A better ocean-freight enquiry starts here.

1. Define the route and service scope

Give the origin and destination ports or cities, plus the full pickup and delivery addresses when inland services are needed. State the agreed Incoterm and named place if known. Explain the stages you want quoted: collection, loading, origin handling, ocean freight, destination coordination or final delivery.

Identify who will supply shipment instructions and who can approve changes. A city is enough to start an enquiry, but a final quote may need exact addresses, access details and a clear cargo-ready date.

Explore featured trade lanes · Supplier collection planning

2. Describe the packed cargo

List the commodity, package count, outer dimensions and gross weight. Include pallets, crates and any protrusions in the measurements. State whether units can be stacked and identify fragile, temperature-sensitive or potentially regulated goods. For FCL, add equipment quantity and type if known.

Illustrative measurement example: four rectangular pallets measuring 1.20 × 1.00 × 1.40 metres each occupy 6.72 cubic metres in total. This is a volume calculation, not a freight price; weight, stackability, handling and the applicable rating basis still need review.

• Commodity and packing type
• Length × width × height of every packed unit
• Package count and total gross weight
• Readiness, handling restrictions and delivery deadline

3. Compare total charges

Compare quotations using the same cargo, locations and service scope. Ask which origin charges, ocean charges, destination charges and inland stages are included. Review rate validity, currency, exclusions and the conditions that could change the price.

Clarify who pays charges outside the agreed scope and which events could lead to storage, waiting, extra handling or another trip. A low ocean rate alone does not establish the lowest total movement cost.

Review free-time and additional-charge questions

4. Plan documents and cutoffs

Ask which commercial, packing and cargo-specific documents are required for the route, who provides them and when. Confirm cargo and shipping-instruction cutoffs with the team. Check that names, package counts, weights and descriptions agree across the information supplied.

For a draft transport document, review the parties, cargo description and instructions through the agreed operational channel. Request the applicable shipment and transport terms before booking. Do not assume the website terms are the conditions of carriage for a particular movement.

• Commercial and packing information requested by the team
• Cargo classification, specifications or drawings where needed
• Consignee and authorised instruction contacts
• Document review and approval responsibilities

Company and contracting information · Ask about shipment documents

5. Separate estimates from commitments

An indicative transit time is not a guaranteed delivery date. Review the proposed sailing, connections, arrival handling and final delivery together. A vessel arrival does not by itself confirm that cargo is released or ready for collection.

A website enquiry does not reserve space or confirm a booking. Obtain the written confirmation of the agreed scope, equipment, acceptance and next steps before dispatching cargo to an unconfirmed handover.

6. Compare FCL and LCL on the same basis

FCL provides dedicated container capacity; LCL uses shared capacity for suitable smaller consignments. Compare the complete costs, number of handling stages, packing, cargo sensitivity and readiness. There is no universal volume at which FCL is always cheaper.

For an effective comparison, use the same pickup and delivery locations and ask which local charges apply to each option. If several suppliers are involved, include collection and consolidation costs. The cargo need not fill a container for FCL to be worth assessing.

FCL shipping requirements · LCL shipping requirements

7. Prepare a reefer cargo brief

The responsible cargo party should provide the product, packing method, loading condition and required temperature settings. Add ventilation, humidity, treatment or monitoring requirements where relevant. Do not choose settings from a commodity name alone.

Ask how loading, power handovers, terminal receiving and destination collection will be coordinated within the agreed scope. Any monitoring records or specialist obligations should be agreed before booking.

Reefer cargo planning · Illustrative temperature-sensitive cargo example

8. Prepare an oversized-cargo brief

Provide packed dimensions, verified weight, transport drawings, lifting points and centre-of-gravity information for each unit. Include the loading and receiving sites, access conditions, available lifting equipment and any required delivery sequence.

Drawings and photographs should describe the same transport configuration. Identify protrusions, removable parts and securing limitations. Technical review determines whether special equipment or breakbulk can be assessed; a photograph alone does not establish acceptance.

Special equipment requirements · Project cargo planning · Breakbulk requirements

9. Ask how free time and extra charges work

Ask which allowance applies to the proposed container and route, which event starts it, how days are counted and what happens when it ends. Clarify terminal storage, container-use charges, truck waiting and empty-return obligations separately. Carrier and terminal terminology can differ, so review the actual quotation and applicable terms.

Before arrival, identify who checks release, who books collection and where the empty container must be returned. Keep document readiness and the receiving site’s unloading window aligned with the plan. Confirm revised arrangements if an instruction or deadline changes.

Container collection, waiting and empty return