Freight Quote Checklist: What to Send Your Dubai Forwarder

A useful freight quote starts with a clear description of the job. Asking for the price to ship 'a few boxes from Dubai' leaves the forwarder guessing about collection, cargo size and delivery. Use this checklist to prepare a request that is easier to price and easier to compare with another quotation.

1. Identify the pickup and delivery points

Provide the pickup city and address, the destination city and address, and any preferred port or airport. Say whether you need collection from the supplier and delivery to the receiver, or only transport between agreed terminals. Include site access details, receiving hours and any appointment requirement. If the final address is not confirmed, label it as provisional.

2. Describe the goods and their packaging

• Describe the actual product rather than using only 'general cargo'.
• State the number of cartons, pallets, crates or other handling units.
• Provide the packed gross weight and the length, width and height of each different package size.
• State the units clearly: kilograms or pounds, centimetres or inches.
• Confirm whether packages can be stacked and whether loading equipment is available.
• Flag batteries, liquids, fragile items or special temperature and handling needs.

Measure the shipment after packing, including the pallet or crate. Freight pricing may consider both physical weight and occupied space, so product weight alone is not enough. DHL's guide to chargeable weight explains why dimensions matter. Mark estimates clearly and ask for a revised quote if the final packing changes. Our air freight guide includes a worked chargeable-weight example.

3. Explain the timing and service you need

Give the date the cargo will be ready for collection and the date the receiver needs it. Say whether that deadline is flexible. If you have not chosen a transport mode, request suitable alternatives through our freight forwarding service. Our air vs sea freight guide can help you frame the comparison; for regional trucking, see land transport.

4. Define what the quote should include

For a Saudi road shipment, use the FTL and LTL planning guide to clarify collection, consolidation and destination handover. If cargo needs storage or container transfer first, the Jebel Ali warehousing guide helps define the handling work to include in the same request. For container shipments, ask for the free days and cutoffs described in our sea freight guide.

Ask for a written breakdown of collection, main transport, handling and final delivery, together with any exclusions. State whether you also need packing, warehousing or customs clearance support. Share the agreed trade term and named place from the purchase order, if available, so the team can clarify the scope with you.

Ask whether insurance is included or optional, who pays destination charges, and how long the quoted rate remains valid. If documents are still being prepared, say so. Our customs document guide is a starting point for a discussion with the operations team about your particular shipment.

Example: a clearer quote request

Illustrative request: 'Please quote collection from our Dubai warehouse and delivery to our buyer's warehouse in Karachi. We have four stackable pallets of boxed metal fittings. Each packed pallet measures 120 x 100 x 100 cm and weighs 200 kg gross, including the pallet. Total gross weight is 800 kg. Cargo will be ready on the date shown in our request. Please compare available air and sea options and list destination charges separately.'

The dimensions in this example total 4.8 cubic metres: 1.2 x 1.0 x 1.0 metres multiplied by four pallets. That is a volume calculation, not a freight price or a carrier acceptance confirmation. Add the exact addresses, required arrival date and contact details before sending your own request.

Before you accept the quotation

Check that the quote reflects the same package count, dimensions, addresses and service scope you supplied. Resolve any missing items in writing and confirm the arrangements for changes to the shipment. Send your shipment details to NHK Logistics to start the quotation review.