Freight forwarders advance by land, air and sea.

Top 10 transported 1 billion tons of cargo during 1991

Capitalizing on the area's entrenched role in overseas trade, Los Angeles County freight forwarders are expanding their numbers -- and probably sidestepping the recession -- by helping businesses master the complexities of international exporting, industry experts said.

Freight forwarders act as agents and facilitators for companies seeking to move their goods abroad. That means booking space for outbound cargo on planes and ships, preparing documentation and actually transporting the cargo from local warehouses to the dock or tarmac for exporting.

New York-based Nippon Express USA Inc., which operates locally out of Torrance, came in first among freight forwarders in this week's List, which ranked the companies based on their number of non-clerical workers. No. 2 was Burlington Air Express, which helped move an estimated 300 million tons of cargo in 1991 and works out of offices near Los Angeles International Airport.

By themselves, the top 10 freight forwarders on The List were responsible for coordinating the transport of 1 billion tons of export cargo last year.

Monkia Wegner, executive director of the Freight Brokers Association, said Southland freight forwarders -- both large and small -- are growing thanks to steady Pacific Rim trade and a stream of agricultural products, computers and other high-tech gear flowing out the region's ports and airports.

Another major plus is the activity at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's busiest in terms of outgoing and incoming cargo volume; the Port of Long Beach is the country's second busiest. Rounding out the global commerce picture locally is Los Angeles International Airport, which processes 1.2 billion tons of cargo annually.

As a sign of LAX's importance, 11 of the 25 ranked freight forwarders base their county operations in nearby Inglewood.

"As far as exports go, it hasn't been slowing down," said Michelle Nicolai, international marketing manager for Inglewood-based Fritz Companies Inc., which ranked No. 15 on The List. "And it's competitive, because it doesn't take that much (financing) to get started."

Many times, freight forwarders also consolidate goods from different companies onto a single ship or plane, giving individual customers cheaper rates because of volume business. And, depending on the outfit, forwarders also offer customs brokerage services vital for importing, as well as marine insurance and warehouse space.