AGENTS INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION.

a) Forwarder of Freight Forwarder. 

It is responsible for managing international transport "in transit" between countries with customs.

It is an intermediary between exporter and importer. It is in contact with all parties involved in international trade.

Carriers. Insurance companies. Customer brokers. Shipping…

It is a regulated profession in most countries for which an official qualification is required.

In Spain, forwarders are grouped in FETEIA. Internationally, they are grouped in FIATA.

Forwarders usually specialize in

• Types of transportation,

• Destiny countries

• Sort of product.

Many of the services they offer are outsourced to other companies in a network of international correspondents. Therefore, it is advisable for a company to work with several forwarders to know different prices and have different options.

b) Customs broker. 

It is the person, physical or legal, who represents and authorizes, on behalf of exporters and importers, customs clearance.

They assume certain responsibilities to the authorities of the countries.

A special qualification is required. GACI validates the first part of the exam.

In Spain they are grouped in provincial associations (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia...).

They perform tasks like:

• Processing of customs documents for the clearance of goods.

• Requests for physical inspection.

• Action in case of inspection by the authorities.

• Advance payment of VAT or other taxes.

Customs agent must not be confused with customs inspector.

The customs inspector is a public official who pursues tax evasion.

The customs broker is an independent professional who serves companies dedicated to the IT.

c) Shipping agency. 

Independent intermediary agent who acts on behalf of  the shipowner or shipping company.

Shipowner = “armador”

The shipping company is which works commercially with the ship on regular routes.

Functions:

• Contact with forwarders for the custom clearance and issuance of documents to pick the goods.

• Depositary of the goods, on behalf of the shipowner, while they are in a port.

• Delivery of the goods to carriers.

d) Carrier.  

It is the contractually responsible for the transport. In road transport, there is a great atomization of the sector, existing from large corporations to individual carriers that manage a single truck.

There is a type of carrier called Multimodal Transport Operator that manages all types of transport with a door-to-door service.

These are freight forwarders integrated into transport companies and shipping companies.

They issue a multimodal transport document known as FBL multimodal bill of lading.

e) Logistic operator. 

Companies that assume the whole, or almost the whole, of the entire logistics chain: transport, packaging, labelling, distribution to destination, and even, sometimes, the sale management and after-sales service.

They have means of transport and warehouses to take care of all the management.

f) Authorized Economic Operator (AEO). 

Individuals or companies who, as part of their activity, manage documents at EU customs.

They may be exporters, importers, freight forwarders, carriers, customs agents...

The Tax Office grants them a certificate accrediting them to carry out and complete customs procedures in the EU. The objective is to improve competitiveness and security at customs.

The requirements to become AEO are:

• A satisfactory background of compliance with customs requirements.

• Appropriate system for the management of commercial and transport records.

• Financial solvency.

• Achieving with a certain security levels.

Advantages:

• Fewer physical and documentary examinations at European customs.

• Possibility to choose inspection location.

• Easier to perform simplified customs procedures.