Freight Quote Comparison Tool

Because the ocean rate is the part most easily made to look cheap while the cost is recovered elsewhere — fat surcharges, destination charges quoted 'collect' (so they're absent from the quote you're reading), documentation and handling lines, or skimpy free time that becomes demurrage. Two quotes with a $300 ocean difference can flip entirely once you add THC, BAF and local charges. All-in comparison is the only honest comparison, which is exactly what this tool builds.

Free time (demurrage/detention risk differs sharply between quotes), transit time (a slower service may be cheaper for a reason), and crucially the inclusions/exclusions — does the rate cover origin pickup, destination delivery, both THCs, customs? A quote excluding legs another includes isn't cheaper, it's incomplete. Capture these so you compare equivalent scopes; the notes field exists precisely for the fine print that decides true cost and risk.

Two to four is the practical sweet spot: enough to reveal the spread and keep providers honest, not so many that you drown in admin or signal indecision. For regular high-volume lanes, periodic re-tendering (quarterly or semi-annually) keeps rates competitive; for one-off shipments, three quotes usually surface the market. The spread figure in the summary tells you whether it was worth the effort — a tight spread means the market's efficient, a wide one means shopping paid.

Usually, but not blindly — weigh it against transit time, free time, the provider's reliability (your carrier scorecard helps), and service scope. A slightly dearer quote with double the free time, faster transit, or a forwarder who doesn't roll your cargo can be the better total value. The all-in price is the essential baseline that strips away the comparison games; service and risk factors then refine the choice. This tool gives you the honest price first, so the other factors are judged on top of reality.