What you need before you start
- Top destinations and monthly shipment count
- Actual and volumetric weights from recent shipments
- Product categories and restricted-item needs
- Pickup emirate/free zone and expected collection frequency
- Current invoice or rate card for a like-for-like comparison
How to compare quotations fairly
Give every courier the same shipment sample. Include rural destinations, heavy cartons and returns—not only the easiest lane. Ask for the rate-card effective dates and billing-weight rule.
- Base transportation charge
- Fuel and security surcharges
- Remote-area and residential delivery fees
- Oversize or non-conveyable handling
- Customs clearance and disbursement fees
- Return-to-origin and address-correction fees
Monthly account and invoicing questions
Ask whether credit is subject to approval, how invoices are disputed, when fuel is updated and whether your account includes a named support contact. Any credit term or minimum volume should be confirmed in the signed account offer.
Use a lane sample, not an average discount
A large percentage discount can still produce a higher bill if it is calculated from a different tariff or excludes common charges. Compare five to ten real historic shipments line by line.
Rate-card comparison worksheet
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Lane | Origin, destination postcode and service |
| Billing weight | Higher of actual or volumetric weight |
| Base charge | Before fuel, duty and handling |
| Likely extras | Fuel, remote area, oversize, clearance, return |
| Final sample cost | The number procurement should compare |
Before you book: Acceptance, price, transit time and customs requirements depend on the item and destination. Confirm them before dispatch.
Official sources to verify
We use primary government, customs, chamber and carrier sources where available. See our shipping-content review policy.