How fast do I really need to reply to a freight RFQ?

Fast enough to acknowledge within minutes, even if the full rate takes a day. In freight the rate itself goes stale within the week, so being first in the shipper's mind matters more than being first with a perfect number. A same-day human reply beats a two-day perfect quote almost every time.

Should I quote before or after qualifying the shipper?

Try to get a short conversation before you send the number. A quick qualifying reply that books fifteen minutes tells you whether the enquiry is a real switcher or a benchmark shopper, which the email alone never reveals. The shipper who will not take the call was usually only collecting rates anyway.

Is following up on an RFQ allowed under Singapore's DNC and PDPA rules?

Responding to an enquiry the shipper actively submitted, using the contact they gave you, is different from cold marketing to a purchased list. The PDPA expects you to use their details for the purpose they provided them, and the DNC rules require checking Singapore numbers before marketing calls or SMS unless consent or an exemption applies. Build consent into your enquiry form and confirm your specifics against the PDPC guidance.

Why do buyers pick the cheapest quote and ignore mine?

Usually because your quote reads as a bare number they cannot compare, so headline price becomes the only tiebreaker. When you make the charges transparent, name the Incoterms, and talk about what happens during a rollover, a customs hold, or demurrage, the decision stops being a thirty dollar rate gap and starts being about risk.

Can I do this without hiring a salesperson?

Yes. A qualify-and-book layer in front of your team lets ops keep pricing while only the shippers who agreed to talk reach your closer. It catches every enquiry, filters the shoppers from the switchers, and hands over booked calls, so you get more real conversations without another salary. Want a steady flow of booked RFQ conversations instead of quotes that go quiet? See how lead generation for logistics companies in Singapore turns enquiries into calls your sales team actually wants.

Business

How Singapore freight forwarders win RFQ conversations

Sep 2, 2026

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