INTERNATIONAL freight forwarders are the vital link between manufacturer and distributor.
''New circumstances call for a new approach - a true partnership between shipper and forwarder,'' said a major US shipper.
''The stakes are too high for the forwarder and his customer to remain in an adversarial position.'' Reducing production and distribution cycles also calls for a fresh way to view transportation costs.
A high level of service combined with an accurate information flow will become more important in the overall logistics of shipping.
''Price will play less of a role,'' he said, adding that shippers and forwarders should survey their relationship in a new light.
''The old combative spirit between the two must be transformed into one of genuine goodwill and a sense of partnership.'' He recommended that shipper and forwarder enter into multiple-year arrangements - rather than the cargo equivalent of a one-night stand.
