Break the journey into scopes
The exact responsibilities depend on the commercial agreement and applicable rules. A freight quote should not be treated as legal or tax advice.
| Scope | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Origin | Is supplier pickup, warehouse receiving, export handling and documentation coordination included? |
| Main transport | Which mode, routing basis, carrier conditions and capacity assumptions apply? |
| Destination | Are terminal or airport handling, broker coordination, delivery and appointment requirements included? |
| Customs and tax | Who is the importer, who appoints the broker, and which duties, taxes or inspections are excluded? |
Check the address and delivery condition
A city name is not a delivery specification. Provide the postal code and address type, and identify appointments, restricted access, unloading, warehouse booking or fulfilment requirements that may affect the final handoff.
Read the exclusions and validity
Ask how inspections, storage, demurrage or detention, address changes, failed delivery, remote areas and other exceptional events are handled. Not every potential cost can be fixed in advance, but the allocation and escalation process should be visible.
Red flags in a comparison
Resolve these differences before choosing by price. The objective is not the longest quote; it is a quote whose boundary can be understood and verified.
- One quote has no named destination scope
- The cargo dimensions are missing
- A customs or importer responsibility is implied but not stated
- The validity date or acceptance condition is absent
- A guaranteed result is offered without conditions