Is DHL A Freight Forwarder? (All You Need to Know)

Whether you’re a small business sending a shipment by air freight or an experienced logistics company hoping to improve your freight operations, DHL’s freight forwarding services might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. 

In fact, DHL is an expert provider of global rail, road, air, and ocean freight forwarding. It’s the largest freight forwarding company in the world. So, to find out more about how these services can help your business, keep reading!

Is DHL A Freight Forwarder in 2024?

DHL is an expert freight forwarding company operating under the name DHL Global Forwarding (formerly DHL Danzas Air & Ocean). Global Forwarding is a division of Deutsche Post DHL. It specializes in global rail, road, air, ocean, and multimodal freight services. It is the world’s largest freight forwarding company in the world in 2024.

There’s plenty more to know about DHL’s freight forwarding services, so I hope you keep reading this article for more facts!

What Is a Freight Forwarder? 

Before getting into any questions about DHL’s role as a freight forwarder, it’s important to understand what a freight forwarder is and what they do. 

In the most basic terms, a freight forwarder is a company that receives and ships goods on behalf of other companies. 

Forwarders don’t move the goods themselves, but rather act as experts in the logistics network. 

These networks are made up of a variety of shipping modes, including ships, airplanes, trucks, and railroads. 

As well, multiple modes are often used for a single shipment. 

For example, a freight forwarder might arrange to have cargo moved from a plant to an airport by truck, flown to the destination city, and then moved from the airport to the customer by truck. 

As their name suggests, international freight forwarders typically handle international shipments. 

They have expertise in preparing and processing customs documents, and other tasks related to international shipping. 

Who Is the Biggest Freight Forwarder?

With a forwarding capacity of 70,3550,000 metric tons and revenue of over $80 billion, DHL is the largest freight forwarder in the world.

Other large freight forwarding companies include Expediters International, C.H. Robinson, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, and Maersk. 

Is DHL a Freight Forwarder? 

Is DHL a Freight Forwarder? 

DHL is an expert freight forwarding company that operates under the name DHL Global Forwarding (formerly known as DHL Danzas Air & Ocean). 

It’s a division of Deutsche Post DHL and specializes in Global Rail, Road, Air, and Ocean services. 

In addition to these services, DHL is also an expert in multimodal transportation and customs brokerage. 

Is DHL an Ocean Carrier?

DHL is present in more than 190 countries, allowing customers to export and import from more locations worldwide than any other forwarding company. 

What’s more, DHL provides more ocean loops and services than any other company. 

Some of the ocean services DHL offers include the following: 

  • Full-Container-Load (FCL)
  • Less-than-Container-Load (LCL)
  • Temperature-Controlled Loads
  • Liquid Transportation & Flexitanks

DHL Ocean Freight shipments include a wide range of quality-controlled equipment types. These investments help DHL deliver on time with end-to-end visibility. 

Further, add-on services include DHL Cargo Insurance, Customs Services, and DHL GoGreen Solutions.

Does DHL Ship by Air or Sea? 

DHL ships cargo by both air and sea. Air transport is the faster option, while sea transport is more cost-effective. 

In addition to offering separate services for air and sea transport, DHL also offers a multimodal air and ocean freight service called SeAir.

This service combines the speed of air freight with the economy of ocean freight. 

What’s more, it’s a greener alternative to air freight alone. Lastly, it’s an alternative option during peak season congestion. 

How Do You Track DHL Freight? 

When you ship freight with DHL, you’ll receive a tracking number. To find out the location of your shipment, enter this number on the DHL Freight Forwarding website. 

Alternatively, you can get information about your shipment through myDHLi, a website and mobile app that provides customers access to their logistics portal. 

In addition to tracking information, this portal allows customers to get a quote on freight shipments, book a shipment, fill out documents, and see shipment analytics. 

How Do I Contact DHL Freight? 

Whether you’re a new or existing DHL Freight customer, you can contact a freight expert by filling out the inquiry form on the DHL website. 

This form asks for information like: 

  • Customer reference number
  • Name 
  • Email address 
  • Phone number 
  • Company name

In addition to this basic information, customers can add notes or upload relevant documents as needed. 

How Do I Find a DHL Global Forwarding Station? 

You can locate your nearest DHL Global Forwarding office by using the DHL Global Forwarding Station Finder. 

To do so, head to the website and search by region, country, or postal code. 

To know more, you can also read our posts on DHL’s supply chain, DHL express shipping, and whether DHL tracking is accurate.

Conclusion 

As the world’s largest freight forwarding company, you can feel confident choosing DHL for your shipping needs. That’s true whether you plan to move your shipments via air, ocean, land, or rail. 

Not only does DHL provide services using all modes of transportation but it also provides end-to-end tracking and visibility on shipments. 

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Mackenzie Jerks

Mackenzie is a freelance writer and editor, published author, and music enthusiast who holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. When she’s not writing, Mackenzie is either wrapped up in a book, discovering new music, or introducing herself to a new fitness regimen.

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