What is a freight quote? A freight quote is a particular item that offers you an estimate of the total cost of shipping to your country. This estimate is fully based on the information you have provided to the freight shipping company. Such information includes your dimensions, weight, types of products being imported, and other various other factors.
Once you have sent all the required information and it is accurate, the final price for shipping will match the initial freight quotes from logistic providers. However, if the provided information is inaccurate, the final price would be higher than the initial quote. This is also because of the reweighing fees and other additional costs.
All in all, if you want to make the most out of all shipping deliveries to and from your location, you might to learn more about freight quotes. This could help you understand better.
How To Get A Freight Quote
There are more steps that you have to take before getting a freight quote and those steps are listed below. Here’s how you can get a freight quote:
- Firstly, ensure that you have all the right resources needed to get your shipment delivered.
- You have to work with a freight broker and proceed to the online freight exchange. Then a freight carrier would be required and finally a freight expeditor
- Furthermore, you have to ensure that you provide all the accurate shipment details. That would be the:
- Description or classification of Goods
- Weight
- Size
- LTL or FTL
- Origin and destination
- All of these then lead to the value of them all and the speed of the delivery.
- Lastly, you only have to book your shipment by creating a bill of lading, and scheduling your pickup. Then, you meet your driver to conclude your deals.
Who Pays For The Freight Cost?
The answer to this question is quite broad as there are various payment methods. This is also based on the fact that they are different freight charges. Let’s look into some of them:
The Consignee
No one else except the buyer pays the freight cost for his or her shipment to be delivered. It is the buyer whose goods are being delivered that pays all the costs and freight charges when their goods arrive.
Cash On Delivery
In this case, the carrier will collect his or her payment on delivery and they will forward the payment to the shipper to be repaid.
Free On-Board Origin
With this kind of freight involved, it has more to do with the seller giving up the rights to the goods. Hence, the freight will now become the responsibility of the consignees at the dock of the shipper. Also, the consignee will pay the fees required.
Third-Party
This is on a higher scale as it will be the logistics company that will pay all the freight charges. The third-party freight charge style is more useful as it helps in case an order is complicated or the shipment recipient is new to the shipping world.
Prepay and Add
If you have a good working relationship with your carrier as a shipper, this method of freight charge will be best for you. This freight charge method involves the shipper paying for the freight, and then adding the amount to the customer. What’s more, it also works well when good rates have been agreed on.
Where Can I Get A Freight Quote?
If you work with the right shipping partner, you can rest assured that your shipping freight and quoting would be so much easier. So if you want to make sure that you select the best shipping quotes, here are ways to get a freight quote:
Freight Broker
A freight broker will help you to find the best shipment carrier and they make their profits for doing so by adding a percentage to the carrier’s wholesale rates. Working with them makes things easier as they have good relationships with carriers. Some freight brokers include Redhawk Logistics, Echo Global Logistics, and NTG (Formerly FreightPros).
Online Freight Exchange
The online freight exchanges are often times online DIY brokers and they require a little more shipping experience from business owners in selecting the best carrier. They are well known for having experienced repeat shippers that have control over their shipping options. Some of the well-known online freight exchange includes CargoLogis, uShip, Saloodo, etc.
Freight Expeditor
These people are more into global freight shipping and they often include brokering shipments. Also, they provide freight forwarding services like movement coordination and customs documentation. Some of the best freight expeditors include FedEx Custom Critical, Ascent Global Logistics, Tenpoint Expediting Services, etc.
