An NVOCC and Freight Forwarder are often considered to be the same by many people. This may have been influenced by the  FMC’s consideration of both NVOCC and Freight forwarder as an  Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI). However, whether you are a US based NVOCC or Freight Forwarder you are required to obtain a licence to provide these services in the United States.

What is the difference between a NVOCC and a Freight Forwarder?

Although both are considered as an OTI, functionally and legally there are some differences between the two. If you take a closer look, much of the differences between the two will be evident from their definitions and scope of activities. These are the main differences between a NVOCC and a freight forwarder:

• NVOCC and Freight Forwarders are considered as OTI
• Freight Forwarder provides expert advice and consultancy services
• NVOCC provides carrier service under their own bill of lading

Definition and Scope of Activities of a Freight Forwarder

A  freight forwarder may be defined as the entity employed by an importer or exporter to handle a few different activities relating to their shipments.

A forwarder’s activities may include, but not limited to :

•   Organizing movement of cargo from Point A to B using multiple modes of transport – sea/rail/road. Point A and B may be inland locations as well.
•   Negotiating contract rates with carriers on behalf of the customer
•   Booking cargo with the carriers under their own freight/service contract or using the customers freight/service contract
•   Processing all relevant shipping documents such as customs and port documentation, bills of lading and associated shipping/negotiating documentation (EUR1, Certificate of Origin, etc)
•   Issuing their own approved house bill of lading (HBL)

Apart from the above, a freight forwarder may have other functions such as:

•   Providing expert advice and consultancy services to the customers relating to the usage of the correct  Incoterms, letter of credit, licenses, permits and general information relevant to the safe movement of the cargo.
•   Accept and arrange storage of the cargo whether it is before shipment from port of loading or after receipt of cargo at port of discharge before distribution to other areas as per client requirement. Most big freight forwarders have their own warehouses, but a few forwarders outsource this to optimize asset utilization.
•   Using these warehouses, the forwarders arrange the distribution or “forwarding” of the cargo as per the instructions of their client
•   Arrange inland haulage of the cargo from/to the customers’ premises and port as required
•   have thorough knowledge of over/cross border cargo movement
•   arrange customs clearance 

What Is NVOCC?

A NVOCC may be defined as an entity that provides ocean freight services as a “carrier” albeit it may be with or without own or operated vessels.

The NVOCC accomplishes this by buying slots or space from a VOCC (Vessel Operating Common Carrier) and reselling the same to their customers who can be exporters or forwarders.

NVOCC issues their own House Bill of Lading as a “carrier” and in doing so undertakes the responsibilities of a carrier subject to of course the terms, conditions and liabilities of their bill of lading.

Apart from obtaining a license from the FMC, NVOCC operators also have to file a tariff prior to operation in the USA.

A tariff contains actual freight rates, charges, surcharges, freight classifications, rules, regulations and practices of a common carrier (VOCC or NVOCC).

So some of the key differences between a NVOCC and a freight forwarder maybe tabulated as below :

NVOCC vs Freight Forwarder

A traditional NVOCC does not provide services provided by a freight forwarder and vice versa, but in some cases the line between a NVOCC a traditional freight forwarder may be blurred.

Who provides the best service and the best ocean freight rates between a freight forwarder, NVOCC and a carrier? The jury is still out on that. For sure service and the ability to offer insight into rates and market movements makes a big difference. How can these suppliers differentiate from each other? That's the question shippers and suppliers are all after.