Freight forwarder. 3PL. NVOCC. You’ve heard all three, probably in the same sales pitch, and probably used interchangeably.

That’s a problem.

Each one plays a different role in how your goods move from origin to destination, and picking the wrong logistics partners (or misunderstanding what they do) can cost you real money through delays, service gaps, and unnecessary fees.

But what makes it even more confusing? U.S. regulators lump freight forwarders and NVOCCs together under the label “Ocean Transport Intermediaries,” even though their responsibilities look very different on the ground. So the terminology works against you from the start.

We’re going to break down what each partner type does, when you need one over another, and where Mallory Alexander fits into the picture.

What Does a Freight Forwarder Do?
Think of a freight forwarder as your logistics quarterback. They don’t own the ships, planes, or trucks. They coordinate all of them on your behalf. And for businesses that move goods across borders, a forwarder is often the first call you make.

They Book, Negotiate, and Coordinate
A freight forwarder arranges how your cargo gets from point A to point B across international lines. They tap into carrier networks spanning ocean, air, truck, and rail to find the best rates and routes. Their buying power lets them consolidate smaller shipments alongside other cargo, which brings your per-unit costs down. You get access to pricing and carrier relationships you’d never land on your own.

Paperwork Is Their Bread and Butter
Customs filings, export documentation, compliance requirements. Global shipping generates a mountain of paperwork, and one wrong form can hold your cargo at port for days.

Freight forwarders manage all of it.

They track your shipment from origin to final delivery and keep everything square with regulators along the way. That expertise alone pays for itself.

They Have Clear Limits
A freight forwarder moves freight. They don’t run your warehouse, manage your inventory, or handle retail distribution. Some may arrange temporary storage during transshipment, but large-scale fulfillment falls outside their wheelhouse. Plus, since they don’t own vessels or trucks, they operate as intermediaries, contracting space with carriers rather than controlling the assets.

When Should You Use One?
Freight forwarders work best when your core challenge is getting goods across borders. Something like a cotton exporter shipping LCL cargo overseas, or an electronics manufacturer coordinating ocean freight from Southeast Asia. You need carrier bookings, customs clearance, and documentation handled by someone who does it every day. That’s a forwarder’s sweet spot.

What Does a 3PL (Third-Party Logistics Provider) Do?
A freight forwarder gets your goods across the ocean. But what happens once they land? That’s where a 3PL picks up the slack. Where forwarders specialize in moving freight between countries, a 3PL handles what comes next: storing it, packing it, and getting it to your customer’s door.

They Own the Infrastructure
Unlike freight forwarders, 3PLs are typically asset-backed. They own or lease warehouses and fleets, which means your products sit in their facilities and move on their trucks. You skip the capital investment of building your own distribution network and gain the flexibility to scale up during peak seasons or pull back when demand drops. No long-term facility leases nor idle warehouse space burning cash in January.

Fulfillment Is Their Entire Focus
Receiving, inventory management, pick-and-pack, kitting, assembly, shipping, returns. A 3PL runs your fulfillment operation so you don’t have to. Most integrate directly with your ERP or e-commerce platform, which means orders flow from your sales channels straight into their warehouse management system. An electronics brand selling through wholesalers and DTC channels can hand off the entire post-production logistics chain and focus on building the business instead.

International Freight: Usually Someone Else’s Job
Some 3PLs offer international shipping, but most partner with freight forwarders or NVOCCs (more on them below) for the ocean and air legs. A 3PL’s strength kicks in once the cargo reaches its warehouse. They generally don’t touch goods while they’re sitting on a container ship mid-Pacific.

When Should You Use One?
A 3PL fits best when your biggest challenge lies on the domestic side: warehousing, order fulfillment, and last mile delivery. Retailers and manufacturers who need inventory stored, orders processed, and products shipped to end customers will get the most value here.

What Does an NVOCC (Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier) Do?
Now we get to the one that throws people off. An NVOCC sounds like a bureaucratic acronym someone invented to confuse shippers on purpose. But the concept is straightforward: An NVOCC operates like a shipping line without owning a single ship. They lease large blocks of container space on vessels and resell that space to businesses like yours.

They Act Like a Carrier (Without the Ships)
An NVOCC buys ocean freight capacity in bulk, then breaks it into smaller allotments for individual shippers. They issue their own bill of lading, which means they function as the carrier on paper even though someone else owns the vessel. Shippers who need ocean transport but don’t move enough volume to negotiate directly with big ocean carrier lines especially benefit from access to rates that would normally require a much larger operation.

Liability Sits With Them
Here’s something that separates NVOCCs from freight forwarders in a meaningful way. An NVOCC carries legal responsibility for your cargo during the ocean leg. If something gets lost or damaged at sea, your claim goes through the NVOCC directly. That single-party liability simplifies the process considerably. You’re not chasing down three different companies to figure out who owes you money.

Their World Begins and Ends at the Water
NVOCCs specialize in ocean freight. Full stop. They don’t run warehouses, manage inventory, or handle your e-commerce fulfillment. Some coordinate inland transport to and from port, but their core value lives on the water. Think of them as a steamship line you’ll never see on the side of a vessel.

When Should You Use One?
Heavy ocean freight volumes make the strongest case. A lumber manufacturer exporting full containers to Asia or a midsize supplier shipping LCL cargo overseas will benefit most from an NVOCC’s bulk purchasing power and consolidated rates.

So Where Does Mallory Alexander Fit?
Most shippers don’t need three separate logistics partners. They need one that can wear all three hats. Mallory Alexander rolls all three capabilities — freight forwarding, 3PL, and NVOCC — under one roof so you stop managing handoffs and start managing your business.

* Global Freight Forwarding and Customs Expertise: We coordinate international shipments across ocean, air, and cross-border lanes and handle every piece of documentation and customs clearance along the way. Our team expedites “wheels-up” clearance on imports and provides both FCL and LCL ocean forwarding worldwide. You get one point of contact for the entire international leg.
* Licensed NVOCC on Key Trade Lanes: Mallory holds NVOCC authority, which means we issue our own bills of lading and consolidate sea freight directly for clients. We take on carrier liability and offer bulk-rate ocean pricing when it benefits your shipment. That’s a level of control and cost savings most logistics partners can’t offer under their own license.
* Full-Service 3PL With Real Scale: We operate over 2 million square feet of U.S. warehouse space (public and contract) plus 25+ global distribution centers. Our domestic services cover truck brokerage, LTL, FTL, drayage, and air freight. We receive your inbound containers at port and handle everything through pick, pack, and final delivery.
* End-to-End Supply Chain Management: Beyond freight and storage, we offer 4PL consulting and our myMALLORY portal for real-time tracking of inventory and shipments. Our team coordinates multiple vendors on your behalf and tailors solutions to your industry.
* Over a Century of Proven Experience: We’ve operated in logistics since 1925. Mallory holds ISO 9001 and C-TPAT certifications, and we’ve earned presidential awards for export excellence. Those credentials matter when you’re shipping high-value cargo in sectors like lumber, cotton, electronics, or pharmaceuticals.

One Partner, Every Hat
Freight forwarders, 3PLs, and NVOCCs each solve a different piece of the logistics puzzle. Some shippers need one. Most need a combination. The challenge is getting them to work together without you playing middleman between three separate companies and three separate phone calls or messages every time something goes wrong.

Mallory Alexander eliminates that problem. We operate as your freight forwarder, your 3PL, and your licensed NVOCC at the same time. Your ocean shipment clears customs, hits our warehouse, and gets picked, packed, and delivered without a single handoff falling through the cracks. One team. One technology platform. One logistics partner who knows your cargo from origin to final delivery.

Ready to stop juggling vendors? Contact Mallory Alexander, and let’s build the right mix of forwarding, warehousing, and ocean freight services around your supply chain.