Pricing & Surcharges
All-In Rate
A quoted freight rate that bundles the base rate and all applicable surcharges into a single figure, rather than listing them separately.
In depth
An all-in rate is the only sound basis for comparing quotes, because base rates alone are close to meaningless once BAF, THC, documentation, and security surcharges are added. A headline rate that looks 20 percent cheaper routinely turns out dearer once the surcharge schedule is applied. When requesting an all-in figure, be explicit about scope: which port pair, which Incoterm, and whether destination charges are included, since "all-in" often quietly means all-in to the destination port and not beyond.
Key points
- Bundles base rate and surcharges into one comparable figure
- The only reliable basis for comparing carrier quotes
- Confirm whether destination charges are inside the number
- Ask which surcharges are fixed and which can still move