How Do You Calculate Container Shipping Rates?
Preparing to ship a container requires research and planning. As the shipper, you are at the mercy of the freight broker who makes the arrangements for customs and shipping at both ends of the transportation process, contracts for the mode or modes of transportation, arranges insurance and even pays bribes, if necessary. Your efforts should be aimed toward providing the most complete information possible about the shipment so that, as brokers deliver a quote, you can make an informed decision about your containerized shipment. Select the service. Is it shipping within North America? Will it be an import to or export from the United States? Or will it travel between ports outside the United States? Gather the information on the container and the commodity. Is it a 20 foot container (1,186 cubic feet or 48,000 pounds) or a 40 foot container (2,372 cubic feet or 53,000 pounds)? Transportation for containerized freight is usually quoted in Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Procure a cop
