Transport companies or freight forwarders – where to order shipping

When it becomes necessary to ship goods or industrial cargo, the shipper faces the task of finding a carrier, locating the right vehicle, placing an order and receiving the cargo on time in the right place, intact and undamaged. What options does a cargo owner have for finding the necessary transport?

Ask similar trading or manufacturing partner companies. Search the Internet for a transport company or freight shipping, and select a carrier from there. Who is typically the carrier that a shipper finds?

In numerous searches, a cargo owner will usually come across freight forwarder websites, and only rarely across direct carrier websites. There are more freight forwarding and logistics companies than direct carriers, and forwarders do nothing but search for clients to offer shipping services and earn money. Transport companies with their own fleet are not as responsive or flexible as forwarders, who have more options for finding vehicles.

If a cargo owner contacts a transport company directly, where the vehicles belong to the owner, the shipper may think that the shipping cost will be cheaper than with a forwarder. But this is not so! It is a myth! It is a misconception! The needed vehicle is not always available with a direct carrier exactly when the cargo owner needs it urgently! A transport company only has what free vehicles it currently possesses for shipping. What does a freight forwarding company have? Information about dozens of free vehicles already available, or vehicles becoming available. Information about where, what quantity, what type of vehicle will be available for loading in the next few hours… This information allows a freight forwarding company to organize shipping faster. As for shipping cost? Dispatcher-forwarders sometimes have delivery costs cheaper than a direct vehicle owner. The flexibility and variability of a logistics forwarder's approach allows them to find the same carriers but cheaper. Such is the essence of a forwarder.

Shipper and transport company, or cargo owner and private carrier, shipping cargo. Minimal contact, minimal follow-up and customer notification about cargo location, minimal consultation. No time for that! Vehicle, road, steering wheel!

Cargo owner and freight forwarding company – logistics forwarder, always available, always ready to advise, will report on cargo movement on time. Will warn the shipper in advance about cargo arrival at the destination. If you look at statistics – 80% of all shipping: road transport, sea, rail and air delivery, go through freight forwarding companies. 20% is shipping organized by direct transport companies. Liability is the same according to the code, convention and conditions in shipping contracts.

The site com-stil.com was specifically created so that shippers or cargo owners could find the right carrier. To deliver cargo quickly, alternatively, on time and inexpensively.

To ship cargo, there are two options

• Direct search for a carrier or vehicle. In the «Transport» section, when searching for transport, you should select the vehicle type and specify the starting and ending points of the route. Depending on your needs, choose a suitable carrier. All available transport requests are open to the public. Contact details of carriers and forwarders are available. The shipper calls and chooses their own carrier partner for the shipping period.
• The shipper adds their cargo themselves, in this case everything is much faster. All carriers, both direct carriers and forwarders, seeing the posted cargo, call, write, offer delivery options and shipping rates. For this, the shipper needs to select «add cargo». Fill in the cargo information form, specify the shipping direction, needed vehicle type, and cargo details. Immediately after posting, the request becomes available to all carriers on the site.

To view the contact details of carriers and forwarders, registration on the site is required; if already registered, log in to your personal account in «My Cargo», add a new cargo request (several requests will attract carriers faster), raise your request to the top of the list, there is also a quick carrier search button.

Sometimes transport company owners are ready to offer prices below market rates. This happens when the vehicle is traveling along the way, or is collecting groupage cargo in the same direction; contact the carrier, clarify the possibility of shipping, specify the vehicle type, do not forget to negotiate, and conclude a shipping contract. Do not give the loading address until you conclude a shipping contract with the carrier.

Factors affecting shipping cost

The main parameters affecting the cost of cargo shipping:

• Route distance.
• Physical characteristics of the cargo (weight and dimensions).
• The need to provide specialized vehicles; such transport costs more than standard, depreciation of the vehicle is included in the shipping cost.
• Quality of vehicles, good condition of the truck and trailer, guarantee of cargo safety.
• Some specialized cargo vehicles and trailers; for example, high-capacity vehicles, reefer trucks, lowbeds for oversized cargo, require additional expenses on the road.
• Cargo insurance requirements in transit and the cost of transported material values.
• Companies operating outdated worn-out vehicles may transport cheaper, but the quality of delivery is questionable.
• Presence of liability insurance (CMR) with the carrier.

Need to ship cargo. Choosing a reliable carrier or forwarder

Every shipper wants to save on cargo delivery, and every carrier wants to earn more.

But first make sure the carrier is professional!

The experience of a carrier or forwarder in the cargo shipping market is indicated in registration documents:

• Possession of documentation, license allowing work in shipping.
• Quality of the offered vehicles.
• Ability to provide liability insurance (CMR).
• Check the business reputation of the carrier. You can use recommendations from the carrier or view reviews on the Internet.
• Ask the carrier about shipping under Carnet TIR, or find out if the carrier is a member of a transport company association.
• Find out if the transport company has all the necessary permits for shipping your specific cargo.
• Get vehicle documents and driver documents from the carrier, clarify all contacts.

Several carriers meeting your requirements have called you. Choose safety. Shipping cost is not always the decisive factor. Cargo is worth more than the shipping rate.

On 30.09.2026. In the «transport» section for direction 50 323 requests from shipping organizers