Tell your freight forwarder what you need, not just “A to B”

What to ask a freight forwarder in Lithuania, Latvia, or Estonia?

Many shippers send us the same short request: “Please quote sea freight from Shanghai to Vilnius.” It’s quick and clear. But it often leads to a solution that fits the question and misses the real goal. A good freight forwarder in Lithuania, Latvia, or Estonia can do much more when you share what you actually need.

Why “A to B” is not enough

A quote request for one transport mode fixes the answer before anyone has looked at the problem. You get a price for sea freight, but nobody checks whether sea freight is the best choice. The deadline might be too tight, the cargo might need special handling, or a combined route could be cheaper and faster.

When you describe the result you want, your forwarder can compare options and find the one that works best for you.

What to tell your forwarder

A useful request answers a few simple questions:

• What is the cargo, and is it fragile, valuable, hazardous or temperature-sensitive?
• Where must it arrive, down to the warehouse or site address?
• By what date must it be there?
• Should it arrive customs-cleared, with duties paid (DDP)?
• Is cost, speed, or safety your top priority?
• Any special requirements, e.g. Good Distribution Practice (GDP)?

For example: “I need 12 pallets of glass lighting fixtures at our warehouse in Riga by 15 November, cleared and duties paid. The goods are fragile and high value.” This gives your forwarder everything needed to plan properly.

A few examples

Urgent spare parts. A factory in Kaunas asked for an air freight quote from Germany. After hearing that the production line was stopped, the forwarder suggested a dedicated express truck. It arrived the next morning, faster door-to-door and cheaper than air.

Temperature-sensitive medicines. A pharma distributor asked for an air freight quote from Zurich to Tallinn. After learning the shipment had to stay at 2–8°C and reach a hospital within 48 hours, the forwarder arranged an active temperature-controlled container, GDP-compliant handling at every step, and customs clearance planned in advance. The medicines arrived on time, within the temperature range, with full monitoring data.

A fixed launch date. A retailer in Vilnius needed new stock in shops before a campaign start. The forwarder split the shipment: a small part went by air to cover the first weeks, and the rest went by road from China to Lithuania to keep costs down.

Hidden customs issues. A customer in Latvia asked only for transport. Once the forwarder knew the goods had to arrive cleared, it spotted missing certificates early and prepared the paperwork before arrival, so the cargo did not sit in the port.

Trust brings better results

At A2 Cargo, we specialise in time-critical air freight and pharma logistics. When every hour counts or the cargo can’t tolerate mistakes, we don’t just quote a route; we plan the whole journey: the fastest connection, the right packaging, temperature control and customs clearance, all the way to your door.

Looking for a freight forwarder in Lithuania, Latvia, or Estonia? Tell us what you need, where and by when, and A2 Cargo will find the best way to get it there.