Follow up freight quotes: clarify changes before price
Check whether a price question still concerns the quoted shipment. Make changed requests clear for your sales and transport planning teams.
“Can you do anything on price?” After a freight quote, that sounds like negotiation. Sometimes the shipment has changed in the meantime. Your sales team serving Germany can use the question to check first that both sides still mean the same transport task. The price explanation then has a clear basis too.
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Briefly identify the starting version
Have the quote ready and identify its version. Ask: “Does your question still concern the last shipment we discussed and the locations in that quote?” You do not need another complete intake if everything is unchanged. The brief check gives the customer room to mention an intervening change.
The original enquiry provides shipment type, destination region and preferred timing as a starting point. The specific details of your later transport quote come from your own clarification. Use that checked working basis for the follow-up instead of restarting with the general destination region.
Record changes so transport planning can act
Keep new customer information separate from the previous costing basis:
- What stays the same, such as the discussed collection site?
- What changes specifically, such as additional shipment volume?
- Who needs to confirm which open point before a new quote is possible?
Example: A shipper asks for a lower price and mentions that another pallet should travel too. Your salesperson asks for a more precise description and passes the current details for assessment. “Same trip, slightly more goods” would not be enough.
Also ask whether the new volume is settled or still being discussed. If provisional, your team should know which answer is missing from the shipper. This prevents a new calculation being confused with a final shipment specification.
Relate the reply to the changed scope
Only after the internal assessment do you discuss what your business can now offer. Explain quote changes through the changed task. Whether and how the price changes follows from your calculation.
If the scope is unchanged, answer the price question for that exact service. If the customer suggests a different collection time as an alternative, take the request for assessment. A discussion option is not yet confirmed transport.
Continue with one clear version
After revising the quote, send a clearly identified current version. Tell your contact which response you still need and who will follow up afterwards. Sales and transport planning should also recognise which version is currently being discussed with the customer.
For additional shipper contacts, register your forwarding business with webRichtung and prepare your order in webRichtung Customer. Enquiries concern collection locations in Germany; clarify possible destinations against your service. You see the current lead price before placing a binding order.
Frequently asked questions
How should I open a general price discussion?
Ask whether the shipment, locations or timing request have changed since the quote. Then discuss price for the scope actually confirmed.
Is “there will be a little more” enough information?
No. Ask for a concrete description and pass it to transport planning with reference to the existing quote. Changed information needs an appropriate fresh assessment.
Can I confirm a changed time immediately?
First acknowledge receipt of the request. Your business needs to assess the revised transport plan and then agree the arrangements specifically.