Why Do Freight Forwarders Ask So Many Questions After You Request a Quote

Hi fellow sales professionals! 👋 As a freight forwarder, I totally get why some of you feel frustrated when we bombard you with questions like “Is the cargo ready?”, “When will it ship?”, or “Any updates?” right after you request a quote. Let me pull back the curtain and explain what’s going on in our minds—and how we can work better together!

🤔 Why Do We Ask These Questions?

1. Freight Rates Are Time-Sensitive!
   Ocean/airfreight rates, fuel surcharges, and even port fees change daily. The quote we give you today might not be valid tomorrow. By asking about your shipment timeline, we’re trying to lock in the best rate and space for you before prices spike or containers sell out.
2. Your Timeline = Our Planning
   If you mention your cargo is shipping in 2 weeks vs. 2 months, we might recommend different routes, carriers, or services. For example, a “rush shipment” needs urgent action, while a future date lets us negotiate bulk discounts.
3. Avoid “Surprise” Costs Later
   Ever had a client agree to a quote, only to realize last-minute that their cargo isn’t packed properly, needs special documentation, or is delayed? By understanding your timeline early, we can flag potential issues (like customs delays or seasonal congestion) and keep your final costs accurate.
4. Performance Pressure (Let’s Be Honest…)
   Some forwarders are incentivized to “close” quotes quickly. When we don’t hear back, we worry you’ve chosen another provider—so we follow up. It’s not to annoy you, but to stay on your radar!

✨ How Can We Improve This Process?

As partners, let’s make this smoother:

• Give Us Context When Requesting Quotes
  A quick note like “This is for a new client—still in negotiation. Will confirm by 2025 if they proceed” helps us prioritize and reduces unnecessary follow-ups.
• Set Clear Expectations
  If you prefer updates via email instead of calls/WeChat, just say so! We’ll adjust our approach.
• Share Tentative Timelines
  Even a rough estimate (e.g., “Target shipment in Q3”) helps us provide better rates and advice.
• We’ll Stop the Spam, You’ll Get Smarter Quotes
  If you tell us you’re still collecting quotes, we can note it and check in less frequently. In return, we’ll add more value—like sharing market trends or alternative routes to strengthen your proposal.

Final Thoughts

We know you’re juggling clients, internal teams, and a million details. Our “annoying” questions come from a place of wanting to protect your margins and deliver reliability to your clients. Let’s communicate openly—you focus on closing sales, and we’ll handle the logistics headaches. Deal? 😉

P.S. Next time I send a “Is the cargo ready?” message, feel free to reply with 🚫🐔 (translation: “Not yet—stop clucking!”). We’ll laugh and reset!