Do you want to compare freight shipping rates and choose the best prices? Read this blog to find out how you can get instant quotations for container leasing, freight booking, and trucking. Or, skip the blog and talk to our experts directly.
Planning your shipment from start to finish is quite complex. You have to first request quotations from your network of shipping and feeder lines. And if you’re not happy with the prices being offered, you’ll have to negotiate via long emails and phone calls. Then, you’ll have to streamline all your shipping operations manually.
Not only is this process time-consuming, but also leaves room for errors. Keeping track of all your negotiations with multiple partners reduces your operational efficiency.
However, on Container xChange, you can compare freight shipping rates at every step. Let’s see how:
- First, compare and negotiate container leasing rates on our leasing platform.
- Then, compare and finalize the freight rate on our Ocean Freight Marketplace.
- And finally, compare and book trucking deals on our trucking platform.
All this in one online place at 100% market price transparency and zero commission!
Interested in streamlining your entire shipping process with xChange? Simply click the banner below to get fast and accurate quotations in just a few minutes.
How to compare freight shipping rates online?
One way to quickly get quotations is to search on online freight websites. In a recent survey conducted by Container xChange, 11% companies said they rely on third-party software services to get and compare rates. The obvious advantage is that such platforms give you fast and accurate quotations.
In our all-in-one online platform, you can take this one step ahead. Not only you get real-time quotes for container leasing, freight booking, and trucking, but you get them from reliable sources. All members are vetted – so you don’t have to waste time on verifying the quotes.
Let’s see how you can compare quotes to plan your shipment in the most efficient way.
To begin, let’s take this example. Imagine that you’ve to arrange a shipment from Shanghai to Hamburg. To do that, you’ll first need to arrange the container. Let’s see how xChange helps you with this.
Compare shipping container rates
The first step to shipping your cargo is finding the right container type and size. It can be a standard shipping container or a specialized container, depending on your cargo.
While it’s easy to find containers in your traditional sourcing channels, you can never be too sure about the price. There’s always some hidden cost and you can end up paying more than you should.
Our leasing platform makes it easy for you to get your hands on your required container at the right price. Here’s how:
- You’ll get multiple offers from vetted lessors on a single dashboard. This way, you can compare leasing rates and choose the best deals.
- The offers clearly state the per diem charges, pick-up credits and free days. This lets you calculate the exact price of using the container.
- Want to negotiate the prices? You can directly contact the lessors using our live-chat option and negotiate for better leasing terms.
In fact, you can compare container leasing rates on your route right now. Use our public search below to receive quotations this instant. Just enter your pick-up and drop-off locations and hit the search button. Try now!
Want to buy containers instead?
Another way to get containers for your cargo is to simply purchase them from our trading marketplace. All you have to do is select your requirements and browse through multiple offers. You can choose containers in various conditions like brand new, cargo-worthy, as-is, etc.
Ready to buy containers at best prices? Just click here to find container buying and selling quotes in 2500+ locations.
Now that you’ve got the containers for your shipment, the next step is to find the vessel slots for your container.
Compare freight shipping rates
Once you’ve secured quality containers, the next step is to organize the shipping from Shanghai to Hamburg. This is where our Ocean Freight Marketplace comes into the picture.
The Ocean freight marketplace allows you to find vessel slots, compare freight shipping rates, and access sailing schedules. All this on a single dashboard!
Get instant up-to-date freight shipping rates
Get instant and up-to-date shipping rates. No need to spend hours on the phone or emailing around to find vessel slots. Plus, you get a booking confirmation within 24 hours.
All you have to do is fill in your requirements like the port of discharge, port of landing, cargo weight, container type, etc. All this information ensures you get relevant search results to choose from.
Compare multiple shipping rates
Tired of switching between different carrier websites to compare slot prices? Well, on our platform you’ll get multiple offers from different carriers and NVOCCs. On a single dashboard, you can compare the rates and choose the best one. All the rates are 100% transparent so you don’t have to worry about any hidden costs.
Negotiate shipping rates directly
Not happy with the prices offered? Contact the carriers or NVOCCs directly and negotiate for better deals. You can do this on our platform itself. This way you don’t have to wait around to hear back from the carriers and waste your valuable time.
Make safe and secure payments
We understand that doing business with new partners is quite risky. But that’s not the case on xChange. Not only do all our members go through a vetting process, but our xChange wallet ensures your money is safe.
Once you get a booking confirmation, you can make safe and secure payments through the wallet. Plus, our financial support team makes sure all your transactions are going smoothly and securely.
Ready to try our Ocean Freight Marketplace for seamless slot booking? Simply click the banner below, compare vessel slot rates, and book yours at the best prices now.
Compare freight trucking rates
Now that your container and vessel slots are booked, the final thing you need is a way to transport your container from the port to your final destination. This is where trucking comes into the picture. It’s one of the most flexible ways of transporting your cargo from the port to your destination.
But the issue arises when you have to contact multiple trucking companies for a booking. The long waiting time, managing different documents, and solidifying information from different trucking companies is a hassle.
On xChange, we’re taking away the hassle of booking trucking the traditional way. Here, you get prices from different trucking companies immediately. Just provide information about your container and get instant deals to choose from.
Ready to enjoy hassle-free truck booking? Simply click the banner below and start comparing trucking rates.
To ensure that you get the best deal in every step of freight shipping, you need to be aware of the factors on which the rates depend on. Read on to find out more.
Factors freight shipping rates depend on
Freight shipping rates are always changing, even on a day-to-day basis. To make the most of your time and money, here are some factors you need to consider.
Cargo weight
In general, the heavier your cargo, the more it will cost. On average the cost of freight shipping is $2-$4/kg. It also depends on FCL vs LCLWhat is less than container load? Less than container load (less than container load, LCL) is a shipping term that refers to the delivery of cargo in smaller quantities than a full container load. A f... More. Here’s the difference between the two.
- Full container load (FCL): FCL, as the same suggests, is shipping your cargo in a full container. Here, you pay for the entire container. It’s best when you have enough cargo that’ll fill the whole container.
- Less than Container LoadWhat is less than container load? Less than container load (less than container load, LCL) is a shipping term that refers to the delivery of cargo in smaller quantities than a full container load. A f... More (LCLWhat is less than container load? Less than container load (less than container load, LCL) is a shipping term that refers to the delivery of cargo in smaller quantities than a full container load. A f... More): LCLWhat is less than container load? Less than container load (less than container load, LCL) is a shipping term that refers to the delivery of cargo in smaller quantities than a full container load. A f... More is suitable when you don’t need an entire container. Here, the freight shipping depends on how much space your cargo occupies.
READ: Need help with calculating container loading? [+container loading calculator tips]
Size of the container
The bigger the container, the more it will cost. For example, the freight cost of a high cube container will be more than a 20ft standard container. This is because the smaller container occupies less space both in vessels as well as in trucking.
Demand and supply
Finally, the most important factor that determines the freight rate is the demand and supply. To begin with leasing, if the containers are easily available, the leasing rates will be low. This is because the supply of containers is more than the demand.
Similarly, if the vessel slots and trucks are easily available, then the prices will be less — as compared to when they are not available.
This change in demand and supply is a result of the economic condition, port delays and changes in consumer behavior. In fact, the freight prices on one key route from Asia to the West Coast are now down more than 80% from last year because of less consumer demand.
Despite the constant changes in supply and demand in the shipping industry, you can still find the right prices for freight shipping on our platform. Read on to find out more.
Why use Container xChange for ocean freight shipping?
Container xChange provides a seamless freight shipping experience. First, arrange the containers for your shipment on our leasing or trading platform. Then, book vessel slots on our Ocean Freight Marketplace. And finally, book trucking from the trucking platform for your shipment to reach its final destination.
At every step, you can compare freight shipping rates to choose the best ones. Doing all this on a single platform not only saves you time, but choosing the best rates saves you money as well.
Speaking of money, you can use the xChange wallet to make secure payments at every step. We’ll make sure your money is safe and will keep track of all your monthly transactions, so you can plan your logistics better.
Sounds perfect for your business right? Well, then simply click the banner below to compare and find the best rates for your shipments today!
Compare freight shipping rates: Common FAQs
What do freight shipping rates depend on?
Freight shipping rates depend on the weight of the cargo you’re shipping and the size of the container you require. It also depends largely on the demand and supply of containers and vessel slots.
How do demand and supply affect freight shipping rates?
If the demand is more than the supply, the freight shipping rates increase. On the contrary, if the supply is more than the demand, the shipping rates will decrease. Demand and supply further depend on consumer behaviour, port delays, and other economic factors.
Why it is important to compare freight shipping rates?
It’s important to compare freight shipping rates to get the best deals. Every supplier asks for a different price and comparing rates ensures that you get the best quotes for your shipping needs.
