Is It the Market?

$3,500 in May. $8,000 in September.

That's roughly what it cost to ship a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles this year.

When freight costs more than double, the first question is usually: Is this the market, or is it my freight forwarder?

With only one quote, it's hard to tell. Many importers assume it's their provider and start shopping around, even when the whole market has moved.

Fuel makes it harder. On the ocean leg, it's built into the rate. On delivery, it's often a surcharge that can change after you book. In our experience, a surcharge quoted at 47% can arrive on the invoice closer to 58 or 59%.

At VentureSource Lead Logistics, up to five freight forwarders quote every shipment. If every quote rises, it's the market. If one stands out, it's the provider.

No one can control fuel prices. But you can see the whole market before you make a decision.

For more insight into fuel's impact on global logistics, click here.

See how VentureSource Lead Logistics gives importers up to five quotes on every shipment and a clear view of the market, click here.