The Port of New York and New Jersey is the third-busiest port in the U.S. after Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the busiest on the East Coast. In 2024, it handled approximately 8.7 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalents), an 11.4% increase over 2023.
When you ship through a facility of that size, access to local knowledge and connections could save you time and money. So what do you gain when you work with freight forwarders in NJ?
A company’s position on the map isn’t as crucial as it used to be. For instance, since most transactions have gone electronic, you don’t need to hand deliver paperwork to the port or Customs office. However, when you ship cargo through one of New Jersey’s marine terminals, working with a freight forwarder in NJ does give you some extra advantages. Let’s review those advantages.
Freight Forwarders in NJ Have Close Relationships with Local Truckers
Freight forwarding companies in New Jersey do business with local truckers day after day. Your NJ freight forwarder knows many of the owners and drivers, with personal relationships that go back years. Sometimes those relationships translate into favors. When capacity grows tight and you need a truck in a hurry, a local forwarder will know exactly who to call.
That forwarder also knows which truckers prefer local moves, who’s always looking for a load to Pittsburgh, who mainly makes runs to South Jersey, or who doesn’t mind crossing the Hudson into New York. A partner with that inside knowledge can find you better rates.
This local knowledge is particularly useful when congestion increases at East Coast ports – especially at the Port of NY/NJ. In 2021, many shippers shifted part of their container volume from crowded West Coast ports to the East Coast. But with added volume came port congestion, making it harder to get containers off crowded ports from Miami to NY/NJ.
The 2024 closure of the Port of Baltimore due to the bridge collapse caused shipments to be rerouted to other East Coast ports, including NY/NJ along with ports in Norfolk and Philadelphia. Temporarily, this added to the strain of an already busy shipping hub.
Close, long-standing relationships with local truckers in New Jersey can help you get your containers off the terminals and avoid costly detention and demurrage charges. Those same relationships can allow a local freight forwarder who understands NJ logistics to pre-pull or re-deliver containers to/from the trucker’s own yard at preferable yard storage rates.
Better Than Using a Broker or Marketplace
A trucking broker acts as a middleman who sources the cheapest carriers and adds a markup, creating distance between the shipper and the actual trucker. While you might get a good rate from a local truck broker, you don’t always know what you’re getting. Freight marketplaces are another option for cheap rates, but there’s a lack of transparency and carrier vetting.
By contrast, when you work with a freight forwarder in New Jersey you have one point of contact that leverages existing carrier relationships and ensures consistent communication for faster issue resolution. This hands-on approach eliminates unnecessary intermediaries, reduces risk, and gives shippers confidence that their international freight is managed efficiently from port to final destination.
“We can secure our own competitive trucking rates without a broker working in New Jersey or New York,” said Andrew Rozek, president of NJ-based forwarder/NVOCC, I.C.E. Transport. “By having that party in the middle, you're giving up control to some extent. You just don't get the direct service like you would if you were dealing directly with the trucking firm itself.”
Freight Forwarders in NJ Have an “In” with Local Warehouses
Shipping a load to the Port of NY/NJ that requires transloading can get tricky without the right connections. Say you’re importing several container loads of pipes in bundles, and once they get to New Jersey you want to transload them into dry vans or flatbeds. The warehouse your forwarder uses for transloading stopped handling bundled tubing several years ago. But your New Jersey freight forwarder gives that warehouse a lot of business, and the owners are old friends. So, management at the warehouse makes an exception, and you get expert service at a competitive rate.
A local warehouse might also find a way to squeeze in your cargo even when the facility is busy or short on space, thanks to its close relationship with a freight forwarder in New Jersey.
In another scenario, freight forwarding companies in New Jersey often partner with local operators with on-dock or port area facilities that enable handling of heavyweight containers. This can facilitate deliveries in the Tri-State area or connection to rail for heavyweight delivery in the Midwest.
Freight Forwarding Companies in New Jersey Know the Ocean Carriers
The Port of NY/NJ is an extremely busy hub, with large ocean freight carriers offering multiple sailings per week. A shipper can easily become bewildered by the dizzying array of available options.
An experienced New Jersey freight forwarder has tight relationships with all the carriers and mega alliances and knows their schedules and ports of call, as well as their current rates. Armed with this information, they can offer shippers the most economical sailings that meet their timelines, whether capacity is tight or flush.
New Jersey Freight Forwarders Can Offer In-Person Extras
Even in a world of e-mail, internet portals and electronic data interchange (EDI), physical proximity sometimes lets your forwarder offer a special service. Say you’re expecting a shipment of out-of-gauge cargo at Port Newark, and you’re concerned about damage. A New Jersey freight forwarder can send someone from its office to inspect the cargo in person, take pictures, and send them to you before the product goes onto a truck.
Freight forwarders in NJ also offer an advantage when you ship a motor vehicle overseas. That’s probably the only time when you need to clear Customs on the export side, and one of the few cases when you might need to present physical paperwork. A New Jersey freight forwarder can send an employee to hand deliver your export clearance documents, making sure you present those papers before the deadline set by your shipping line.
A forwarder in another region will probably use a courier to make the delivery, which is perfectly fine. But when a freight forwarding company in New Jersey personally delivers your documents, you gain additional peace of mind.
Another advantage of a New Jersey freight forwarder is they can have their customs broker representative present during U.S. Customs inspections. If there are any questions about the cargo, their on-site presence helps resolve them quickly. For instance, the customs broker can quickly handle complex compliance or Customs documentation, especially for shipments that require precise timing, such as hazardous materials.
Freight forwarding companies in New Jersey can also arrange for direct pickups from local warehouses, ensuring that items are loaded safely and meet regulatory requirements. They can also oversee the delivery process to make sure there aren’t issues with the cargo reaching its destination.
“We still rub elbows with trucking companies, vendors, and equipment, and have more exposure to everything going on here,” Rozek said. “A forwarder based in Tennessee is not going to come out to NY/NJ if something goes wrong with a shipment and you need a team member to run over to the port and address the issue.”
NJ Forwarding Companies Know the Real Scoop on Local Marine Terminals
It’s hard to predict when congestion will become a problem at a particular ocean terminal. But if you stumble into congestion unaware, you could be in for a major headache. To make up for time the driver loses sitting in line, a trucker might add $150 or $175 to its basic rate. Some truckers might refuse to take loads to that terminal altogether until things clear up.
A freight forwarder in NJ does business with the ports day after day and stays aware of conditions at each terminal in the Port of NY/NJ. When it comes time to book your load, that forwarder’s advice can save you time and money. For example, if the APM Terminal facility is unusually crowded, it might be smarter to book your cargo with a carrier that calls Maher Terminal home.
Other Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a New Jersey Freight Forwarder
Once you have decided that a New Jersey-based freight forwarder is right for your business, you’re only halfway there. There are many freight forwarding companies in New Jersey, but you can narrow down your options by answering the following questions:
Do I work with a large mega forwarder or a smaller, specialist provider?
When looking for a freight forwarding company in NJ, shippers have all kinds of choices. Many mega 3PLs work the ports because of the sheer volume of cargo moving in and out. While they might be able to give you a decent rate based on their volume leverage with the carriers, is it worth it on balance?
For one, a low rate may not always equate to a low price when you factor in upcharges and accessorial fees. Evaluate potential freight forwarders by asking, “What’s included in my rate, and what might cost me more?” The big players work on a base rate plus add-ons model, unbundling services like documentation prep, customs support, and special handling of oversized freight.
A smaller, specialist forwarder, on the other hand, will bundle more services into the core rate, making it easier for shippers to budget and avoid “gotcha” surprises in their bill.
Small-to-medium shippers will also get a higher level of service from a specialist provider, for whom your business really matters. For the mega forwarders, you may be no more than a number. When problems or questions come up, requests for help may go into a black hole as resources are directed to their large-volume shippers.
I.C.E. Transport’s Andrew Rozek said his firm offers a more personalized service than the big guns. “Those companies are going to cater to their high-volume shippers; they'll give them all the care and service they require just because of sheer volume,” he said. “That’s the biggest difference when working with small, specialist forwarders – how much we pay attention to all of our customers.”
Do I work with a forwarder with a global focus or one with a specialty in particular trade lanes?
If you’re looking for a NJ freight forwarder, one criterion you need to consider is whether that forwarder has a solid knowledge of the trade lanes that really matter to your business. A few years back, “going global” was the buzzword for major freight forwarders and shippers. Providers touted expansive worldwide coverage, enticing companies with the promise of endless opportunities and access to new international markets.
The downside is, no matter how big the forwarder, you just can’t cover the entire planet with excellence. They may provide great service in some regions, decent service in some, and barely adequate service in the rest.
Many forwarders for that reason will concentrate on a region like the Middle East, the Far East, or India and Pakistan. Depending on your situation, you may be better off working with an NVOCC that manages a large volume of freight in your important lanes. That typically results in good carrier rates (due to the volume), reliable freight capacity, and smoother sailings due to the forwarder’s strong knowledge of customs and landside transportation in a particular country or region.
I.C.E. Transport, for instance, specializes in shipments to and from Europe, with a particular focus on Poland and other Central European countries.
What kinds of shipments can they handle?
Most every forwarder working the Port of NY/NJ can handle standard international shipments. But not everybody will handle anything beyond standard 20-foot or 40-foot containers.
Across the Atlantic, European forwarders frequently handle only port-level delivery on US imports. Rail shipments are usually arranged through steamship line partnerships. Once logistics move beyond basic port-to-port or door-to-door services, such as with shipping heavy or out-of-gauge cargo, many forwarders are unable or unwilling to provide solutions. This leaves only specialist forwarders or NVOCCs to handle these more complicated requirements.
I.C.E. Transport has vast experience handling heavyweight, oversized and out-of-gauge cargo shipments, including machinery, between the US and Europe on behalf of its customers. This includes knowledge of permitting and documentation for customs, relationships with specialist carriers, best practices for loading and securing, and insurance.
Here’s a use case to illustrate: When I.C.E. Transport helped a buyer in Poland transport a CNC (computer numerical control) machine from the seller’s location in Maine, no single carrier could handle the complex move. I.C.E. Transport found a rigging company to retrieve and crate the machine, a specialist trucker to ship from Maine to NJ using a step deck trailer, a warehouse in NJ to transfer the load to a flat rack and block and brace the crate, and a last mile trucker to complete the short distance to the port. With just one phone call, the Polish customer found an efficient and cost-effective solution – and working with a NJ freight forwarding company helped.
Do I partner with a general freight forwarder or one that is also an NVOCC?
It’s likely wise to look for a forwarder that is also a licensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), meaning they take on full legal responsibility for the cargo from point of origin to destination, and issue their own bill of lading.
In addition, an NVOCC like New-Jersey based forwarder I.C.E. Transport contracts directly with the ocean carrier for space on its vessels, then sells it to shippers. If you use a freight forwarder that is not an NVOCC, you’re responsible for negotiating the freight rate yourself. And because NVOCCs work with multiple shippers and commit large volumes to ocean carriers, they have greater buying power and the ability to offer discounted rates.
Freight forwarders often charge for their services after negotiating each element of the transportation process separately, while NVOCCs can add a profit percentage onto contracted carrier rates they've already secured. NVOCCs are permitted to do this, based on their Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) license from the Federal Maritime Commission, while freight forwarders can only add operational fees.
Rozek said the advantage of using an NVOCC like I.C.E. with its own bill of lading is that any claim during the entire transit – trucking, drayage, ocean or rail – is handled by I.C.E.
“If you haven’t been paid by the receiver, the cargo can be put on hold at the port,” he said. “The shipping line can do that as well, but they’ll probably charge you extra for it. Having a house BOL gives you more flexibility and peace of mind.”
With so many freight forwarding companies in New Jersey, how do you choose the right one?
Conduct all your usual due diligence. On top of that, look for longevity in a forwarder. If they’ve worked in the NY/NJ market for many years, they have had time to cultivate a rich network of local partners, close relationships and the expertise of a true insider.
I.C.E. Transport has operated as a New Jersey freight forwarder since 1987. Since then, it has expanded to offer international shipping between the U.S. and all of Eastern, Central and Western Europe. To discuss how we can assist you with our full range of services, in New Jersey or anywhere else, get in touch today with one of our experts.
