importantly, they have their own fleet of aircraft and trucks which allows them to offer reliable and on-time delivery.

Their rates start at $40 per shipment.

Kuehne + Nagel

Kuehne + Nagel is a leading freight shipping company with over 1,300 offices in more than 100 countries and over 82,000 employees worldwide. This Swiss company is another top-tier logistics provider.

They have a very strong global reach with an extensive network of partners which allows them to offer competitive rates and transit times to different countries worldwide.

Rates start at $50 per shipment. They offer international freight and door-to-door shipping.

C.H. Robinson

C.H. Robinson is one of the largest freight shipping companies in the world, with over 13,000 employees in more than 280 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia.

The company was founded in 1905 and has since become a leading third-party logistics provider (3PL). They offer a wide range of services, including warehousing, transportation, and supply chain management.

C.H. Robinson rates start at $60 per shipment. However, they offer discounts of up to 50% if you are a registered member with them.

Nippon Express

Nippon express is a Japanese freight shipping company with over 41,000 employees in more than 1,200 offices across more than 50 countries.

The company was founded in 1937 through the merger of small logistics companies. It has since become one of the leading logistics providers in the world. They offer a wide range of services including transportation, warehousing, and distribution.

Nippon express rates start at $70 per shipment. However, they offer discounts of up to 20% if you are a registered member with them.

DB Schenker Logistics

DB Schenker is a leading freight shipping company with over 2,000 locations in more than 130 countries. They offer a wide range of services including air and ocean freight, ground transportation, and warehousing.

They are constantly expanding their operations to better serve their clients. In 2019, they acquired NFE Logistics, a Brazilian company specializing in e-commerce logistics. This allowed them to expand their services to include cross-border shipping and same-day delivery.

DB Schenker rates start at $80 per shipment. However, they offer discounts of up to 30% to members.

CEVA Logistics

CEVA Logistics is another leading freight shipping company with over 160,000 employees in more than 170 countries. Their services include transportation, warehousing, and distribution.

In 2019, they were acquired by Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm. This has allowed them to invest in new technology and expand their operations.

CEVA Logistics rates start at $90 per shipment. However, registered members receive discounts of up to 40%.

XPO Logistics

XPO Logistics is a leading freight shipping company with over 89,000 employees in more than 1,500 locations across 30 countries. Their wide range of services include truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, and warehousing.

In 2018, they acquired Conway Freight, a leading LTL carrier in North America. This allowed them to expand their operations and offer a wider range of services.

XPO logistics rates start at $100 per shipment with discounts of up to 50% for registered members.

Conclusion

A business is generally as good as its logistics. So, choosing the right international shipping company is vital.

If you need help shipping items, contact us at A-1 Auto Transport. We're always ready to answer any questions or provide you with a free quote.

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