AnalysisFreight forwarding · Ranked by what each one costs
What are the common freight mistakes, measured across 2,001 pages that mostly do not mention them?
SeaRates read 2,001 pages across 22 question clusters before writing anything on this site, and the same avoidable failures recur while the corpus warns about almost none of them. Two of 245 pages show a licence number. Seven of 86 explain the invoice rule that can void a demurrage charge. Zero of 23 publish the destination charge that most often reverses an LCL decision. Here they are in order of what each one costs.
The six, in order of cost
| Mistake | Typical cost | How often the corpus warns |
|---|---|---|
| Missing the free-time window | $75-300 per container per day | 7 of 86 pages explain the rule |
| Comparing quotes of different scopes | $600+ in unnamed destination charges | Rarely |
| Ignoring the destination CFS charge on LCL | $15-165 per CBM | 0 of 23 pages publish it |
| Skipping the licence check | The whole shipment, occasionally | 2 of 245 pages show a number |
| Treating an index print as a quote | Budget error, not a loss | Common but undated |
| Paying a defective demurrage invoice | The whole invoice | 7 of 86 pages |
The ordering is by expected cost, not by frequency. The free-time clock is first because it accrues daily and starts before most importers are told.
The two that are pure process
Free time. Three to seven days at most US terminals, and it starts when the container is available rather than when you hear about it. File the entry before arrival, confirm the last free day in writing at booking, and book drayage as soon as the vessel schedule firms.
The defective invoice. Since 28 May 2024 a US demurrage or detention invoice must reach the billed party within 30 days and carry 20 elements specified under 46 CFR 541.6. An invoice missing a required element carries no obligation to pay — which is a stronger position than any discount, and 7 of 86 measured pages mention it.
The two that are pure arithmetic
Scope. Port-to-port against door-to-door is not a price difference, it is a different product. Two quotes are comparable only after both are normalised, and the fastest way to normalise is to ask for the exclusions rather than the inclusions.
The LCL boundary. The crossover to a full container usually sits at 13 to 15 CBM and moves with density, because LCL bills on weight or measure, whichever is higher. Adding the destination CFS charge at $15-165 per CBM moves the boundary again, downward.
The two that are pure diligence
The licence. Search the entity that issues the bill of lading in the FMC register, by company name and by trade name. It is free and takes about two minutes, and 4 of 245 measured pages point readers at it.
The index. A composite averages many shippers, volumes and contract positions. Drewry assessed a 40-foot container at $4,374 on 07/23/2026, down 4% on the week — useful as direction, useless as a quote, and unreadable without its date.
Where this goes next
Three pages carry the rest of this question: the number behind it, the comparison of whoever would do it, and the check that runs before you pay.
- the arithmetic of the total, duty and federal fees included — the figure behind it
- how the forwarder lists are built, and on what data — who does it
- the two-minute check that runs before you pay — check the licence
Two neighbouring pieces sit closer to this one than any of them: facts you can get, adjectives you cannot, and Can I negotiate demurrage charges.
Frequently asked questions
What are common freight mistakes?
Missing the free-time window, comparing quotes of different scopes, ignoring the destination CFS charge on LCL, skipping the licence check, treating an index as a quote, and paying a defective demurrage invoice.
What is the most expensive freight mistake?
Losing the free-time window. Published demurrage runs $75-300 per container per day, escalates in tiers, and the clock starts when the box is available rather than when you are notified.
How do I compare two freight quotes properly?
Normalise the scope first, by asking each forwarder for the exclusions in writing. Two quotes on different scopes cannot be compared however precise the numbers look.
Can I refuse a demurrage invoice?
If it arrived more than 30 days after the charge stopped accruing, or is missing any of the 20 elements required under 46 CFR 541.6, it carries no obligation to pay.
Is checking a licence really necessary?
It takes about two minutes and is free. Two of the 245 pages measured show a licence number, so the market will not do it for you.
Sources
- SeaRates sweep of 2,001 pages across 22 question clusters, 07/25-26/2026.
- Federal Maritime Commission, final rule on detention and demurrage billing practices, in force 28 May 2024; required elements under 46 CFR 541.6.
- Drewry World Container Index, $4,374 per 40-foot container, assessed 07/23/2026, down 4%.
- SeaRates measurement of 299 pages ranking for landed cost queries, 07/26/2026 — published ranges for the handling lines.