Spot Hidden Fees in Freight Contracts to Avoid Costly Surprises

Watch out for invisible cost traps in freight contracts.

Most buyers just look at the headline rate when booking sea freight, but the devil is in the details.

Keep an eye on extra charges like fuel surcharges, terminal handling fees, and peak season add-ons.

Even experienced sourcing managers can get blindsided by these hidden costs, which can spike your final bill by up to 30%.

Always ask for a thorough breakdown.

And don’t be afraid to negotiate or compare multiple forwarders (a few well-placed questions can save you thousands).