While freight forwarders and logistics companies may appear similar or even synonymous, there are some differences between the two to keep in mind. Unlike logistics companies, freight forwarders might be partners with a network of logistics companies, but they usually do not have any or much assets themselves.

Freight forwarders often partner with a few logistics companies either nationally or internationally, which means that price checking capabilities are far better and more thorough than what you would get when working directly with a logistics company. Freight forwarders also have more knowledge and experience around specialty companies, which often vary greatly regarding different types of transport, house moving, perishable and fragile goods, and lead times, among other elements.

Logistics companies, on the other hand, own all of their own assets including fleets of trucks, boats, or planes, but without any access to actual shipping routes. Logistics companies often specialize in specific areas such as dry box, long haul, cold storage, intracity, or large scale. At the same time, they’ll attempt to cover every aspect of the supply chain.

Generally, a logistics company is responsible for managing goods’ physical movement along the supply chain. In some cases, they may also manage documentation.