Shipper-Ocean Forwarder Relationships & Responsibilities

Course Overview

This course explores the essential responsibilities of ocean freight forwarders as agents of shippers, including navigating multi-principal relationships and ensuring proper written authority. Participants will learn about the authority needed to transmit U.S. Electronic Export Information (EEI), best practices for handling shipment instructions, and the importance of comprehensive written agreements. The course also covers shipper and forwarder obligations under U.S. Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), emphasizing compliance and risk mitigation.

• Basic forwarder responsibilities as agent of the shipper
• Navigating responsibility boundaries as an agent of more than one principal
• Why an ocean forwarder “agent” must have “express written authority” from its principal
• Authority needed to transmit U.S. “electronic export information” (EEI)
• Shipment handling instructions from shipper to forwarder
• Why it is good practice to have a comprehensive written agreement between a forwarder and shipper covering terms and conditions of service
• Optional means of accomplishing a written agreement with a shipper as to terms and conditions of service
• Why simple notification of terms on a forwarder’s invoice is not adequate
• Shipper and Forwarder Responsibilities under U.S. Foreign Trade Regulations and Export Administration Regulations