Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. provides global logistics services through a network of offices, international service centers and agents.
The company offers its customers an international network supporting the movement and strategic positioning of goods. The company’s services include the consolidation or forwarding of air and ocean freight. In each United States office, and in many overseas offices, the company acts as a customs broker. The company also provides additional services including distribution management, vendor consolidation, cargo insurance, purchase order management and customized logistics information.
Airfreight Services
When performing airfreight services, the company acts either as a freight consolidator or as an agent for the airline which carries the shipment. When acting as a freight consolidator, the company purchases cargo space from airlines on a volume basis and resells that space to its customers. When moving shipments between points where the volume of business does not facilitate consolidation, the company receives and forwards individual shipments as the agent of the airline which carries the shipment. Whether acting as an agent or consolidator, the company offers its customers knowledge of optimum routing, familiarity with local business practices, knowledge of export and import documentation and procedures, the ability to arrange for ancillary services, and assistance with space availability in periods of peak demand.
In its airfreight forwarding operations, the company procures shipments from its customers, determines the routing, consolidates shipments bound for a particular airport distribution point, and selects the airline for transportation to the distribution point. At the distribution point, the company or its agent arranges for the consolidated lot to be broken down into its component shipments and for the transportation of the individual shipments to their final destinations. The company also performs breakbulk services which involves receiving and breaking down consolidated airfreight lots and arranging for distribution of the individual shipments.
Ocean Freight and Ocean Services
The company provides ancillary services, such as preparing documentation, procuring insurance, arranging for packing and crating services, and providing consultation. The company operates Expeditors International Ocean (EIO) an Ocean Transportation Intermediary, sometimes known as, a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) specializing in ocean freight consolidation from Asia to the United States. EIO also provides service to and from any location where the Company has an office or agent. As an NVOCC, EIO contracts with ocean shipping lines to obtain transportation for a fixed number of containers between various points during a specified time period at an agreed rate. EIO solicits Less-than Container Load (LCL) freight to fill the containers. EIO also handles container loads for customers.
Expeditors Cargo Management Systems (ECMS) supplies an ocean consolidation service. The company owns and maintains software that allows it to sell ECMS to customers that have signed their own service contracts with the ocean carriers. As an ocean consolidator, ECMS might obtain LCL freight from various vendors and consolidate this cargo into containers.
Customs Brokerage and Other Services
As a customs broker, the company assists importers to clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties on behalf of the importer, arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. The company also provides other value added services at destination such as warehousing and product distribution, time definite transportation and inventory management.
The company provides customs clearance services in connection with many of the shipments it handles as a freight forwarder. The company also provides custom clearances for goods moving by rail and truck between the United States, Canada and/or Mexico.
The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Expeditors Tradewin, L.L.C., responds to customer driven requests for high-end customs consulting services.
Customers
The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies throughout the world. Its customers include computer retailers and distributors of consumer electronics, department store chains, clothing and shoe wholesalers, manufacturers and catalogue stores.
History
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. was incorporated in 1979.
