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FCA vs FOB: Which Incoterm Fits Container Shipments Better?

FCA and FOB both hand responsibility to the buyer at the origin end, but they do it at different points. For containerised cargo that difference decides who carries risk in the terminal, who holds the bill of lading evidence, and where disputes start. Here is how to choose without surprises.

Holo Cargo Operations·Oct 4, 2026·8 min

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28 articles
Rates & Markets

GRI vs PSS: how do these two ocean freight surcharges differ?

GRI and PSS often show up in the same carrier bulletin, sometimes in the same week, and shippers routinely treat them as one thing. They aren't. This guide breaks down what each one actually changes on your quote, why they can stack, and how to plan a budget that survives both.

Holo Cargo Operations·Sep 23, 2026·7 min
Rates & Markets

What Happens After You Accept a Freight Quote: Step by Step

Clicking "accept" on a freight quote isn't the end of the process — it's the start of a sequence of confirmations, documents, and cutoffs that determines whether your cargo moves on schedule. Here's exactly what happens next, step by step, and which numbers are locked for good.

Holo Cargo Operations·Sep 20, 2026·7 min
Rates & Markets

Multimodal vs Intermodal Shipping: What's the Actual Difference?

Shippers use "multimodal" and "intermodal" interchangeably, but they answer different questions. One tells you how many transport modes are involved. The other tells you who is on the hook if a handoff between them goes wrong. Here is the distinction that actually matters when you book.

Holo Cargo Operations·Sep 14, 2026·8 min
Rates & Markets

How to Choose a Freight Forwarder: What Actually Matters

Picking a freight forwarder on the lowest quoted rate alone is how shippers end up chasing status updates and reconciling invoices later. This guide breaks down the criteria that actually predict a good working relationship — coverage, pricing transparency, service scope, and communication.

Holo Cargo Operations·Sep 13, 2026·6 min
Rates & Markets

Door-to-Port vs Port-to-Door: Which Move Type Fits You?

Door-to-port and port-to-door look like mirror images, but they hand off responsibility at opposite ends of the shipment. One suits a shipper who controls origin but not the buyer's side; the other suits the reverse. Here's how to tell which one your shipment actually needs.

Holo Cargo Operations·Sep 8, 2026·6 min
Rates & Markets

LCL vs Air Freight: Which Is Cheaper for Small Shipments?

For a shipment too small to fill a container, the default is usually LCL. But once you count CFS handling fees against a light, dense load, air freight can come out even or cheaper. Here is how to run the comparison properly before you book.

Holo Cargo Operations·Aug 21, 2026·7 min

From the desk

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