Freight Forwarder vs. 3PL: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?

If your business ships products locally or globally, you’ve likely come across freight forwarders and 3PL providers. Both are vital in moving goods, but they operate in different parts of the supply chain. Confusing the two can lead to delays, extra costs, or gaps in service. Here’s how to tell them apart—and decide when your business needs one, the other, or both.

What Is a Freight Forwarder?

A freight forwarder is a company that organizes the transportation of goods across borders or long distances. They don’t typically own the transportation assets themselves but instead coordinate with carriers—such as ocean, air, rail, or trucking companies—to get your goods from point A to point B.

Freight Forwarder Responsibilities:

Booking cargo space with carriers (ocean, air, truck, or rail)


Coordinating international shipments and customs documentation


Managing drayage, port handling, and intermodal transfers


Handling import/export paperwork and compliance

Freight forwarders are especially useful for businesses that import or export internationally and need support navigating customs regulations and global shipping lanes.

What Is a 3PL Provider?

A third-party logistics (3PL) provider handles the storage, fulfillment, and distribution of your products. Unlike freight forwarders who focus on transportation, 3PLs manage your inventory once it reaches a warehouse—and take care of order processing, packing, and shipping.

3PL Responsibilities:

Receiving and storing inventory in a warehouse


Picking, packing, and shipping customer orders


Managing inventory and order data through a WMS


Providing integrations with eCommerce platforms


Handling returns, kitting, assembly, and value-added services

A 3PL becomes your operational partner—streamlining fulfillment and helping you scale, especially in DTC, B2B, or retail channels.

Freight Forwarder vs 3PL: Key Differences

Can You Use Both?

Absolutely. Many businesses use both a freight forwarder and a 3PL to create a complete logistics network. For example, your freight forwarder may coordinate container delivery from overseas, and your 3PL will receive that container, unpack it, and handle order fulfillment from there.

At 3PL Center, we frequently work with freight forwarders to ensure seamless transitions from port to warehouse—and from warehouse to customer.

When to Choose a Freight Forwarder

A freight forwarder is the right fit if:

You import or export large volumes of goods across international borders


You need help managing customs documentation and compliance


You don’t need warehousing or fulfillment services—just transportation coordination

When to Choose a 3PL Provider

A 3PL is ideal if:

You sell direct to consumers (DTC), retailers, or wholesalers


You need warehousing, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment


You want integrations with your eCommerce platform or ERP


You’re looking to scale fulfillment without expanding in-house operations

How 3PL Center Fits In

3PL Center offers comprehensive warehousing and fulfillment services and works directly with your freight forwarder to create a smooth logistics pipeline.

Here’s how we support your operation after international cargo arrives:

Receive and inspect containers or LTL shipments


Unload floor-loaded or palletized goods


Store inventory in secure, barcoded warehouse locations


Offer pallet visibility and container tracking via our WMS


Fulfill B2B, B2C, or Amazon orders with fast turnaround


Handle returns, kitting, and cross-docking when needed

Whether you work with your own freight forwarder or need a referral, we make sure your products are received, processed, and shipped efficiently—domestically or globally.

Ready to Bridge the Gap Between Port and Customer?

Whether you need a freight forwarder to move your products across the globe, a 3PL to manage storage and fulfillment, or both working together, 3PL Center can help you connect the dots. We work seamlessly with freight forwarders to ensure your products move smoothly from port to warehouse and from warehouse to customer—without delays or missed opportunities.

Let’s connect and build a smarter, end-to-end logistics strategy for your business.