| Abstract: | A freight forwarder is an entity that acts as an intermediary between the actual shipper and the carrier. An effective freight forwarding sector is now recognized almost everywhere as one of the core enablers of development. The role of freight forwarding performance in the global economy is better recognized today than before. Efficient freight forwarding services reduce the cost of shipping cargos from source to destination. Freight forwarders performance is about how efficiently supply chains connect firms to domestic and international opportunities. The main objective of this study is assessing freight forwarding practices and challenges for the selected three freight forwarding companies operated in Ethiopia to uphold functions, economic role and services provide by freight forwarder and predict future market in context of the market demand.
The study used descriptive research design and used mixed approach of both quantitative and qualitative data method. The data instruments of this study have incorporated both primary and secondary source of data. The target population for this study is mainly involved in freight forwarding operation department for the selected freight forwarding companies in Ethiopia and the study used all the total population of the study with a total of 60 respondents was selected. Out of 60 total populations all 60 valid responses were collected and analyzed. The research used statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) for the data analysis and get the required analysis results for study. This paper also presents the results by using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, tables and other related statistical data presentation techniques. The major finding of the study indicates that, there are challenges such as long transit times, poor quality of logistics procedures/service and incurring unnecessary cost by the selected freight forwarders. To conclude this study, these companies should work internally to enhance use of advanced technologies, arrange training for their staff to progress logistics skill & staff their operation with committed and aggressive follow-up, and then they should work the concerned government organization giving feedback to make improvement like infrastructure problem area and hindering government rules/procedures. |
