Freight companies will take care of all your shipping needs, if you learn to ask them the right questions when you interview them. Your exported goods aren't going to get far without a reputable firm that can get your products to foreign shores, and that is usually done by sea, but can also be done by air. Air freight may be better for low-volume, low-frequency shipping because it is much more expensive than shipping by sea.
How do you know what is better for your export business? Ask questions.

When you decide that you need a freight company, choose a handful to interview, and see which one offers you the most services for your money. For instance, how will your products get from the manufacturer, or storage facility, to the port of origin? Does this freight company handle the loading and unloading of containers onto and off of the ship? Some companies are not all-inclusive, and will only help your export goods on parts of their journey. 'Company A' may, for example, only deliver your goods by truck to the port of origin where the cargo ship loads. 'Company B' may only handle loading your containers onto the ship. This is because different licenses and permits are needed for these separate functions, so try to locate a freight company that will at least handle all the local domestic handling of your shipment; in other words, they will take your finished product from warehouse to docks and load them onto the ship.

Once your shipment gets to foreign ports, it is usually the task of the importing company to handle the freight as it arrives, but this all depends on your export relationship with your buyer. In some cases you may find your business responsible for the safe delivery of the product all the way to your buyer. Does the freight company you chose in Australia also operate in the country you are exporting to? They may be able to offer you a complete solution. In general, make sure all of the processes are in place before your goods leave the warehouse at all. If there is any doubt as to how the freight will be handled at any point during the journey, you could end up with a logistics nightmare on your hands.

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