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1. Why Do Forwarding Quotes Vary Between Companies — and Change Later?
Same cargo, different quotes from different forwarders. Or worse: you sign on, and then hear "that's a separate charge" partway through. There's almost always one root cause: the quote request didn't include enough information.
Without exact dimensions, weight, item type, and shipping terms, a forwarder either quotes conservatively with a buffer, or gives you a "base freight only" number that excludes several line items. Once the actual cargo details come in during booking, anything that was missing shows up as an add-on. Give the full picture upfront, and you avoid almost all of this.
2. The 11 Details You Need for an Accurate Quote
Send these 11 details when you reach out and you'll get a faster, far more accurate quote. Depending on whether you're exporting or importing, a few items may not apply.
01
Air or ocean freight
For ocean freight, also specify whether it's LCL (consolidated) or FCL (full container).
02
Incoterms (shipping terms)
For exports, pick one of CIF, DAP, or DDP. For imports, pick one of EXW, FCA, or FOB. The terms determine what a forwarder can actually quote (see section 3).
03
Domestic pickup / delivery address
Exports need a Korea pickup address; imports need a Korea delivery address. Skip this if you're handling transport to the airport/port yourself.
04
Destination-country address (in English)
For exports, this is the delivery address abroad; for imports, the pickup address abroad. Skip this under terms like CIF or FOB, where the other party handles that leg.
05
Origin / destination port or airport
Don't worry if you don't know the nearest port or airport — just tell us the region and we'll recommend the best one.
06
Item name (in English)
An accurate English item name lets us check dangerous-goods status and import requirements at the same time.
07
HS code
Not required for CIF exports or imports where the buyer clears customs directly. Required for DDP terms or if you need a duty/VAT estimate.
08
Commercial value of goods
Used to calculate duties/VAT and to assess whether cargo insurance makes sense.
09
Packing details
For air/LCL: length × width × height, weight, and quantity. For FCL, the required info depends on whether it's a CFS operation or a container door operation (see section 4).
10
Special notes
Dangerous goods need an English MSDS; refrigerated/frozen cargo needs the required temperature; CFS work needs any related instructions — mention all of it upfront.
11
Your contact details
Company name, contact person, title, phone number, and email — send these and we'll get your quote back to you right away.
✅ If you ship regularly — annual/monthly volume or a repeating origin — let us know. Recurring volume gets negotiated rates that beat one-off pricing. Tell us what's been frustrating about your current forwarder and we'll build the quote around fixing that.
3. Which Incoterms Determine What Can Be Quoted
The same cargo can have a different quotable scope depending on the Incoterm, because the term determines which party — and therefore which party's forwarder — is responsible for which leg of the journey.
| Direction | Quotable terms | Hard-to-quote terms | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export | CIF · DAP · DDP | FOB | Under FOB, the buyer's forwarder has already secured the ocean/air freight, so the exporter's forwarder can only quote the domestic leg in Korea. |
| Import | EXW · FCA · FOB | CIF | Under CIF, the exporter has already booked and paid for the ocean/air freight, so the importer's forwarder can't quote the full route. |
💡 Not sure which terms you're shipping under? Just send over the Incoterms wording exactly as it appears on your invoice or contract, and we'll confirm what we can quote.
4. How to Provide Packing Details — Air/LCL vs. FCL Are Different
The packing information required depends on the shipping method. Use the breakdown below.
For air freight or LCL
- Box (or pallet) dimensions — length × width × height
- Weight (per box or total)
- Quantity (number of boxes or pallets)
For FCL — depends on how the container is loaded
| Loading method | Description | Info needed |
|---|---|---|
| CFS loading | Cargo is picked up by regular truck and the forwarder loads the container at the port's CFS warehouse | Length × width × height, weight, quantity |
| Container door loading | The forwarder sends an empty container to your site and you load it yourself | Number of containers, weight per container × quantity |
5. What Goes Into a Forwarding Quote
A forwarding quote is never just ocean or air freight. The items below get added on top to arrive at the final cost — always confirm whether a quote is all-in and includes these.
| Cost item | Description |
|---|---|
| Ocean / air freight | Base transport cost for the origin–destination leg. Charged by CBM or weight (air freight uses volumetric weight) |
| THC (Terminal Handling Charge) | Fee for handling containers/cargo at the origin and destination terminals |
| D/O fee (Delivery Order fee) | Fee for issuing the documentation needed to release cargo at destination |
| CFS warehouse fee | Cost of consolidating/deconsolidating LCL cargo into and out of a container |
| Cargo insurance | Optional coverage against damage or loss in transit |
| Customs brokerage fee | Fee for having a licensed customs broker file the export/import declaration |
| Inland trucking | Domestic delivery cost from the airport/port to the final destination |
| Duties & VAT | Calculated from the HS code and commercial value. Included in the quote under DDP terms; billed separately under DAP, FOB, etc. |
⚠️ Some forwarders quote a low "freight" number and then bill THC, D/O fees, and CFS charges separately. When comparing quotes, compare the total all-in cost, not the line-item freight number.
6. What Slows Down or Skews a Quote
1
Incoterms not specified
Without the terms, we can't tell which leg of the route needs quoting, which means a follow-up round trip before we can even start.
2
Missing packing details
No freight quote is possible without size and weight — even rough numbers are enough to get started.
3
Dangerous goods or temperature control not flagged
If cargo is quoted as general freight and turns out to be dangerous goods, the entire quote and process changes. Flag it upfront to avoid delays.
4
FCL loading method not specified
CFS loading and container door loading need different information and have different cost structures — without specifying, we'll need to follow up.
7. How to Request a Forwarding Quote From Tosome Logis
Send the 11 details above over KakaoTalk or email and we'll get back to you quickly with a quote. Don't worry if some details are missing — we'll confirm what we can and fill in the rest together.
What you get with a Tosome Logis quote request
📋Consulting on the best shipping method for your Incoterms
🚢LCL / FCL / air comparison — the most cost-effective option for your volume
📦All-in quotes — freight, THC, D/O fees, and customs costs, all in one number
🔍HS code and import-requirement checks upfront, with a duty/VAT estimate
📈Negotiated rates for annual/monthly shipping volume
☎️Questions along the way? Reach us instantly by phone or KakaoTalk
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You don't need all 11 details to get started — just your cargo information and destination country is enough to begin a conversation. Tosome Logis works with first-time exporters through every step, filling in whatever's missing together.
Generally, export shipments can be quoted under CIF, DAP, or DDP terms. Under FOB, the buyer's forwarder has already secured the ocean/air freight, so the exporter's forwarder can only quote the domestic leg, not the full route. Conversely, import shipments can be quoted under EXW, FCA, or FOB terms.
Yes. For CIF export shipments or imports where the buyer handles customs clearance directly, a freight quote is possible without an HS code. However, if the terms are DDP, or if you want an estimate of duties and VAT, the HS code is required. Just send us the product details and we'll help you look it up.
If all 11 details are ready, you can usually get a quote the same day or within 1 business day. Dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, or oversized shipments that need extra verification may add 1–2 days.
One-off quotes and recurring-volume quotes have different pricing structures. If you have annual or monthly volume, or a repeating origin, we can offer negotiated rates on a fixed schedule that beat per-shipment pricing. Let us know what's frustrated you about your current forwarder and we'll quote a solution built around that.
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