A freight quote is a carrier or freight forwarder’s price estimate for moving a specific shipment. It is calculated from the shipment’s weight, dimensions, freight class, origin and destination, and any accessorial services (liftgate, residential delivery, inside delivery). In B2B selling, the freight quote usually shows up inside the larger sales quote as the shipping line, so the buyer sees goods and delivery together.
How it works
The seller gathers the shipment details, then requests rates from one or more carriers or forwarders, either through a broker, a transportation management system, or the carrier’s own portal. For less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, the price depends heavily on freight class, which is derived from density, stowability, handling, and liability. Rates come back as line-haul plus fuel surcharge plus any accessorials. Quotes typically carry an expiry date because fuel and capacity move.
Why it matters
For heavy or palletized B2B orders, freight can be a large share of the total, and a wrong estimate eats margin or stalls the deal. Buyers also want one number they can approve, not a separate shipping negotiation after they have agreed on price. Folding an accurate freight quote into the sales quote keeps the deal moving and avoids surprises at invoicing.
Example
A wholesaler quotes 12 pallets going from Ohio to Texas. The base LTL rate is 640 dollars, fuel surcharge adds 95 dollars, and a liftgate at the delivery dock adds 45 dollars, so the freight line reads 780 dollars. That figure becomes the shipping line on the sales quote the buyer reviews.
On Shopify, you can capture freight as a line on the quote so the buyer approves and pays goods and shipping together at native checkout. See the B2B quoting glossary for related terms like freight class and accessorial charges.