For so many people, obtaining an accurate sea freight quotation can be extremely difficult, mainly due to the fact that there are a great number of complexities along the cargo journey that can make this process tricky to organise. In most cases it seems that the more stops and ports that there are involved along the way, the most difficult it will be to paint an accurate picture of how much you should budget for the procedure. If you are looking for a way to help you get the very best sea freight quote, then take a look at the following five strategies…
Routing
Regardless of the route you need to take to get your goods from A to B, be sure to choose the quickest route as this will require fewer transhipment ports and transit times. This is something that all customers of freight forwarders are likely to also prefer as it means that there is less time needed to be in transit and, while there may be slightly cheaper rates available, it’s better to get to its destination as opposed to simply bargaining in the hope you may get a cheaper rate.
Are All Charges Included?
It is imperative that the freight rate you receive from the carrier and the quote is always as clear and thorough as possible and covers all areas. It is also worthwhile to check that the charges in the quote are supplied to you in the same way as stated in the terms of contract, for example.
Shop Around
Something that both customers of freight forwarding companies and the freight forwarders themselves need to be aware of is that fact that ‘shopping around’ and ‘horse trading’ are not the same thing. Shopping around lets you get a feel for the current prices on the market and how competitive a freight forwarding company can be. Horse trading can have terrible consequences and could lend itself to trouble such as shipping lines going down, for example and your cargo going along for the rise also!
Transparency
Something that is always a good indicator is whether a freight forwarder is honest and transparent about the way they trade and calculate their fees. A half decent freight forwarder will be able to clearly state their full range of services and will be upfront about their charges. It’s important that no surprise fees crop up and those that do can be a huge warning sign!
Volume-Based Contract
For those looking to find the very best quote and compare from a wide range of sea freight shipment rates, it is worthwhile giving them the incentive of giving you a volume based contract. This involves them committing to a certain volume of cargo in a fixed period of time. This will then allow you to see which company will offer you the very best rate and scout out the rates among competing companies.
If you are looking for a reputable and highly affordable freight forwarding company to ship your goods, get in touch with us here at Barrington Freight.
