There are many factors that can affect all types of shipping, like weather, government bodies (like Port Health & HM Customs), human error, language and technical problems. A good freight forwarder will have systems in place to track shipments and will inform the customer of any delays or problems. It is impossible to guarantee all transit times, but the difference between a good international freight forwarding company and a bad one can make an existing problem much worse. We can all take bad news as long as we are informed of the situation and offered the next best solution. A good freight forwarder will keep their customers informed at all times, including at weekends and evenings. If handled correctly, the way a freight forwarder deals with a potentially disastrous situation can cement the forwarder/client relationship.
Experts in Quick & Cost-Effective Global Door-to-Door Delivery
We are an international shipping and freight forwarding company based in the UK that is dedicated, irrespective of size, distance and time constraints, to getting your consignment to its final destination. We cover the whole of Europe by road and also handle sea and air freight to destinations worldwide.
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35
Years of experience
Shipping’s Safest Hands!
International Delivery
Worldwide Shipping Solutions.
Time Critical
When time is of the essence.
Next Day Delivery
To destinations across Europe.
OUR SERVICES
We Are an International Freight Shipping Company Based in Essex, UK
Our haulage and courier firm provide unrivalled, bespoke worldwide cargo and pallet shipping solutions for businesses and individuals alike. From pallet delivery to shipping parcels, we are a UK-based freight forwarding firm you can trust that is a short distance from the M25, and numerous local and international air and maritime ports. For global logistics needs, we also offer sea freight and air freight services to key markets including the USA, Asia and beyond.
”Reliable, friendly and efficient service from start to finish. Highly recommend!
Maria NimockClient
6500
Shipments per year
99
Customer Satisfaction
100
Express deliveries on time
QUICK TIPS & ADVICE
An International Shipping Company You Can Trust.
The current economic environment requires a haulage supplier you can trust. Here at Barrington Freight, we are one of the most trusted freight carrier companies in the UK. As a member of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) we provide a professional transport service backed by comprehensive liability insurance. Your shipment is in safe hands.
The best way to deliver goods
Our road freight team are some of the most knowledgeable in the industry. They never fail to advise on, and provide the best delivery solution to suit your needs. The same applies to our road, sea, air and rail freight specialists.
A shipping EMERGENCY?
We like a challenge. With our guaranteed next day delivery services to, or from, Europe we deliver your shipments on time, every time. No matter your destination, time, or method of transport, we move quickly to collect your goods, with collections booked up for the next working day.
Concerned about hidden extras?
With us you will not have to worry; we like unexpected fees as much as you do, which is to say not at all. Our courier, European haulage and international freight services have no hidden extras, taxes or fees.
Posted on Google 
Sam McGowan
17 August 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic Service. Lee organised a last minute pickup from Sweden back to England. The shipment was under Carnet. Very good professional service at a competitive rate! I will be using them again.
Posted on Google
Louise Ponsford
13 August 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service from start to finish. Simon at Barrington Freight handled our crate of mechanical machine parts from the UK to Canada with exceptional care, keeping us informed throughout. His Canadian agent also arranged customs clearance, making the entire process straightforward and stress-free. Highly recommended.
Posted on Google
Proydohi
6 August 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to thank the entire Barrington Freight team for their professional work and assistance in organizing the shipment of my cargo to the UK. I will definitely use their services again. Highly recommended.
Posted on Google
Mike Yeo
23 July 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The team at Barrington Freight were brilliant, leading us through the minefield that is exports to the EU. Nothing was too much trouble and we received immediate answers to all our many questions. We will definitely use them again and recomend them to anyone.
Posted on Google
Courtney Freeman
22 June 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a fantastic experience importing our goods from Florida and honestly couldn’t fault the service. The quote was quick and easy, booking was straightforward and everything was handled smoothly from start to finish. As this was our first import we needed a bit of guidance along the way but Simon was brilliant. He took care of everything, kept us updated throughout and was always on hand to answer our questions. What seemed like a complicated process was made incredibly simple and stress free. The customer service was excellent, communication was spot on and our shipment arrived without any issues. We wouldn’t hesitate to use them again and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable freight forwarder. Thanks again for making our first import such a positive experience!
Posted on Google
Katie r Smith
18 June 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Simon looked after our air freight import from China and provided an excellent service throughout. The shipment arrived safely and quicker than expected, with clear communication at every stage. We were very pleased with the experience and will definitely use Simon and his team at Barrington Freight again in the future.
Posted on Google
Phil Holloway
18 June 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We needed to get a shipment out to the USA quickly and Simon made the whole process far easier than we expected. Communication was straightforward, we were kept updated throughout, and everything arrived on time without any issues. It's refreshing to deal with someone who knows exactly what they're doing and gets things done. We'd happily use Simon again for future air freight shipments.
Posted on Google
James Roberts
15 June 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Matt really looked after us and made our shipment completely stress free, I will be using the services of Barrington Freight for all my overseas shipments from now on. Thanks Matt, great service
Posted on Google
General Enquiries
23 April 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have had consistently excellent service from Barrington Freight. Our main contact, Joshua Armstrong, is always incredibly helpful and reliable. He goes above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly. Communication is clear and prompt and any issues are handled quickly and efficiently. It's reassuring to know that everything is in safe hands from start to finish. I would highly recommend Barrington Freight to anyone looking for dependable and professional logistics partner.
Posted on Google
George Dunster
10 April 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a time-critical air freight shipment coming in from China to the UK and Simon was a huge help in getting it over the line. Right before arrival, an issue came up due to a mistake from the airline, which could have turned into a real headache. Simon picked it up straight away, dealt with it quickly and managed to sort everything without any extra costs on our side. Really solid support throughout and easy to deal with, especially given the urgency. Another great job by Barrington Freight - we’ll definitely be using them again!
Posted on Google
Euphoric Bedding
1 April 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Good service during a turbulent global shipping period. Special thanks goes to Lee for his efficiency and proactive updates and for rescheduling a delivery in less than 24hrs when the haulage company didn’t read their own paperwork and sent a lorry without the requested tail lift. Highly recommended.
Posted on Google
Creators Boutique
10 March 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Professional service. Recommended and will certainly work with them again myself.
Posted on Google
The Greens
5 March 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great communication, competitive and efficient delivery
Posted on Google
Shannon Sharp
4 March 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We’ve worked with Barringtons for the past two years, and the service has been excellent throughout. Every shipment has been handled with great care and real personal attention. A special thanks to Simon, who has been outstanding—always professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!
Posted on Google
Peter Aylmore
4 March 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Barringtons always have worked well for us . They are efficient with the import / export paperwork . Always answer very quickly with both quotations and any issues. prices always competitive , indeed recently saved our customer a considerable sum on an export job. Truly excellent service
What is Freight Forwarding?
Freight forwarders serve as the middleman between the business shipping the goods and their ultimate destination. While they don't directly handle the transportation, they provide various shipping options, including sea or ocean freight, rail transport, road haulage, and air delivery.
How Freight Forwarding Works
Whether you are looking for next day delivery to European destinations such as France or Germany, or you need an economical freight forwarding solution to key locations such as Hong Kong, Japan or the USA. Our team can arrange road, sea, air or rail freight depending on your shipment’s destination, size and urgency.
Freight Forwarding Process - Diagram
How to Choose a Freight Forwarder?
01. Friendly service
People work with people they like. Freight forwarding is a service industry and as such, the freight forwarder you chose should be pleasant to deal with, knowledgeable and a good communicator. Depending on the complexity of the regulations in the country you are trading, you will be relying on your international freight forwarding company for a lot of information. So choosing someone who is easy to speak to will make the experience a lot more pleasurable.
02. Worldwide network of overseas partners
A good freight forwarder will have a carefully chosen network of similar minded freight forwarders they work with as a partner or on an agency basis. This allows your freight forwarder the expertise and the best local knowledge to help you through the maze of customs formalities in foreign countries. You or your overseas customer may be able to obtain relief from import duties if the correct forms are completed and submitted to the local customs office and a good freight forwarding company will know this.
03. Value for money
When we say “value for money” we do not mean the cheapest. Like most things in life, with an international freight forwarding firm, you get what you pay for – the cheapest is not necessarily the best! With sea and air freight shipping, there are a lot of elements that make up the final quote. A good freight forwarder will advise you of ALL costs. You should question any quotation you might receive that is substantially cheaper as there may be limited availability or elements of the costs may have been omitted. With most shipments, the price normally indicates the speed of service, the quicker you require the goods the more expensive the freight cost will be.
04. Responsive
There is not much point in a freight forwarder being friendly and having the potential to give good quotes if they take ages to reply or worse still do not reply. Often shipments are urgent or quick decisions are needed to avoid the waiting time and/or demurrage so the freight forwarder you chose should have a positive “can-do” attitude and an appreciation for urgency. Too much emphasis is put on email communication nowadays; unfortunately, emails can get lost, deleted and misinterpreted. A good freight forwarder will use the telephone as much as email and will be able to recognise their customers by the sound of their voice, as opposed to them being just a name on a screen.
05. Status
The UK freight industry in the UK is unregulated which means that it is open to infiltration by “cowboy” freight forwarders. A good guide to the status of a shipping forwarder is whether they are a limited company (this can be checked at Companies House for free). There are other things that could give away rogue traders, such as operating from a PO Box address, having no website and operating from free email addresses such as Hotmail or Yahoo. A committed professional freight forwarder will be working from a business address and be happy to visit you or have you visit them at their offices.
06. Direct control
You should not expect a freight forwarding company to use their own ships or aeroplanes and the majority of UK haulage will be sub-contracted. However, sometimes shipments can be sub-contracted 3-5 times before you would reach the person in control of the delivery or vehicle. Check that your freight forwarder is in direct control of your shipments, this avoids lengthy lines of communication if there is a problem or a query on a shipment.
07. Experience
There is no substitute for experience. A good freight forwarder will have at least five years of experience in the industry. This experience will help the customer avoid any potential pitfalls with regard to customs clearance and documentation. A good freight forwarder will have a general knowledge of all forms of transport and will be able to draw from personal experience as opposed to just relaying information.
08. Reviews
A good freight forwarder will obviously have a portfolio of happy regular clients who would provide testimonials. Ask your freight forwarder to supply you with the names and telephone numbers of some customers who use their services, and give them a call. There is nothing more powerful than a positive recommendation.
09. Size of company
As a general rule, small to medium-sized freight companies give good all-around service. They have lower overheads and therefore require lower profit margins. Smaller companies are also more flexible and do not suffer from big company politics. At larger companies, the staff can be less motivated, and you may have to talk to a multitude of people about one shipment.
How Freight Forwarders Can Help Your Business?
Freight Forwarders are individuals or companies specialising in organising and facilitating the transportation of goods. They are responsible for dispatching shipments by various modes of transport such as air, sea, road, or rail.
- They utilise a range of transportation methods, including waterborne vessels (ships), aeroplanes, trucks, and railways, depending on the requirements of the shipment.
- Their services predominantly focus on cargo movement to international destinations. This can involve complex logistics, such as road transport within Europe or sea and air freight to other global destinations.
- Freight forwarders take on the primary responsibility for the entire transport operation as specified in each contract. They charge a fee which covers the total operation and, in turn, pay the actual carriers for the transport services provided.
- International freight forwarders possess extensive expertise in preparing and processing documentation necessary for international shipments.
- Some of the typical information reviewed by a freight forwarder is the commercial invoice, shipper’s export declaration, and other documents required by the carrier or country of export, import, or trans-shipment. Much of this information is now processed in a paperless environment.
To simplify their role, freight forwarders are often likened to travel agents, but for freight, orchestrating the movement of goods across countries and continents efficiently and effectively.
How do you get a free delivery quote?
All you need to do is enter the details of your delivery in our super-fast QUICK QUOTE system and click the button below.
But of course, you can always call us or send us an email at
We are friendly, easy to work with, honest and we do not charge the earth.
We obsess over the details to provide a delivery solution that will always make you happy.
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
Here at Barrington Freight, We Get Your Haulage to its Destination
The destination of your goods is never an obstacle to us. We get your haulage to its final destination regardless of how remote the location may be and how urgent the matter is.
Many other freight forwarding companies will only provide you with transport to major locations in your destination country. This is why we are a leading provider of freight forwarding services in the UK. You have a guarantee that your haulage is in safe hands. Whether it's groupage or full truck loads (FTL) to Europe, less-than-container loads (LCL) or full container loads (FCL) by sea, consolidated air freight to global destinations, or urgent express shipments, our team will make sure your goods reach their destination safely, on time and with no fuss.
1. We understand urgency
With an exceptional fleet ready to take your cargo to its destination, you can depend on us. We pride ourselves on our transparency and our ability to tailor freight forwarding services to your individual requirements, regardless of time limitations. With bespoke quotations for shipping your goods to Europe and beyond, you can be sure that we are a company you can rely on. Choose Barrington Freight today.
2. You want more from Freight forwarding companies
Understandably, you want to feel appreciated as a customer and not just 'like a number'. Barrington Freight is family-run. As a result, you will be able to reach our team of freight experts immediately; expect no call centres or automated phone systems.
We pride ourselves on our reliability. We guarantee you will not find a better transport provider. You may wish to peruse our customers' testimonials for corroboration.
3. You need support beyond just transport
Freight isn’t just about moving goods from A to B. It’s about paperwork, timing and making sure nothing gets held up along the way. That’s why we don’t just organise transport. We also assist with customs clearance and declarations through trusted partners, helping you avoid costly delays and mistakes. Whether it’s air, sea, road or rail, we manage the process so you can focus on running your business.
4. More than a Freight Forwarder
We go beyond basic freight forwarding. From export packing services to secure your goods properly for international transit, to flexible 3PL (third-party logistics) options that handle storage, fulfilment and final delivery, we offer a joined-up approach that keeps your supply chain moving smoothly.
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