Freight forwarding
Freight forwarders in South Africa who stay with your cargo from origin to delivery
TSI Central Station moves your cargo by sea, air and road with one logistics manager who books it, clears it, tracks it and delivers it, so you always know where your shipment is and what it is going to cost before it lands.
A digital platform for visibility, backed by a logistics manager who takes ownership.
Get your free landed cost audit Call +27 (0)11 868-2444What is freight forwarding
A freight forwarder arranges the whole journey so that you do not have to manage five suppliers
Freight forwarding is the work of getting goods from a supplier's door in one country to a buyer's door in another. The forwarder books space with the shipping line, airline or transporter, prepares the shipping documents, arranges the customs clearing at each end and coordinates the collection and the delivery.
Most forwarders book the freight and then hand each leg to somebody else, which is where information gets lost and where costs appear that nobody warned you about. TSI works as one accountable operator, which means the same logistics manager owns your shipment at every step and answers for the outcome.
Every mode under one operator
Sea, air, road and cross border, managed as one shipment
SEA FREIGHT
Full containers, groupage and project cargo
FCL, LCL, breakbulk, refrigerated, hazardous and out of gauge cargo through all the major South African ports, on trade lanes covering China, India, Europe, the UK and the USA.
AIR FREIGHT
When the deadline matters more than the rate
Express, consolidated and charter options through O.R. Tambo, Cape Town International and King Shaka, with the air waybill, customs release and door delivery handled for you.
ROAD FREIGHT
Port to warehouse on GPS tracked vehicles
Import and export container movements across South Africa, with proof of delivery confirmed on the platform after every drop.
CROSS BORDER
Into the rest of Southern Africa
Corridors into Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique, with the border documentation and the clearing at each crossing managed by the same team.
When a vessel delay threatens your deadline we can move the cargo to another mode without you having to start again with a new provider.
What you get with TSI
Control, visibility and straight answers
01
One logistics manager
One person who knows your cargo and your business and who stays with the shipment from the booking to the proof of delivery.
02
Your landed cost upfront
Freight, duty, VAT, port charges and delivery are calculated before you commit, so the invoice holds no surprises.
03
Live tracking when you want it
The TSI Digital Control Tower shows every shipment, every document and every milestone in one secure login.
04
Not tied to one carrier
We work with multiple shipping lines, airlines and transporters, which spreads your risk and keeps your cargo moving in peak season.
05
Clearing handled by the same team
Your documents are checked before the goods sail and the customs clearing is managed alongside the freight and not handed to a stranger.
06
Demurrage managed for you
With TSI, if it's not your fault, you won't pay demurrage. Every container is managed against its free days.
How it works
From your supplier's door to yours
STEP 1
Tell us what you are moving
What the goods are, where they are coming from, where they are going and when you need them.
STEP 2
We plan the route and the cost
You receive the mode, the routing and the full landed cost before anything is booked.
STEP 3
Booking and collection
Space is booked with the carrier and the cargo is collected from your supplier.
STEP 4
Documents checked before departure
Invoice, packing list, tariff codes and permits are checked while there is still time to fix them.
STEP 5
In transit and visible
You follow the shipment on the platform while your logistics manager deals with anything that changes.
STEP 6
Cleared and delivered
The cargo is cleared, collected inside its free days and delivered to your door with proof of delivery.
Client result
How TSI saved LG Electronics South Africa R2 million in a single year
LG Electronics South Africa was paying for port delays it could not see coming. TSI took over the management of its import logistics and in the twelve months that followed LG recorded zero detention and demurrage charges.
Read the resultsQuestions importers and exporters ask
Freight forwarding in South Africa, answered plainly
What does a freight forwarder do?
A freight forwarder arranges the movement of goods between countries on your behalf. That includes booking the carrier, preparing the shipping documents, arranging the customs clearing and coordinating the collection and the delivery.
What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a clearing agent?
A clearing agent deals with customs, which means declaring the cargo to SARS and getting it released. A freight forwarder arranges the transport. TSI does both under one logistics manager and you can read more on our clearing and forwarding page.
Should I ship by sea or by air?
Sea freight costs far less per kilogram and suits planned stock, while air freight is quicker and suits urgent, light or high value cargo. Your logistics manager will show you the landed cost of both so that you can decide on the numbers.
What affects the cost of freight forwarding?
The mode, the route, the size and weight of the cargo, the Incoterm you bought on, the duties and VAT on the goods and the charges at the port. Our Incoterms guide explains who pays for what under each term.
Which documents will I need?
At minimum a commercial invoice, a packing list and the bill of lading or air waybill. The full list for imports is in our import documentation checklist.
How do I know whether I am paying too much?
Send us your last three shipments and we will show you what they really cost and where the money went, at no charge and with no obligation.
You may be paying more than you should. Find out in 48 hours.
TSI will audit your current import costs at no charge and show you where you are overpaying on freight, duties, port charges and customs. No obligation and no sales pitch.
Request your free audit Call +27 (0)11 868-2444