Before the quote

Prepare a freight quotation request.

A useful brief lets the team review the cargo, the route and the responsibilities together. Send the essentials first; exchange confidential drawings and shipment documents through an agreed channel later.

Start with these eight details

  1. Business and contact. Company name and a person who can clarify the requirement.
  2. Origin and destination. Cities and postcodes, or ports/airports where known. Identify whether collection and final delivery are required.
  3. Cargo description. Name the commodity or equipment. Flag hazardous, temperature-sensitive, fragile or high-value cargo for specific review.
  4. Packages and dimensions. State package count, packed length × width × height and units. Say whether the pieces are identical and stackable.
  5. Gross weight and volume. Include packaging. Keep per-piece values separate from shipment totals. The toolkit can help with indicative calculations.
  6. Readiness and delivery window. Give the expected pickup date and any installation, shutdown or receiving deadline. Identify estimates.
  7. Loading and unloading. Explain site access, appointments, equipment available and who provides handling.
  8. Required scope. List the transport, storage, documentation or distribution tasks to be included. Mark unknown details for review.

Add details for the service you need

Domestic transport

Include vehicle access limits, dedicated or shared-load preference, shipment frequency and delivery appointments. Review FTL and part-load coordination.

International freight

Add preferred mode, origin/destination country and port or airport, agreed Incoterms if known, and whether customs and inland legs are required. Review air and ocean forwarding. The authorized parties must confirm shipment-specific documentation requirements.

Project and specialized cargo

Identify technical drawings, gross weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, transport frames and site access information. Review project cargo planning. A preliminary quote is not a lifting plan or permission to move.

Warehousing and managed logistics

Share average/peak stock or movement volumes, frequency, locations, handling tasks and reporting needs. Review warehousing or managed logistics.

Compare the scope, not just the total

Ask which legs, handling tasks and third-party charges are included. Confirm exclusions, validity, timing assumptions, waiting or storage conditions and the responsibility for insurance, duties and taxes where relevant. Final commercial terms belong in the agreed quotation.

Copy this short brief

Company and contact:
Service needed:
Origin → destination:
Cargo and package count:
Packed dimensions (include units):
Gross weight (per piece and total):
Ready date and required delivery window:
Loading / unloading / access constraints:
Required scope and details still unknown:

Do not include identity documents, passwords or confidential customer records in an initial website enquiry.

Send the shipment brief