Check your Brazil FCL quote before you book

Does your quote cover these 10 points?

Tick what is explicit in the quote or its written service terms. ‘To be confirmed’, verbal assumptions and blank fields do not count. This self-check looks at completeness. It does not compare prices, and no answers are stored or sent.

1. Are charges, currencies and exclusions itemised?Check ocean freight, origin and destination charges, including terminal handling and documentation. Each charge should state its currency and who pays. Exclusions and conditional charges need written terms, with an amount or calculation basis.
2. Are rate validity and booking conditions clear?Check the dates the rate is valid, whether space is guaranteed and what happens if the booking slips.
3. Are the route and estimated sailing schedule stated?Check loading and destination ports, any transshipment, sailing frequency and estimated transit time. Confirm which dates remain subject to carrier confirmation.
4. Is there a named contact and an update plan?Confirm who follows your shipment and how to escalate an issue. Agree when you will receive updates on rollovers, delays and ETA changes, with their impact, next action and any decision needed from you.
5. Are free-time rules, charges and alerts clear?Check the free days, when each period starts and ends, and the demurrage and detention rates at origin and destination, plus any separate terminal storage charges. Confirm who tracks expiry dates, alerts you beforehand and arranges collection and empty return.
6. Are extra charges and invoice differences covered in writing?Ask when cost changes are reported, which need approval and what records support them. Confirm who explains differences between the quote and the final invoice and handles disputed charges.
7. Are the equipment assumptions stated?Container type and size, weight limits and any special equipment need to match your cargo, or the price changes.
8. Is exposure to cancellation and no-show clear?Know what it costs if the booking is cancelled or the cargo misses the vessel, and by when.
9. Are document checks, deadlines and copies agreed?Confirm who checks the commercial invoice, packing list and draft B/L, and who meets SI, VGM and cut-off deadlines. Agree which documents, carrier and container references, and delivery and empty-return records you receive, and when.
10. Are destination services, costs and responsibilities defined?Check whether destination handling, customs clearance, duties, taxes and inland delivery are included or excluded. Confirm who arranges and pays for each step to your warehouse.