Freight forwarders are agents that organise the land, sea and air transportation of goods. They ensure all the documentation and procedural formalities involved in custom and post clearance are completed on behalf of the shipper and they may arrange for warehousing of cargo before shipment of export cargo also.

Freight forwarders also assist the exporter in selecting economic shipping routes, arranging packaging and marking of shipments, preparing shipping and regulatory documents, delivery of goods to carriers, collecting transport documents, arranging insurance and processing claims, booking shipping space and providing advice on the relative costing of sending goods by sea and air.

There are different ways of selecting a freight forwarder to assist you with your international shipments, either importing or exporting. You can call the local World Trade Centre for references and you can speak with other companies that you know to be active exporters or importers. 

In the U.S., there is an Association of Custom Brokers and Freight Forwarders of America, and they will be glad to give you referrals from their membership base of over 800 companies. They also have regional chapters. http://www.ncbfaa.org/

In Ireland, the Irish International Freight Forwarders Association (IIFA) represents over 100 forwarders and may give you referrals from their membership base.

http://www.iifa.ie/

The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) is an international resource with an online membership directory where you can find freight forwarders and customs brokers worldwide. http://www.fiata.com/index.php?id=109