freight forwarder / shipping
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freight forwarder
A company that organizes and carries out the transport of goods and merchandise for others. Freight forwarding companies take care of the entire logistics process from pickup to delivery.
Die neuen Möbel wurden von einer Spedition geliefert.
The new furniture was delivered by a freight forwarder.
shipping
The process of sending or organizing the transport of goods itself. This meaning is less common and more technical.
Die Kosten für die Spedition der Maschinen nach Übersee waren sehr hoch.
The costs for shipping the machines overseas were very high.
The word belongs to a family of words related to freight transport. The activity is called 'spedieren' (to ship goods), and the person carrying it out is 'der Spediteur' (male freight forwarder) or 'die Spediteurin' (female freight forwarder).
Der Spediteur hat angerufen und den Liefertermin bestätigt.
The freight forwarder called and confirmed the delivery date.
Careful: 'Spedition' (freight forwarder / shipping company) is not the same as the English word 'expedition'. An 'expedition' is a research or discovery journey (in German: die Expedition). A 'Spedition' is a company for freight transport.
Wir haben eine Spedition beauftragt, unsere Möbel in die neue Wohnung zu bringen.
We hired a freight forwarder to bring our furniture to the new apartment.
When using the services of a freight forwarder, the verb 'beauftragen' (to commission/hire) is often used. The phrase 'eine Spedition beauftragen' means to hire the company for a transport job.
Für den Umzug ins Ausland müssen wir eine internationale Spedition beauftragen.
For the move abroad, we have to hire an international freight forwarder.
The second meaning (the process of shipping) is rare and more technical. In everyday language, 'Spedition' almost always means the company. You might find this meaning on invoices, for example as the item 'Kosten für die Spedition' (costs for shipping).
Die Spedition der Ware verzögerte sich um eine Woche.
The shipping of the goods was delayed by one week.
