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RFP Template: 15 Questions That Reveal Forwarder Quality

Most RFPs focus on rates and ignore operational capability. These 15 questions expose the differences that actually impact your supply chain performance.

Customer Success•Cubic Partnerships
Published October 10, 2024
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Key Takeaways

  • 1Rate comparison alone misses 60% of total freight management cost
  • 2Technology capability questions reveal automation potential
  • 3Exception handling processes predict real-world performance
  • 4Reference check scripts uncover issues standard questions miss
  • 5Contract terms negotiation leverage increases with informed questioning

Technology & Integration Questions

Ask these to assess automation capability:

  1. What percentage of bookings are made via API vs. email/phone?
  2. Can I receive tracking updates via webhook to my systems?
  3. What is your average quote response time for standard lanes?
  4. Show me your customer portal—what can I do without calling?
  5. What ERP/TMS integrations do you offer out of the box?

Operations & Exception Handling Questions

  1. Walk me through what happens when a container misses its connection
  2. What's your average response time to customer inquiries?
  3. How do you proactively notify me of delays or exceptions?
  4. What percentage of your shipments experience documentation errors?
  5. Who is my primary point of contact and what's their authority level?

Want to see how Cubic compares to your current forwarder?

Commercial & Contract Questions

  1. What charges are NOT included in your quoted rate?
  2. How often do rates change and with what notice?
  3. What volume commitments are required for quoted rates?
  4. What happens if my volume falls below commitment?
  5. Can I see a sample invoice with all line item charges?

Discuss Migration Options

Learn how to seamlessly transition from your current forwarder to Cubic.

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