Suppose your supplier has six pallets ready in Ohio and your buyer needs them at a warehouse overseas. The quote request asks whether you want a full container or shared space. Start by asking how the shipment will be handled from pickup to delivery. A shared service may suit the size of your load, while a dedicated container may make more sense if the cargo cannot be stacked or the receiver wants to unload it directly. The details of the route and the equipment matter as much as the total volume.

What you book in each case

With full container load, or FCL, you book a dedicated container. It does not have to be filled completely. Ask where loading will take place, who will arrange it, and where the container must be returned after unloading. If the supplier does not have the space or equipment to load the container, ask the forwarder to quote pickup and transfer to a suitable loading facility. Get that extra handoff into the written scope.

With less than container load, or LCL, your freight shares container space with other shipments. Ask where your pallets are received for consolidation and where they become available for collection after arrival. There may be separate warehouse handling at each end. Ask how the provider protects pieces that cannot carry other freight on top, and whether it will accept your dimensions and packaging on the proposed service.

Measure the load before comparing options

Make a list of every shipping unit. Include the pallet base, crate, wrapping and any overhang. Measure at the widest points, record the gross weight and note the units. Separate differently sized pallets into their own lines. If a machine has a tall projection on one side, give the outer dimensions and send a photo rather than relying on the footprint alone. Ask the carrier whether the piece requires special lifting or cannot share space with other cargo.

For example, six identical pallets measuring 120 × 100 × 140 cm each take up 10.08 cubic meters. If each packed pallet weighs 350 kg, the total weight is 2,100 kg. Those figures describe the cargo but do not establish the amount that a carrier will charge. Ask how its quote treats nonstackable pieces, minimum charges and the relationship between weight and volume. The cargo calculator can check your measurements before you send them.

Check whether the receiving location can unload

A receiver may be able to accept pallets from a truck but have no room for a container chassis. Ask for the receiving hours, approach restrictions and unloading equipment before choosing a service. For dedicated containers, ask how much unloading time is included and who handles equipment return. For shared shipments, check whether the quote ends at the destination warehouse or includes a truck to the buyer. Ask who schedules the appointment and what happens if nobody can receive the freight.

If the buyer is arranging collection, send the proposed collection location and ask whether its truck can use that facility. If the buyer expects door delivery, request a quote that includes the correct address and any unloading equipment it needs. One email confirming the actual delivery plan can save a round of pricing after the quote has already been approved.

Make the two quotes cover the same journey

Put the quotes side by side and check pickup, loading, origin handling, ocean transport, destination handling, final delivery and unloading. Ask which services are included and who bills separately for the rest. For a dedicated box, ask about charges related to keeping the container or chassis beyond the agreed time. For shared cargo, ask about warehouse storage, collection arrangements and handling at the destination warehouse. Get the amount or billing basis where possible.

Compare timing using equivalent milestones. The date a vessel arrives can differ from the date a pallet is released for delivery. Ask for estimated pickup, departure, arrival, freight availability and delivery dates wherever those dates apply. If a buyer needs the goods before a particular deadline, tell the forwarder what date matters and where the freight must physically be by then. See the guide to comparing quotes for a worked cost example.

Questions and answers

Is there a universal volume where a full container gets cheaper?

Ask for both options on your route once you have the packed sizes, gross weight and delivery address. Handling charges, local trucking, equipment and nonstackable space can move the comparison. Use the same scope for both quotes. If the provider recommends one option, ask which detail of your shipment drove the recommendation.

Can I load a dedicated container at my own warehouse?

Tell the provider what equipment you have, how trucks approach the building and how long your team needs to load. Ask whether the proposed equipment can reach the dock and whether you need a live load or time with the container left on site. Confirm who provides loading instructions and verifies that the freight is secured before release.

Does shared space work for delicate cargo?

Describe what can be damaged by pressure, vibration or repeated handling, and show the proposed crate or pallet. Ask how the provider handles nonstackable pieces, how many times the unit is expected to be moved and what packaging it requires. If cargo protection is a priority, compare those answers and ask about insurance options before you book.

What if my supplier adds another pallet?

Send the revised count, dimensions and weights before pickup. Ask whether the change affects the quote, warehouse appointment or equipment booking. For dedicated shipments, confirm that the updated load fits the equipment and loading plan. For shared shipments, check that the new unit is accepted on the booked service and amend the packing list before handoff.

To request both options, send Post Express your packed measurements, gross weights, origin and destination, ready date, unloading plan and any stacking limits. Include photos if a piece is unusually tall or has an uneven footprint. Request a shipping quote.

If the freight is still being packed, give the forwarder a provisional list and agree when the supplier will confirm final dimensions.