Rebecca DavisMoving cargo across the globe can feel like a total nightmare if you don’t have the right partner. When you’re looking for the best freight forwarder in Philadelphia, you need to look for reliability and great communication.
You need someone who understands customs clearance and can keep your supply chain moving smoothly. This way, you wouldn’t need to deal with tracking shipments or unexpected port delays, which are crucial if you’re a business owner.
So, we looked at local options to bring you the top choices around town. With this guide, you can find a trustworthy shipping team so you can focus on growing your business!
How much does a freight forwarder cost in Philadelphia?
In Philadelphia, freight forwarding costs between $50 and $200 per shipment, though extra services like customs clearance will change your final bill.
| Expense Type | Estimated Cost |
| Standard Service Fee | $50 – $200 per shipment |
| Customs Clearance | $75 – $250 |
| Documentation Charges | $25 – $75 |
| Inbound Rate (Per Mile) | $1.50 – $3.00 |
1. Beltok Cargo
Website: https://www.beltokcargo.com/
Address: 4636 Chestnut Stree
Contact: 732-423-0279 | 215-596-0992 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Shipping items across the Atlantic can be incredibly stressful for small business owners, but Beltok Cargo offers an excellent solution!
In particular, their specialized expertise in moving freight smoothly between the USA and Nigeria. They also have the resources to handle major air and ocean freight while maintaining a highly personal touch.
This team has over 15 years of industry experience, too, so they know how to avoid bottlenecks. My cousin recently used them for a rush delivery and praised the way they handled her cargo with genuine care.
However, their office closes on weekends and only opens from 11 AM to 6 PM. Also, their Chestnut Street location is subject to heavy traffic, making physical drop-offs difficult for large trucks.
Truly impressed with their efficiency and care
I had a great experience shipping items to Nigeria with Beltok Cargo. Communication was clear, updates were consistent, and everything arrived safely and on time. Ola and the team were professional, reliable, and easy to work with. They went above and beyond to ensure my package arrived safely, and in perfect condition. Truly impressed with their efficiency and care — I’ll definitely be using them again!
- Gideon E Google Review
Their customer service is top notch
I’ve had a great experience using Beltok for my last few packages and shipments to Lagos. Their customer service is top notch and they haven’t failed me yet with their fast delivery times and clear notifications when packages are ready for pick up. They keep track of each item sent to them and make sure multiple packages are bundled so nothing gets lost. Looking forward to using them in the future!
- Amayo Bassey Google Review
2. William Parker Associates
Website: https://www.wmparker.com/
Address: 4301 Delaware Ave BLDG B
Contact: 215-425-2748 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Managing massive industrial supply chains requires heavy-duty equipment and absolute reliability. William Parker Associates meets this need as a fourth-generation, family-owned business that has operated since 1939.
This team is an asset-based carrier, meaning they own a large fleet of specialized chassis and a secure ten-acre terminal. So, they can easily handle overweight containers and hazardous materials (hazmat) near major port facilities.
They even partner with a sister company to offer full third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse services.
But their direct delivery is strictly limited to a 125-mile radius from the port. Plus, they operate as a drayage carrier rather than a traditional international freight forwarder.
in and out in less than 1.5 hrs
Been here a few times to pick up, great staff, always in and out in less than 1.5 hrs. They also have a offsite wherehouse about a mile down the road; right at the overhead RR bridge.
- Ruel Hutchinson Google Review
quick load times
Been here 2x and both were quick load times. Check in office staff were friendly n helpful. Other workers in/out were nice, too. Warehouse was about a mile from the main place. Back in off busy 2way street, but not bad. Guy that loaded me was awesome!
- Teddie Google Review
3. AMID Logistics, LLC
Website: https://www.internationalshippingusa.com/
Address: 248 Geiger Rd
Contact: +1 215 552 6208
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM–4 PM
AMID Logistics is a licensed freight forwarder operating since 2007. This company stands out for the brilliant real-time freight calculator on their website. Finding instant shipping rates online can save hours of phone calls with sales agents!
Plus, their nifty calculation tool is perfect for shipping commercial goods, much like scheduling local courier services.
I spoke with a business owner who uses them regularly, and he loves their volume-based pricing. Shippers can save cash by dropping items directly at a local Container Freight Station (CFS).
Do note, however, that they have strict mail restrictions and can’t accept paperwork without prior email approval. Also, their local drop-off terminals often close early in the afternoon, which can disrupt your busy schedule.
Process went without issues
Dealing with AMID Logistics was easy and professional from start to finish. Communication was clear, the process was well-organized, and the shipment was handled smoothly and efficiently. The entire cargo shipping process went without issues, and everything was coordinated properly. Their website is also very informative and full of useful guidance about international cargo shipping, which made the process much easier to understand. I appreciate the support and would confidently recommend their services.
- Ahmed Alshehhi Google Review
Goods have arrived in good condition
I’ve used AMID Logistics on several occasions since 2011 to ship small consignments of goods from the US to New Zealand. They have consistently been easy to deal with, provided excellent information and guidance on shipping, and their charges have been modest. Goods have arrived in good condition and on time. My most recent shipment ran into various glitches, and I have been most impressed at AMID’s patient willingness to iron them all out. A consistently excellent company!
- Warren Judd Google Review
4. Outer Seaways, Inc.
Website: https://outerseaways.com/
Address: 1315 Walnut Street Suite 1005
Contact: 215-732-0609 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM–5 PM
Avoiding massive logistics corporations is easy when you work with a boutique shipping partner like Outer Seaways.
For starters, this team brings over three decades of experience with quick, same-day quotes for international routes.
I also love that they give you a single point of contact who manages your shipment from start to finish. Plus, they specialize in moving bulky and fragile industrial cargo, such as electrical building materials.
They also offer strict data protection through blind shipments to keep your supply chain confidential.
I’m just a bit iffy that their Center City office lacks on-site warehousing and heavy-truck loading capabilities. Their particular location downtown also suffers from severe traffic congestion, making it tough to drop off original paperwork in person.
so easy to work with
As a small business that needs to ship internationally, I feel like we have a shipping department in-house with Outer Seaways. If I need anything shipped, Joe and Jack are the first people I turn to. The paperwork can be overwhelming and they take care of it with ease and are so easy to work with, even with someone like myself with very little shipping experience.
- Mary Tiberi Google Review
Great service, great rates
We used Outer Seaways to move one of our large pharma packaging machines back to our parent company in Germany for re-working.
Great service, great rates, and no complications getting my goods from point A to B.
We will work with this company again in the future for similar shipments.
Thanks to Joe and everyone on the team for all the hard work!
- Michael Medycki Google review
5. Pennsylvania Logistics
Website: https://pennsylvanialogisticsllc.com/
Address: 1631 Loretta Ave Suite D
Contact: 267-507-7077 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Just like coordinating real estate or local property management, managing your assets requires clear visibility.
So, when you’re able to track your freight in real-time, you get peace of mind during complex shipments. Pennsylvania Logistics handles this beautifully with a custom app that shows live tracking and accurate arrival times.
Plus, they own an impressive in-house fleet of over 500 vans and run a massive logistics operation across North America. It’s impressive how this team achieves a 98.5% on-time delivery rate, backed by 40 dispatchers available around the clock.
However, they don’t list a public physical warehouse address. On top of that, their fleet focuses heavily on cargo vans, which means they might outsource large full-truckload shipments.
You are the real GOAT(GREATEST OF ALL TIME)
If you’re looking for consistent loads and hard working dispatcher look no further Pennsylvania Logistics is the place to be. I have had the opportunity of working with Matthew, I can truly say he is amazing when it comes to booking loads and communicating with me. True to no force dispatching and may I add caring. Thank you Matthew for making my job easy you are the real GOAT(GREATEST OF ALL TIME)
- Darlene Williams Google Review
very professional and great to work with
Pennsylvania Logistics helped our business get started when no one else would. The load board is so easy and the Pennsylvania Logisitcs brokers are very professional and great to work with. They show they care
- Lenita Belle Google Review
