Chargeable weight, surcharges and the line items most shippers never think to question.
The base rate is usually the smallest part of your invoice. Bunker adjustment, terminal handling, peak season surcharge, ISPS and documentation fees routinely add 30 to 45 percent on top.
Chargeable weight is where money quietly leaks. Air freight bills the greater of actual and volumetric weight at 1:6000; a badly packed pallet can double the cost of the same goods.
Ask your forwarder for an all-in landed quote with every accessorial listed. If a line item cannot be explained in one sentence, it is worth challenging.