Ocean freight
Freight Costs
Freight Costs are charges for transporting goods under the agreed service scope, potentially including several legs and surcharges.
Understand it in practiceWhere it fits in the journey
Highlighted stages are commonly relevant- 01Agree
- 02Prepare
- 03Transport — commonly relevant
- 04Clear
- 05Deliver
Freight Costs at a glance
- Origin services
- Main transport
- Destination services
Is the freight rate the same as the total landed cost?
Separate freight from goods value, duties, taxes and optional services when comparing total landed costs.
Choose the right container arrangement
| Question | FCL | LCL |
|---|---|---|
| Container use | Dedicated to your shipment | Shared with other shipments |
| Typical pricing basis | Per container plus local charges | Weight or measure plus local charges |
| Handling | Loaded as a dedicated unit | Consolidated and separated |
| Best comparison | Total delivered cost and handling needs | Total delivered cost and handling needs |
Scroll sideways to compare

Before you book
For ocean freight, have these details ready:
- Cargo volume and packed weight
- Origin and destination charge breakdown
- Sailing, cut-offs and equipment free time
Sources & further reading
Plain-language educational guidance. The applicable contract, carrier tariff, official rules or insurance policy takes precedence. Illustrations show concepts, not a specific shipment or facility.
Published by Allwayforward as a plain-language freight reference. Examples are illustrative, not customer case studies. For a correction, send the term and supporting source.