Plan your transport
Create one line per leg: origin, destination, packing list version, readiness and handover window. For each quotation, mark whether return, onward trip, loading tasks and waiting time rules are included, separate or open. You can then see, for example, whether a lower amount only covers the outbound trip even though the material is to travel on to the next event afterwards.
A comparison grid you can use
A simple grid helps: rows for outbound, onward and return trips, loading tasks at collection, loading tasks at destination, waiting time rule, extra routes and quotation validity. One column per quotation, with entries only “included”, “separate” or “open”. Only once every row is clear is it worth looking at the total.
Illustrative example: same shipment, two quotations
Suppose twelve cases are to go from the store to a trade show and then on to the next event. Quotation A covers outbound and onward trips, unloading at the loading bay and waiting time by rule. Quotation B covers only the outbound trip to the gate; onward trip and waiting time are open. B looks cheaper but covers less. Ask about the open rows before deciding.
What matters
- Use the same packing list as the basis
- Check outbound, onward and return separately
- Mark each line as included, separate or open