The situation is familiar to anyone making purchases: multiple quotes for the same service, but all in different formats. That’s not unusual – every carrier prices its services differently due to differences in services and operating models.

How can you reasonably compare transportation partners?

This is an everyday challenge for logistics professionals. But why is tendering so difficult – and what can be done about it?

Prices are available, but comparison is nearly impossible

Carriers are usually open about their prices. The real challenge lies elsewhere: the pricing isn’t hidden – it’s fragmented across systems and pricing models.

As volumes increase, complexity multiplies. Carriers have different specializations, terminals, and pricing methods – even among the largest players.

A jungle of pricing models

Freight pricing often includes more than just base freight charges. Common additional costs include:

  • Fuel surcharges
  • Port and handling fees
  • Tolls
  • Sulphur and emission-related charges
  • EU-related regulations (e.g. Mobility Package)

Some carriers list these separately, others bundle them into a total price. The result is a confusing mess that requires deep industry knowledge and time to compare.

Lack of visibility into your own costs

Many companies lack visibility into their total freight spend:

  • ERP shows the order, but not the freight cost
  • Billing systems are separate and data is not integrated
  • No one analyzes the data

In other words, the data exists but isn’t accessible in a usable format. Often, the carrier has better data than the shipper.

What does the lack of transparency cost?

Without regular tendering, freight costs quietly rise – typically 3–6% annually. In three years, this could mean almost a 20% increase.

Regular tendering can lead to 5–15% cost savings.

The solution: technology and expertise

Solving the transparency challenge requires both logistics expertise and modern analytics. You need tools that:

  • Combine up-to-date rates and surcharges
  • Enable tendering across hundreds of routes
  • Visualize comparison data for fast decision-making

When was the last time you tendered your transportation?

Freight cost transparency is a critical competitive factor. Your data doesn’t have to be fragmented. Next time you make logistics decisions, ask:

  • Do I really know what my freight costs?
  • Can I compare options effectively?
  • When did I last run a freight tender?