International Freight Forwarder for Ocean & Air Shipping
When you need international freight shipping that is fast to quote, easy to book, and predictable to manage, iContainers gives you one place to plan and ship. As an international freight forwarder, we help importers, exporters, and eCommerce teams move cargo globally via ocean and air freight forwarding, with clear options and shipment visibility.
Start with an international freight quote, then compare ocean vs air based on cost, transit time, and service level. If you are shipping in containers, explore FCL shipping for full-container moves or LCL shipping for smaller loads.
What You Get with iContainers International Freight Forwarding
Choosing the right international freight forwarder is mostly about three things: price transparency, execution quality, and visibility. iContainers is built to deliver all three.
Transparent Quoting (No Guesswork)
Transparent Quoting (No Guesswork)
· Compare ocean and air service levels based on your shipment profile
· Understand what is included and what may vary by lane
· Identify major cost drivers early, including surcharges
Ocean & Air In One Workflow
Ocean & Air In One Workflow
· Book ocean when cost efficiency matters
· Use air freight forwarding for urgent cargo
· Switch modes when timelines or inventory plans change
Execution Support with Clear Milestones
Execution Support with Clear Milestones
· Documentation guidance and coordination
· Milestone tracking from pickup to final delivery
· Support for exceptions and re-plans
International Freight Shipping Options
Ocean Freight Forwarder Services
If your priority is cost efficiency, capacity planning, and moving higher volumes, ocean is usually the best fit. As your ocean freight forwarder, iContainers supports common ocean shipping setups:
FCL (Full Container Load)
Best for larger shipments that can fill a container or need dedicated space. Learn what typically changes between container options in FCL shipping.
LCL (Less Than Container Load)
Best for smaller shipments that do not require a full container. If you are consolidating cargo, LCL shipping is often the most practical setup.
Typical Ocean Use Cases
- Retail replenishment and seasonal stock builds
- Manufacturing inputs and bulk goods
- Projects with stable lead times
You can also plan common ocean cost components, such as terminal-related fees. For example, terminal handling charges are a frequent line item on ocean quotes.
Air Freight Forwarder Services
When speed and reliability matter more than per-unit cost, air freight forwarding is the practical choice. As an air freight forwarder, iContainers helps you book options that match your timeline.
If you are unsure how air is billed, start with how to calculate air freight charges to understand chargeable weight and pricing logic.
Typical Air Use Cases
- Urgent restocks and inventory shortages
- High-value, time-sensitive products
- Sample shipments and product launches
What Impacts International Freight Shipping Costs
Freight pricing changes by lane, season, and cargo profile. These are the biggest cost drivers that affect your international freight quote:
- Chargeable weight / volume (especially for air)
- Container type and space (FCL) or CBM (LCL)
- Origin and destination charges (documentation, terminal fees, CFS for LCL)
- General rate increases (GRIs) on some lanes
- Pickup and final delivery distance (door moves vs port/airport moves)
Who Uses iContainers For International Freight Forwarding
- Importers and exporters that need consistent global execution
- SMBs that want a straightforward quoting and booking experience
- Logistics teams that need visibility and control across lanes
- Procurement and finance teams that want fewer surprises in landed cost planning
Why iContainers As Your International Freight Forwarder
One place to quote, book, and manage shipments
Reduce back-and-forth and consolidate freight workflows in a single process.
Mode flexibility across ocean and air
Use ocean for cost efficiency and air for urgency, with pricing logic explained in how to calculate air freight charges and how to calculate ocean freight charges.
Clearer cost structure
Understand common ocean and carrier add-ons like terminal handling charges and surcharge ranges in container shipping so you can budget with fewer surprises.
How To Get An International Freight Quote
Enter Your Shipment Details
Provide origin, destination, cargo dimensions/weight, and ready date.
Compare Your Options
Review pricing and transit-time tradeoffs. If you are evaluating container shipping, start with how to calculate ocean freight charges.
Select Service Level & Add Ons
Choose pickup, delivery, and other services as needed.
Book & Track
Confirm the booking and follow milestones through delivery.
FAQs
An international freight forwarder organizes global cargo transportation on your behalf, coordinating carriers, documentation, and shipment milestones so goods move from origin to destination efficiently.
Ocean freight forwarding is typically lower cost and better for higher volumes with longer lead times. Air freight forwarding is faster and often used for urgent or high-value shipments.
Quotes are most accurate when dimensions, weight, cargo type, and readiness date are correct. Pricing can also vary due to capacity, seasonality, and surcharges.
Yes. You can compare options and then choose the best fit, using resources like how to calculate ocean freight charges to validate line items.
