Freight Forwarding Business
How to Quote Ocean Freight to Clients
Price too high and you lose the shipment. Price too low and you lose money.
Quoting ocean freight is where your margin lives or dies.
15–25%
Typical forwarder markup
48 hrs
Max quote response time
60%
Of quotes lost due to slow response
Anatomy of an Ocean Freight Quote
Every ocean freight quote has the same building blocks.
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All-In vs. Itemized Pricing
Two ways to present the same quote.
| Factor | All-In Rate | Itemized Rate |
|---|---|---|
| row1 | ||
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| row7 | ||
| row8 |
Markup Strategies That Actually Work
The right strategy depends on your client, trade lane, and competitive position.
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strategy1
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strategy2
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strategy3
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strategy4
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strategy5
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strategy6
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How to Build a Quote in 6 Steps
Skip a step and you'll either lose money or lose the client.
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8 Quoting Mistakes That Cost You Money or Clients
Every forwarder has made at least three of these.
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mistake1
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mistake4
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mistake5
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Quoting Ocean Freight — FAQ
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