Freight quotes

To quote your shipment accurately, a forwarder needs a specific set of facts: the number of master cartons, the dimensions and gross weight of each carton, the total volume in cubic meters, the pickup address (your factory), the destination address (your warehouse or fulfillment center), and the Incoterm on your manufacturing deal (usually FOB and the named port). Your manufacturer provides the carton specs, often on a document called a packing list. Guessing these numbers produces a quote that will not survive contact with reality.

A freight quote is a stack of line items, and the labels are cryptic the first time. Expect to see the ocean freight itself, origin charges (if not covered by FOB), destination terminal handling, customs clearance fees, an ISF filing fee for US imports, delivery trucking, and sometimes fuel or peak season surcharges. Duties and import taxes are usually quoted separately or listed as estimates. When comparing forwarders, compare the door-to-door total including clearance, not just the headline ocean rate.

Ocean rates are volatile. They move with fuel prices, vessel capacity, and seasonal demand, and quotes are typically valid for two to four weeks. Rates also spike predictably before Chinese New Year and during the late-summer peak season. Get planning quotes early to budget, then a firm quote when your production date is confirmed, and expect some drift between the two.

Finally, check what the quote assumes about the destination. Delivering to an Amazon warehouse or a fulfillment center often has appointment requirements, palletization rules, and labeling standards. A quote that assumes loose carton delivery to a business address will not cover the pallet build and appointment fees a fulfillment center requires, so tell the forwarder exactly where the goods are going.