Do you want the best freight price for your shipment to Europe ?

There are lots of factors that can influence a quotation, but our pricing guys have thought long and hard how we can give you our best price, first time, every time.


After many weeks locked in a room, our quotation chaps have come up with our "TEN TOP TIPS FOR THE BEST FREIGHT PRICE".

There are a few factors that can influence freight prices, with this in mind, let us you save money on freight to Europe by following our top tips :


1)    UK TOWN INCLUDING POSTCODE

Most forwarders use banded UK freight tariffs based on postcode so it is important that you provide the full UK town including postcode. (The postcode is important as well as the town name because in many countries there can be more than one town with the same name)
There is a great town / postcode tool on Via Michelin


2)    EUROPEAN TOWN INCLUDING POSTCODE

Most forwarders use banded European freight tariffs based on postcode so it is important that you provide the full town in Europe including postcode. (The postcode is important as well as the town name because in many countries there can be more than one town with the same name)
There is a great town / postcode tool on Via Michelin


3)    THE EXACT WEIGHT IN KILOGRAMMES

Freight forwarders use transport tariffs based on weight bands so it is important that you provide the exact weight of the pallet. The bands are usually in 100 kilo increments so 101 kilos will cost more than 100 kilos, therefore the more accurate you are, the cheaper the quote will be. If you can provide the exact weight in kilos it will save you money on freight costs.

In the USA they still use lbs (pounds) the conversion from lbs to kgs is : 1 pound = 0.45359237 kilograms.



4)    THE EXACT DIMENSIONS OF ALL PIECES IN CENTIMETRES (LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT)

It is important that you provide the exact dimensions of the shipment because Freight forwarders work on a weight to size ratio. This is because there are both weight and size restrictions for transport by road in the UK and in Europe.

We hear the phrase "it is the size of a normal pallet" regularly. There is no such thing as "a normal pallet".

In Europe they prefer to use 120 x 80 centimetre pallets ( EURO PALLETS) and in the UK 120 x 100 centimetre pallets (UK PALLETS) are more popular. The base size of the pallet can vary depending whether the goods over-hang the pallets which would extend the length or width.

On average, international trucks are 240 centimetres wide so pallets with a width of 120 or 80 centimetres are used to maximise the available space. If the goods overhang the pallets you could be paying for unnecessary space on the vehicle.

International trailers vary in height but a safe maximum pallet height of 240 centimetres would apply on average. (We can offer heights of 270 to 300 centimetres on request.)

In the USA they still use inches the conversion from inches to centimetres is :1 inch = 2.54 centimetres.


5)   IF THE PALLETS ARE STACKABLE

Most part loads will share space on a vehicle with other goods, the dimensions will help us to make sure that everyone is paying the correct amount for the space their shipment occupies on the vehicle.

We therefore need to be advised if the goods are stackable i.e. if they can have other goods put on top of them. If you are shipping low pallets and they are not stackable you are likely to be charged for the space above the pallets. To save you money, our recommendation is therefore that pallets are either a maximum of 120 centimetres tall and stackable or if non stackable that the pallets are built as tall as possible i.e. up to the full height of the vehicle (240 centimetres)


6)    THE REQUIRED DELIVERY SCHEDULE

The rule of thumb for delivery dates is that the quicker the delivery has to happen, the more expensive the freight cost will be. It therefore pays to be organised and arrange shipping before the goods become urgent. We can arrange ECONOMY, GROUPAGE, PART LOAD, FULL LOAD, EXPRESS GROUPAGE and DEDICATED EXPRESS shipments but to get a cheap quote please give us as much time as possible to group your shipment with others to bring the cost down.


7)    WHETHER THERE IS RESTRICTED ACCESS

Deliveries are cheaper sometimes if we can deliver on the international trailer. This is not possible on some occasions due to problems with access, for example in city centres.
If we are supplied with details of access at the collection and delivery point it can avoid extra costs in the form of wasted journey charges for failed deliveries.


8)    WHETHER THE COLLECTION / DELIVERY POINTS HAVE LOADING / OFF-LOADING FACILITIES
Some companies do not have a fork lift truck for collections or deliveries and may require a
tail-lift vehicle to lower the shipment to floor level from the delivery vehicle.
If we are advised about special delivery requirements at the collection and delivery point it can avoid extra costs in the form of wasted journey charges for failed deliveries.


9)    OPENING HOURS FOR COLLECTION AND DELIVERY

Some companies close early on Fridays and close for long lunches. The bigger the collection or delivery window, the cheaper we can make your freight charges.
If we are advised about special timed delivery requirements at the collection and delivery point it can avoid extra costs in the form of wasted journey charges for failed deliveries.


10)    IS THE SHIPMENT HAZARDOUS OR IS THE SHIPMENT BAGGAGE / PERSONAL EFFECTS ?

If the shipment is hazardous we will need to know the hazardous class, Packing Group and UN number we will also have to check ferry availability.

If the shipment is baggage / personal effects we need to know this as some of our freight partners will not take this type of shipment, we must be pre-warned to avoid delays and extra charges.

Q: What information do you need need from me so I can obtain a quote for freight to Europe ?

A: We would require the weight in kilos, the dimensions in centimetres (length x width x height) the collection postcode and the delivery postcode in Europe.


Q: What is the best way to contact you for a quote for freight to Europe ?

A: For the fastest reply, the best way to contact us is via email - operations@bfreight.co.uk - this email is monitored by our quotes team who will reply immediately. You can also contact us by phone - 0044 (0)1277 655 553


Q: You are based in Essex but we are elsewhere in England, can you still collect my freight to Europe ?

A: We have trucks empty daily across the UK in most major cities and happy clients all over the UK - the location of our office doesnt affect our UK coverage.


Q: Do you arrange shipments from / to private addresses for freight to Europe ?

A: We can take shipments to private addresses for freight to Europe but we only deliver to the kerbside, not up stairs in lifts etc.


Q: Do you do removals to Europe ?

A: We will take baggage to Europe i.e. boxes / cartons but we do not do household removals of furniture.


Q: Do you transport hazardous goods freight to Europe ?

A: We do transport hazardous goods freight to Europe but we will require to know the hazardous class, UN number, packing group and flashpoint to quote.


Q: Do you arrange frozen / refrigerated groupage freight to Europe ?

A: We can arrange frozen / refrigerated FULL LOAD and EXPRESS / DEDICATED VAN freight to Europe but not groupage


Q: Do you arrange car transport to Europe ?

A: We do not transport cars or vehicles to Europe


Q: Can you arrange the paperwork for trans-shipment freight to Europe under EX1 ?

A: We can arrange EX1 forms for shipments transitting through other countries on their journey. We need to know that an EX1 form is required BEFORE quoting and bookings we can only do this via certain ports.


Q: Do you carry wines and spirits freight to Europe ?

A: We do not carry wines and spirits to Europe as it can cause delays to other urgent cargo on the vehicle


Q: Do you offer insurance for freight to Europe ?

A: Full marine insurance is available on request, please add this with your quote request


Q: How do we open an account with your company so we can use you for our freight to Europe ?

A: Call or email us for a credit application form, we normally require immediate payment on the first shipment but credit is given thereafter (depending on credit status).