The 5 Best Freight Forwarders in Calgary for Stress-Free Shipments
Just recently, one of my closest friends got a big job offer. It was the perfect role for her, but it required her to move to another country.
One of the most challenging parts of her transition was figuring out how to transport all of her stuff. There was just too much that couldn’t fit in her luggage.
Fortunately, someone advised us that freight forwarding was the way to go. They’ll take care of shipping your items without you having to worry about the logistics.
Lucky for you, we’ve compiled the best freight forwarders we found right here in Calgary below.
How much do freight forwarder services cost in Calgary?
Freight forwarder services in Calgary usually cost around $100 to upwards of $1000. This rate typically depends on the size and weight of your shipment, the destination, and your chosen mode of transportation.
1. Ocean-Air Freight Ltd.
Address: 248 Wood Valley Ct SW
Phone: +1 403 250 3510
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Ocean-Air Freight is equipped to help you with your shipping needs, whether it’s through land, sea, or air. They’ve been in this industry since 1990.
They’re a great partner for businesses of all sizes. It’s especially nice that they have sit-downs with their clients to discuss their goals and determine the right strategies.
One of the reasons we included them in this list was all the additional assistance that they offer. You can rely on them for cargo insurance, packaging and crating, customs brokerage and clearance, and more.
Once you have an ongoing shipment with them, getting updates is easy. Apart from their responsive customer service, they also have a digital tracking system that’ll let you know the status of your items.
Sadly, all of these useful services do come with a drawback. Their rates tend to be higher than most freight forwarders. But if you ask us, we’d say it’s worth it.
Shipment arrived in perfect condition
“Ocean-Air Freight helped me with my move from Victoria to Copenhagen and provided very quick and professional door to door service for my approx. 100 kg shipment of personal effects, including customs clearance. Kayla was very helpful and patient with my many questions throughout the process. My shipment arrived in perfect condition. Highly recommended.”
-Sheryl McDonald, Google Review
Very professional, efficient, friendly, and reliable
“Ocean-Air Freight Ltd arranged transport for my items from Port Alberni, B.C. to Oslo, Norway. With the help of Kayla I was able to get the correct documentation, customs forms and labels for my package. My crate was picked up, delivered to the YVR terminal and arrived in Oslo on schedule and as agreed. Very professional, efficient, friendly and reliable service. Thank you for your help!”
-Lars Dohlen, Google Review
2. JORI Logistics
Address: 1323 44 Ave NE Unit 10
Phone: +1 403 571 3200
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Friday – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
JORI Logistics has been helping businesses with international shipments since 1992. They’re committed to helping organizations of all sizes expand.
Their expertise ensures that you won’t have to worry about anything. They’ll handle cargo insurance, dispute resolution, and claims processing.
With their assistance, your commercial products can make it anywhere you can think of. They have freight forwarding partners in 195 countries around the globe.
We were also amazed at their logistic capabilities. They can transport anything, from small, fragile parcels to something as big as a tradeshow setup.
The one thing to keep in mind when working with them is that their team isn’t that big. So, they may not be as responsive as most clients would expect. However, they’re very friendly and try to solve issues as soon as possible.
The best freight forwarders I have ever worked with
“Quite literally the best Freight Forwarders I have ever worked with. Very polite and courteous staff, friendly atmosphere, extremely helpful and knowledgeable…. exactly how a business should be run. 100% top notch quality of service from everyone here. I have close to 25 years experience in the business and quite frankly I would never go anywhere else. Amazing people!”
-C. David Clark, Google Review
Delighted with their service
“Jori has been working with us on freight and customs clearance for many years and we are delighted with their service. The staff are always very friendly and respond to requests promptly. With JORI there are no problems or delays and we don’t need to worry about our customs claims. I would recommend Jori to anyone looking for an agent.”
-Hermes Yu Hsuan Chang, Google Review
3. Jenik Freight
Address: 3571 52 St. SE
Phone: +1 403 402 0949
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
In more than 17 years of operations, Jenik Freight has delivered thousands of cargo shipments via air, land, and ocean. They’ve worked with industries such as construction and engineering, automotive, agriculture, and more.
Where this freight forwarder really shines is in its service. They always answer calls and will always keep you updated when it comes to the status of your shipment.
Once your items arrive, they’ll take care of consolidation, documentation, and customs clearance. The only thing that’ll be left for you to do is to pick up your shipment.
Based on what we’ve heard from their previous clients, their forwarding services are also fast compared to other companies. If you’re shipping within Canada, expect your items to get there within 7 to 10 days.
Unfortunately, they don’t accept all types of items in their containers. Some previous customers have expressed their disappointment over being referred to another company for shipping more fragile items, such as cars.
Enjoyed my experience with them
“I enjoyed my experience with Jenik Freight! the staff was polite and very responsive. I had so much questions as this was my first time shipping across border but they took time responding to my inquiry swiftly and kindly. My items also got to its destination on schedule and intact so I will definitely use them again and recommend to friends.”
-Official Joshua, Google Review
Their professionalism and responsiveness have always been top-notch
“I have been shipping with Jenik for over four years now and their professionalism responsiveness has always been top notch. I have recommended them to colleagues and partners and the feedback has always been positive. They are my go to company for anything freight whether air or sea.”
-Jideofor Odinukwe, Google Review
4. Cole International
Address: 1111 49 Ave NE
Phone: +1 403 262 2771
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Cole International began freight forwarding in the 1980s. Since then, they’ve amassed plenty of loyal customers that have been with them for decades.
They initially started as a customs brokerage, which is why it’s still a huge part of their forwarding services. With their expertise and paperwork, your shipment will be cleared swiftly without any trouble.
Apart from this, it’s clear to us why so many people choose their services. Their experts offer tailored shipping solutions that’ll help your business achieve its expansion goals.
We also like that they’re so generous with helpful advice. It’s alright if you don’t know much about importing and exporting; this company’s agents will guide and assist you throughout the process.
However, since they’re already an established company with lots of customers, their services tend to be pricey.
Absolutely amazing company to work with
“Absolutely amazing company to work with! Cole international helped me out on a shipment that I was having issues with for some time. They came in and found a solution very quickly for a great rate. Ive been working closely Sajjad from Cole, and I couldn’t of ask for better communication and answers to my many questions. Quick, meticulous and very reliable. Highly recommend!”
-Logan Mock, Google Review
By far the best we’ve worked with
“Cole is by far the best broker we’ve worked with. Not only do they provide efficient service they provide us with advice and analysis to help us manage our import business in both Canada and the US. They’ve also extended their international network to us to support our global operations. The level of expertise, engagement, and support far exceeds our previous service providers.”
-M Tremblay, Google Review
5. Huli International Movers
Address: 605 Manitou Rd SE
Phone: +1 587 430 1288
Business Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday – 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Tuesday, Thursday to Friday – 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
After 15 years in the industry, Huli International Movers now has offices all over Canada. Although they also work with businesses, most of their clients are individuals moving across the country or overseas.
Many customers choose them because of how fast their transit times are. They can usually ship items to other countries within 3 to 10 weeks by sea and 2 to 5 days by air.
We think their reputation for going above and beyond makes them a good freight-forwarding choice. You can depend on them to pack and insure your goods and take care of all the required moving documents.
Plus, they’re known for showing attention to detail. They’ll take pictures of your items being packed and send you updates on shipping.
That being said, they do have some additional fees here and there. So the final price that you’ll have to pay may be different from their initial quote.
Made the process of moving much easier
“I used Huli for shipping my household belongings from Montreal to Tokyo. Huli staff was always very responsive, helpful and professional. Our shipment arrived safe and sound in our final Tokyo apartment. I would definitely use Huli again and recommend them also to anyone else doing an international move, they made the stressful process of moving much easier!”
-Melanie Kazantsev, Google Review
Great to work with every step of the way
“Huli have helped me move household goods both to and from New Zealand now, and were great to work with every step of the way. They are very communicative and transparent, and provide photos of keys steps as well. Special shout-out to Anne for fielding my constant questions 🙂 really appreciated her patience and updates!”
-Ryan Madden, Google Review