Getting a freight quote is easy. Getting an accurate, comparable freight quote is surprisingly hard. Many shippers end up comparing quotes that are not actually like-for-like. This guide walks you through exactly how to request and compare freight quotes for a true picture of your total cost.
What Information You Need to Provide
- Origin and destination — Specify the exact pickup address (or export port) and delivery address (or destination port). Port-to-port vs door-to-door dramatically affects the quote.
- Cargo description — A clear description of what you are shipping. Certain commodities attract surcharges or restrictions.
- Dimensions and weight — For each package: length x width x height (cm or inches) and gross weight. Be precise — errors here are the most common cause of invoice adjustments.
- Incoterm — Specify the agreed incoterm. This tells the forwarder exactly what they need to quote for.
- Preferred mode — Ocean FCL, ocean LCL, air, road, or open (best option).
- Required delivery date — This helps the forwarder select the appropriate service and vessel/flight.
- Dangerous goods declaration — If any DG is present, declare this upfront including UN number and packing group.
What to Ask the Forwarder to Include
Always request that quotes include all charges from door to door: origin inland haulage, export customs clearance, origin THC, main carriage with all surcharges, destination THC, import customs clearance and duty filing fee, and destination inland delivery. Compare only all-in door-to-door quotes.
Questions to Ask When Comparing Quotes
- Is this quote all-in door-to-door? If not, what is excluded?
- How long is this quote valid for? (Ocean rates can expire in 48-72 hours.)
- What is the expected transit time from collection to delivery?
- Are there any commodity restrictions or surcharges that might apply to my cargo?
Red Flags When Reviewing Quotes
- A quote significantly lower than all others — it is likely missing key charges
- Vague descriptions like freight as quoted rather than itemised line items
- No valid-until date on the quote
CargoLinked allows you to request quotes from multiple verified freight forwarders simultaneously on a standardised form, making genuine like-for-like comparison possible without making multiple phone calls.
