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Distribution companies delivery commercial freight from a place of origin to a defined destination within a geographic region. The geographic area for many of these companies is the continental U.S., with some even delivering to Canada and Mexico.

Several distribution companies handle LTL freight and full truckloads, striving to provide reliable and responsive services, including flexible pricing. State of the art tracking systems provide shippers with timely and accurate status reports on their shipments and ensure the safe delivery of the merchandise. If problems do occur or if a shipment has a special requirement such as refrigeration, distribution companies can offer transportation solutions. Another benefit is that shippers are able to decrease their transportation and warehousing expenses, thus redirecting this money to other areas of their business.

Corporations can increase revenue and operational reliability through successful equipment control and cost efficient shipping techniques. Distribution service  companies can provide this by properly analyzing shipments, then suggest the best mode of transportation. These companies can offer reduced rates, coordinate pick up and deliveries, and provide warehousing for reloading, storage, palletizing, and containerization of merchandise. Several distribution companies also offer containers and break bulk drayage, intermodal cargo hauling, and transportation of van freight.

Freight forwarders are individuals or companies who act as agents on behalf of shippers. Manufacturers and suppliers sell their merchandise to consumers located all over the world. To do this, their products have to be prepared and shipped in a timely manner.

Shippers are manufacturers and suppliers who contact freight forwarders to handle their shipments. Shipments that are transferred within the United States are domestic shipments, and those that are transferred overseas are international shipments.

For domestic shipments, freight forwarders can transport merchandise by less than truckloads (LTL) trucking, airfreight, or train. Scheduling and coordinating domestic shipments can be a bit chaotic, however shipments usually arrives on time at their destinations. International freight forwarding is more complicated. The freight forwarder has to provide transportation to the docks and ensure the cargo is properly loaded, that all tariffs are paid, and that all paperwork is properly filled out.

The main concerns of shippers are production and sales. They do not want to worry about the logistics of the transportation. Many major manufactories have even gone to the extent to outsourcing their warehouses. It is less expensive for them to contact freight forwarding companies than it is for them to maintain a fleet of trucks or other means of transport for domestic or international shipping. Freight forwarding companies hire and train personel making them highly experienced and specialized in this field. These individuals know how to coordinate between packers, trucking companies, railroads, steamship lines, and airlines to guarantee a successful delivery. Quality freight companies perform these services, taking away the worry shippers have so that they can concentrate on manufacturing.