McLAUGHLIN SERVICES, LTD: Transportation Experts at Affordable Pricing

Common Questions

What is a freight forwarder?

This is the company or individual who gets your products from its source to you or your customer effectively at reasonable costs. A freight forwarder takes the problems out of moving goods and in turn is paid for their services. Often times the freight forwarder can move your traffic cheaper than you can move that same traffic.

What should you look for in a freight forwarder?

A person or persons who will give you the best service available at pricing that you can afford. The freight forwarder MUST be able to provide the customer with proof of insurance. Using a company that is not fully insured and willing to prove it puts you and your goods at risk of total loss. In addition, if your product is involved in damage to other goods, you can be held liable for the other losses!

My needs are many- should one freight forwarder handle everything?

Not always. Some of the larger companies advertise that they do everything, but if you check they often only do some things well. Size is often the smoke screen used to cover average to poor service. Our company is exceptional at air transportation, but feel that we can be upstaged in the ocean traffic field to some points. However, feel free to call us with questions- if we can't provide service that is up to the exceptional standard we pride ourselves on, we can certainly point you to another freight forwarder that can.

What can be shipped?

Anything. Size can limit the mode of transportation, but if the item is needed badly enough special equipment can be found to do the job.

What is the difference between a freight forwarder, package service and a courier company?

A courier company is normally very good at moving small packages and envelopes. The cost of a courier to move medium to big pieces to a destination is extremely prohibitive. Many couriers only take printed goods, media items, or related products, as this is the only items they can handle quickly and cost effectively. A package service at one time specialized in moving small packages at reasonable pricing domestically. Package services now will offer all types of service, but their costs can be very expensive. A freight forwarder should be able to handle any size shipment. Often a freight forwarder will advise a customer to used a courier or package service for a very small item, as this is the most cost effective method. The welfare of the customer should be a priority in directing how a shipment is moved.

Will you handle perishables or dangerous goods?

Not by air, but we will gladly direct your to the proper companies who handle this type of traffic. The needs of items of this nature require special handling, and we could only provide these service by air using an outside agents, so instead, we send you directly to the proper people. Using ocean traffic we do handle most items. If you wanted to charter an aircraft from us, we can arrange to move almost anything.

Do we charter?

Yes, both aircraft and ships. This is not our main business, but we have personnel that handle these services. In addition, we can arrange truck and rail movement to any where in North America.

Questions, comments, feedback? Email Joe

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