A field note from the quote calls I take most weeks — and the one question I wish importers led with.
Most importers who call me for a quote open with the same question: what's your rate?
It's the wrong first question. I get why they ask it — the rate is the one line that's easy to compare across forwarders. But it's also the part of the shipment least likely to hurt you.
Since we started routing Asia inbound around the Strait instead of through it, here's what I've learned to listen for instead. A forwarder who quotes a clean rate and then goes quiet until the container berths is not the cheap option. He's just moved the surprises to the end of the job — where they cost you demurrage and a scramble instead of a phone call.
The question I wish more importers asked: when something slips on this lane — and right now, on these lanes, something will — how and when do you tell me?
A rate is a number. A handoff plan is a relationship. One of those survives a bad week.
Benchmarking your next inbound? Ask me the second question first. qafxpress.com — I'll answer it before we talk price.