When requesting a sea freight quote providing the right details is crucial to receiving an accurate price for your pending consignment. At Far East Shipping, we handle numerous quotation requests daily via our website. It is not uncommon for important information we need to have a mistype or completely missing from the request altogether.
In this blog post we aim to help prospective customers understand the importance of providing accurate details to a freight forwarder, so that you receive accurate freight quotations.
Five Key Details for an Accurate Sea Freight Quote
1. Origin Port
One of the primary factors influencing your sea freight cost is the outbound port. Simply stating a country of origin isn’t sufficient, especially when shipping from large regions like China. Shipping costs vary significantly depending on the port, as distances and logistics differ.
Larger ports with higher vessel capacity typically offer lower freight rates compared to smaller or less frequently serviced ports. Additionally, some ports require the use of feeder vessels to transport goods to a major port before they are loaded onto the main vessel. This can increase overall costs. By specifying the exact origin port in your request, we can provide you with the most accurate quote possible.
2. Delivery Address & Requirements
At Far East Shipping, we provide port to door, door to door and door to port shipping quotes. We pride ourselves on offering transparent pricing with no hidden fees. However, to offer all inclusive pricing, we need to calculate the inland transport cost in the UK. This means we need to have an address to enable us to confirm the collection (export) or delivery (import) transport charges.
While specific delivery requirements such as tail-lift vehicles, timed deliveries or Amazon FBA compliance can be decided later, providing your collection or delivery address details helps us assess the most efficient and cost effective transport method.
Factors affecting collection or delivery costs include;
- Distance from the port
- Proximity to major transport routes
- Specific delivery conditions (e.g. restricted access locations)
By providing the correct address ensures that your final quote is as accurate as possible.
3. Shipment Volume
The volume of your shipment plays a significant role in determining your sea freight quote. Most pricing within the sea freight industry is calculated on the cubic metres (cbm) occupied by your cargo. The get an accurate quote, you should include the total volume in cbm, or provide the dimensions of your goods in the following format:
Length (metres) x Width (metres) x Height (metres)
It is also vital to confirm the number of packages, cartons, pallets you are wanting to ship. Some customers will have a shipment that has multiple dimensions, where another may be shipping boxes which all have the same dimensions. Be sure to confirm to the freight forwarder the dimensions and number of packages you are shipping.
By knowing the total volume of your shipment, helps us calculate your freight rate correctly and allocate the appropriate container space.
4. Shipment Weight
Along with the volume of your cargo, the weight of your shipment is another crucial factor. On occasions sea freight charges are calculated based on weight, rather than just volume. This is particularly true when shipping heavy goods. If the weight of your shipment exceeds the volume based calculation, your freight charges will be based on the total weight.
To get an accurate quote, please ensure you are providing an accurate weight when submitting your quote request.
Along with volume, the weight of your shipment is another critical factor. In some cases, sea freight charges are calculated based on weight rather than volume, particularly for heavy goods. If the weight of your shipment exceeds the volume-based calculation, your freight charges will be based on the total weight.
To ensure an accurate quote, please provide the total weight of your cargo when submitting your request.
5. Type of Goods
The nature of your goods can also impact the overall shipping costs. Whilst standard general cargo does not usually affect pricing, certain items require specialised handling, which may increase costs. Items that would fall into this category would be;
Hazardous materials
Require special documentation, handling, packing and would be subject to additional surcharges.
Refrigerated/Temperature Controlled
Goods which are temperature sensitive will need to be handled in a specific way. Often this will be using Reefer containers, that allow for the container to maintain specific temperatures during its voyage.
By specifying the description of the goods in your quote request, enables companies such as Far East Shipping to determine whether any additional surcharges apply.
Get an Accurate Sea Freight Quote with Far East Shipping
Providing detailed and accurate information upfront, saves time and prevents unexpected costs. At Far East Shipping, we specialise in seamless, cost effective sea freight shipping with transparent pricing and expert guidance.
If you’re looking for a hassle free sea freight service, contact us today on 0208 058 4557 or request a quote online today.