100% free, no account
Air, ocean, FTL & LTL, itemized rates
Opens in Google Docs & Sheets
| Charge description | Category | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean freight, Shanghai to LA | Base freight (line-haul) | 0.00 |
| Total |
Prefer a blank copy to fill in later?
Download an empty copy in the format your team already uses. Each one matches the layout above.
Blank Freight Quotation, PDF
Print-ready layout. Best for drivers and dock printouts.
Blank Freight Quotation, Word
Editable .docx you can brand, tweak wording, and reuse.
Blank Freight Quotation, Excel
Spreadsheet grid for bulk shipments and quick math.
Stop doing this by hand
Your quote is ready. Now imagine sending it in minutes, from live rates
Ocean spot rates swing 20 to 40 percent a quarter, and a quote built by hand over email is slow and easy to get wrong. CargoEZ quotes from your stored air, ocean, and FCL rates, then turns the accepted quote straight into a booking.
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20 minutes · on your own shipments
What is a freight quote?
A freight quote, or freight quotation, is the document a forwarder or carrier sends a client estimating the cost of a prospective shipment. It sets out the route, mode, cargo, an itemized rate breakdown, and the terms, and it is valid for a set period.
Unlike a freight invoice, which bills a shipment that has already moved, a quote is forward-looking and conditional: it holds a price for the client to accept or reject, usually for 15 to 30 days, after which rates may change. When the client accepts, it becomes the basis for the booking.
What a freight quotation must include
Header and metadata: your company, a unique quote number, the date issued, and the validity or expiry date (typically 15 to 30 days).
Customer: the client's company, contact person, and address.
Route and mode: origin and destination, mode (air, ocean FCL/LCL, FTL, or LTL), Incoterms, and the cargo-ready date.
Cargo: description, pieces or pallets, dimensions, total weight and volume, freight class for LTL, and HazMat status.
Itemized rate breakdown: base freight, fuel surcharge, origin and destination charges, and accessorials, with a subtotal and total estimate.
Terms, conditions, and exclusions: validity, liability and insurance, and what is not covered (customs duties, taxes, storage, demurrage).
Sign-off: your authorized representative and an acceptance block for the client.
How to create a freight quote, step by step
Add the quote details: Give it a unique quote number and date, set the valid-until date and currency, and the cargo-ready date.
Enter your company and the customer: Add your company as the preparer and the client you are quoting, with a contact person.
Set the route and mode: Add origin and destination, the mode (air, ocean, FTL, or LTL), and the Incoterm.
Describe the cargo: Add the goods, pieces or pallets, dimensions, weight and volume, freight class for LTL, and flag any HazMat.
Itemize the rate: Add the base freight, fuel surcharge, origin and destination charges, and accessorials. The subtotal and total estimate calculate automatically.
Set the terms and sign off: Confirm the validity and exclusions, and add your representative and the client acceptance block.
Check the live preview: Confirm the route, rate, and total on the right, then download and send.
How to download your freight quote
Choose a format in the toolbar: Click Download PDF, Word, or Excel. PDF is best to send the client, Word for your branding, Excel for the rate math.
Enter your email once: The first download asks for your email to unlock all formats. After that, every download on this device is instant.
Open in Google Docs or Google Sheets: Prefer Google? Download the Word file and open it in Google Docs, or the Excel file and open it in Google Sheets from your Drive.
Print or grab a blank template: Use Print to save as PDF, or download a blank PDF, Word, or Excel freight quote to fill in later.
Save a draft to reuse: Click Save draft to keep the quote in your browser, then load it next time and change only the lane and rate.
Freight quote vs other documents
Freight invoice: Bills a shipment that has already moved. The quote comes first. Use the freight forwarder invoice generator.
Commercial invoice: States the value of the goods for customs, not a rate quote. Use the commercial invoice generator.
Proforma invoice: A preliminary invoice for the goods, issued by the seller. A freight quote is for the transport service.
Bill of lading: The carriage document issued after booking. See the bill of lading generator.
Stop building quotes by hand across a dozen rate emails
Chasing carrier rates across inboxes and spreadsheets is slow, and a static rate card stops protecting your margin the moment spot rates move. CargoEZ quotes from your stored rates and turns the accepted quote into a booking.
Quote from live air, ocean, and FCL rates, not a stale spreadsheet.
Send a branded quote in minutes, then convert it to a booking in one step.
Quote, booking, documents, and invoice on one record, nothing re-keyed.
Quoting lanes all day?
CargoEZ quotes from your stored rates and turns the accepted quote straight into a booking, so your team wins the rate before it moves and never re-keys the shipment.
See how CargoEZ automates freight docs →
Frequently asked questions
Is this freight quote generator free?
Yes. The generator and all downloads are free, with no account, watermark, or usage limit. Everything runs in your browser, so your rate and client data never leaves your device.
Can I use this freight quote in Google Docs or Google Sheets?
Yes. Download the Word file and open it in Google Docs, or the Excel file and open it in Google Sheets from your Drive. Both keep the layout and let you edit the quote online.
How long is a freight quote valid?
Freight quotes are usually valid for 15 to 30 days. Ocean and air rates change quickly, so a quote states a validity or expiry date and is subject to space and the rate in effect at the time of booking. Set your own validity on the quote.
What is the difference between a freight quote and a freight invoice?
A freight quote is a forward-looking estimate you send before a shipment moves, valid for a set period. A freight invoice bills the shipment after it has moved. The accepted quote usually becomes the basis for the booking and the final invoice.
What should a freight quotation include?
A unique quote number and validity date, your company and the customer, the route and mode, cargo details, an itemized rate breakdown with a total estimate, the terms and exclusions, and an acceptance block for the client.
Can I download it as Word, Excel, or PDF?
Yes. Export your filled quote as PDF or Word, or download a blank PDF, Word, or Excel template to reuse.
