Independent Freight Forwarder, Felixstowe, Since 1996
Any Cargo. Any Time. Anywhere.
Sea, air, road and rail freight, project cargo and in-house AEO customs clearance. One team at the UK’s busiest container port, who know your shipment by name.
No obligation. A freight specialist reads every enquiry.
What Are You Moving?
Talk to the team Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm
- 1996Trading across the world for nearly 30 years
- AEOAmong the first UK forwarders granted it by HMRC
- 14UK seaports we clear, plus every major UK airport
- 1Team for the whole journey, from quote to delivery
What We Do
Everything Between A and B.
A pallet from Cambridge to Hamburg. A full container from Hong Kong to New York. An oversized project from Aberdeen to Jakarta. We plan it, move it, clear it, store it and insure it, so you deal with one team for the whole journey.
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Sea Freight
Full and part containers on deep-sea and short-sea routes, with every major carrier. We’ll show you the fastest option and the most economical one.
Quote for Sea Freight -
Road, UK and Europe
Single pallets to full trailer loads, curtain-siders to low-loaders and temperature control, with the customs paperwork done before the wheels turn.
Quote for Road -
Air Freight
Scheduled and charter flights for time-critical goods, cleared at every major UK airport for next-day delivery.
Quote for Air -
Rail Freight
A competitive, lower-carbon alternative to road over longer distances, on scheduled services from rail-connected ports.
Quote for Rail -
Project Cargo
Out-of-gauge, breakbulk and heavyweight pieces, vessel charters and complete international projects, planned end to end.
See the Buoy Project -
Warehousing, Bonded and ERTS
From one pallet to a whole project, in secure, CCTV-protected stores across the UK and Europe. Keep goods in bond and pay duty only when they’re released, to ease your cash flow.
Ask About Storage
- Customs ClearanceUK and EU, imports and exports
- Cargo InsuranceAll-risks cover for goods moving with us
- Shipping DocumentationPrepared, checked and filed
- AEO ConsultancyYour accreditation, guided in-house
- Container SalesUsed containers, delivered or collected
- CabotageMoves in empty containers being repositioned, often at a keen price
How It Works
One Line, From A to B.
Four steps and one team: transport and customs under one roof.
Tell Us What’s Moving
What it is, where it’s going and when it needs to arrive. A pallet, a container or a project, it starts the same way.
We Plan the Route
By sea, air, road or rail, often with more than one option, so you can weigh speed against cost before anything is booked.
We Clear It
Our own customs team checks your documents in advance and clears your goods at the port or airport, with no hand-off to a stranger.
We Deliver It
To the door, the site or one of our warehouses, with your KWL contact and online tracking keeping you posted all the way.
Your Expectations, Delivered.
Get a Freight QuoteCustoms Clearance
Cleared Before It Lands.
Since Brexit, every load to or from the EU needs a customs declaration, and one missing document can hold your goods at the border. Our clearance team is in-house, AEO-accredited and in regular contact with HMRC, so your paperwork is right before the ship docks.
- Import and export declarations, UK, EU and rest of world
- Bonded warehouse and ERTS entries and removals
- Inward processing, temporary admission and returned goods
- T1 transit discharges and part loads at inland depots
- EORI, commodity codes and paperwork for first-time shippers
Ports and Airports We Clear
- Felixstowe
- London Gateway
- Tilbury
- Southampton
- Liverpool
- Harwich
- Dover
- Immingham
- Hull
- Teesport
- Bristol
- Grangemouth
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen
- Every major UK airport
Want AEO Status Yourself?
We were one of the first UK forwarders to earn it. Our in-house consultant can steer your business through HMRC’s accreditation, from a quick review to running the whole process.
Ask About AEO Consultancy
Project Cargo
If It Needs Moving, Call Us First.
Orwell Offshore relies on KWL to run the global logistics for its marine mooring and fuel delivery systems: oversized, high-value pieces shipped by sea and air from factories around the world to fabrication yards, then on to installation at sea.
One project ended with the buoy delivered by wet tow just off Balongan, Indonesia. No sooner was it signed off than we were arranging the next one.
- Out of GaugeBreakbulk and heavyweight
- Sea and AirWorldwide sourcing
- Site VisitsWe plan it with you, first-hand
Case Study
On Site in Australia, On Time.
A long-established specialist building manufacturer ships full containers with KWL to customers all over the world, often timed to meet the fitting teams flown out to build each bespoke order.
On one job, a VIP client in Australia received their container on time, despite trying local conditions on the final run to site. Being on time isn’t a nice-to-have when a crew is waiting.
Industry Expertise
We Know Your Cargo, Not Just Ours.
Specialist crating, licences, faster transit or particular storage: we know what your goods need before you have to tell us, and we keep one eye on your bottom line.
- Metals and Minor Metals
- Chemicals
- Hazardous Goods
- Electronics
- Construction and Building Materials
- Automotive
- Machinery
- Heating
- Marine and Offshore
- Ceramics
- Furniture
- Footwear
- Garments
- Sand and Bulk
- High-Value Goods
- Abnormal Loads
Why KWL
Big Reach. Personal Service.
Independent, Felixstowe-based and trading since 1996, with a worldwide network of long-standing partners behind us. You get the reach of a global forwarder and the attention of a team that knows you.
One Point of Contact
When you need one, we assign a dedicated manager to your business: a single, hands-on contact with the information and advice you need.
Trusted by HMRC
One of the first UK forwarders granted AEO status, the international mark of secure, compliant customs processes.
A Worldwide Network
Trusted partners in every major market and contracts with the world’s largest carriers, so any origin and any destination are covered.
Service and Cost, Both
Experienced, well-trained people who plan for the outcome you need and the budget you have, not one at the expense of the other.
Accreditation and Memberships
AEO, granted by HMRC
BIFA member
FIATA member
RHA member
UKWA member
Can you clear customs on goods you’re not moving for us?
Yes. Our in-house clearance team handles import and export declarations at every UK seaport and airport, including Felixstowe, London Gateway, Tilbury, Southampton, Liverpool, Dover and Immingham, whoever is moving the freight. Send us the commercial invoice and packing list and we’ll tell you what else is needed.
What do I need to clear goods to or from the EU?
At minimum a commercial invoice, a packing list and valid EORI numbers for both sides. Some goods also need licences, certificates of origin or health certificates. If you’re new to it, we’ll check your paperwork before the goods move, so nothing is held at the border.
How long does customs clearance take?
Usually minutes to hours. Delays almost always come from missing documents or a customs inspection, which is why we check everything before arrival and stay in contact with HMRC and the port until your goods are released.
Do you handle small shipments, or only full containers?
Both. We move everything from a single pallet to full containers, trailer loads and complete projects, and we’ll offer you more than one option where it helps your timeframe or budget.
Can you move oversized or very heavy cargo?
Yes. Our project cargo team plans out-of-gauge, breakbulk and heavyweight moves end to end, from route surveys and specialist trailers to vessel charters, and we’re happy to visit your site first.
How can bonded storage help our cash flow?
In a bonded or ERTS warehouse your goods are stored under customs control, so duty and import VAT are paid only when they’re released for delivery, not when they land. We arrange HMRC-approved bonded storage across the UK and Europe.
Can you help us get AEO status?
Yes. KWL was one of the first UK freight forwarders to be awarded AEO status, and our in-house consultant can guide you through as much of the HMRC accreditation process as you’d like, from a review of your application to managing it beginning to end.
Get a Freight Quote
Tell Us What’s Moving. We’ll Take It From A to B.
A freight specialist will come back to you with a plan and a price. No obligation, and no call centre.
AEO status from HMRC. Members of BIFA, FIATA, RHA and UKWA. Trading since 1996.
- 01394 675 750
- kwlquote@kwllogistics.co.uk
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm
