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The Transportation and Marketing Division (TMD) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service regularly receives requests from U.S. agricultural shippers for assistance in locating a freight forwarder experienced in moving a specific agricultural product(s) or shipping to a specific region of the world. To meet this need, TMD has created this directory of freight forwarders. It is meant to provide shippers a meaningful starting point in their search for a freight forwarder.
TMD, with the assistance of Cornell University's Survey Research Facility, sent a questionnaire to all freight forwarders in the United States registered with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the regulating body for ocean freight forwarders. In addition to collecting basic contact information, the questionnaire asked what agricultural products the freight forwarder has shipped and to what destinations. Those freight forwarders who chose to complete and return the questionnaire are included in this directory.
This directory begins with a description of the freight forwarder's role and lists some of the criteria to consider when selecting a freight forwarder. The first section also includes brief descriptions of a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) and a customs broker. Freight forwarders and their contact information are then listed in alphabetical order. The alphabetical listing also mentions if the company is a(n):
- NVOCC: non-vessel operating common carrier
- OFF: ocean freight forwarder
- AFF: air freight forwarder
- IATA: International Air Transport Association cargo agent
In addition, the final sections list freight forwarders by the type of agricultural product(s) they have shipped in the past 3 years and the destinations to which they have shipped.
TMD has attempted to provide the information on freight forwarders requested most by U.S. agricultural exporters. If you have any recommendations, suggestions, or comments, please contact:
April Taylor
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service
Transportation Services Branch
1400 Independence Avenue SW Room 1203, Washington, DC 20250-0267
Phone: (202) 295-7374
Fax: (202) 690-3616
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