Freight Forwarding is the service that is used by companies that deal with international or multinational import and export acting as an intermediary between the client and the transportation service that is being used by the client, such as the controllers of the ships, trains, and planes. Freight Forwarding companies usually assume the burden of handling all the logistics of the transportation for the client. A part of the logistics plan for freight forwards assume the responsibility of ensuring that the products will reach their destination by the agreed date in good condition. To be an efficient freight forwarding company, it needs to establish a positive relationship with all kinds of carriers, from trucking carriers to air carriers, to ocean to rail carriers. Once this relationship has been established, it is in the best interest of the carriers and the freight forwarding company to negotiate the best possible price to move the product along the most economical route by working out various bids and choosing the one that best balances speed, cost, and reliability. Once the best possible moving carrier has been chosen, the freight forwarder generally provides one or more estimates to the client along with some possible advisement as to which carrier would most likely fit the price range and time range of the client and shipment. Shipment prices are usually affected by price range from the origin to the destination. Special requirements also affect the price, things such as refrigeration and transporting potentially hazardous materials. If the client and the purchaser accept the bid, the freight will be shipped out. From this point onwards, the full responsibility of the shipment from the origin to the destination falls in the laps of the freight forwarders. This is the common procedure that is used by freight forwarders to engage in international trade.