Compare freight companies by giving them the same shipment requirements and asking how they will meet them. A request for quotation, or RFQ, should define the goods, lanes, timing, receiving conditions and records your business needs before asking for a price.
This template is designed for commercial road-freight enquiries. It is not a legal tender document and does not require an expensive procurement system to use.
Start with service fit
State the origins and destinations that matter, the normal loads and the peaks. Identify any non-negotiable conditions such as equipment compatibility or a defined receiving commitment. A company that cannot serve the actual lane is not an equivalent price comparison.
For the difference between arranging and physically carrying freight, use our existing broker-versus-carrier guide. WTM provides transportation services and added Canadian domestic freight brokerage on October 1, 2026. In your RFQ, ask whether the provider will carry the shipment or arrange another carrier, and identify who will coordinate the move.
Copy this request structure
| RFQ section | Information to supply | Answer to request |
|---|---|---|
| Lane schedule | Physical origin–destination pairs and frequency | Coverage and proposed service |
| Load profiles | Packed units, dimensions, gross weights, restrictions | Suitable equipment and assumptions |
| Site requirements | Loading, unloading and access | Included work and responsibilities |
| Timing | Ready events and required receiving commitments | Accepted service basis |
| Pricing | Common sample loads and scope | Complete quote with exclusions |
| Visibility | Tracking and document needs | Available customer records |
| Exceptions | Typical change or urgent scenarios | Contact and review process |
Avoid including confidential customer information beyond what is necessary for the enquiry. Real addresses may be needed for an actionable quote; broader forecasting information can be described appropriately.
Use representative cases
Choose a normal order, a peak order and an urgent exception. For example, a business might usually ship two pallets, occasionally ship six non-stackable units and sometimes need one component separately. These are illustrative case types, not fixed service thresholds.
Ask providers to price each case on the same assumptions. One blended monthly estimate can conceal important differences in what the providers think they are quoting.
Evaluate scope before the total
Record whether the proposal addresses each mandatory requirement. Then compare the total price and any acceptable tradeoffs. Mark unanswered questions explicitly instead of treating missing details as included services.
Use the quote comparison worksheet for the offers received. Retain the same request version with every response so later amendments remain traceable.
Include the customer experience
A business account should make it possible to request transport and recover the records needed afterwards. WTM’s Customer Portal supports quote review, approval, payment, real-time GPS tracking and access to available shipment documents and history.
Send your completed RFQ to WTM with the movements you need covered. Our freight service can then be assessed against your actual operation—not a generic list of impressive-sounding capabilities.
