What should a freight RFQ email to a carrier include?

A clear carrier RFQ email states the equipment type (dry van, reefer, flatbed, LTL or drayage), origin and destination with ZIP codes, pickup and delivery dates, commodity, total weight, piece count, any accessorials (liftgate, tarp, permits, temperature), and a request for an all-in rate that includes fuel. Ask carriers to include transit time and a quote-by deadline.

How do I ask a carrier for an all-in rate?

State explicitly that you want an all-in rate including fuel surcharge and any accessorial charges. Otherwise one carrier may quote a linehaul-only rate while another includes fuel, which makes their numbers impossible to compare directly.

What accessorials should I list in a request for quote?

List only the accessorials that apply: liftgate at pickup or delivery, inside pickup or delivery, residential pickup or delivery, tarp, oversize or permit, team drivers, driver assist or lumper, and whether an appointment is required. Listing them up front avoids a re-quote after the load is booked.

Do I need a TMS to send RFQ emails to carriers?

No. Most brokers and shippers request quotes over plain email. This generator produces a clean, copy-paste RFQ email and a mailto link with no login required.

How do I compare carrier quotes once the replies come back?

The hard part is normalizing replies that arrive in different formats — body text, PDF, or spreadsheet — to a single all-in landed cost. LaneRate reads each reply and lines the quotes up as true all-in totals in one comparison table.

LaneRate All tools

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Freight RFQ email generator

Fill in the lane, equipment and details, and get a clean, copy-paste email to send carriers for a quote. Works for LTL, reefer, flatbed, dry van and drayage. No signup — everything runs in your browser.

Your RFQ email

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Subject: Rate request: Dry van your lane

Hi,

Requesting a rate for the following dry van shipment. Please reply with your all-in rate including fuel and any accessorials.

Equipment: Dry van

Please include transit time and any restrictions with your quote.

Thanks,
(your name)

Everything runs in your browser — nothing is sent or stored.

Sending this to five carriers means five replies in five different formats. LaneRate reads every reply and lines the quotes up as true all-in totals in one table. See how it works.

Example RFQ email templates

Six ready-made request-for-quote emails for common freight modes. Copy one as a starting point, or use the generator above to build your own.

Dry van truckload RFQ email

Subject: Rate request: Dry van Chicago, IL → Dallas, TX

Hi,

Requesting a rate for the following dry van shipment. Please reply with your all-in rate including fuel and any accessorials.

Equipment: Dry van (53')
Origin: Chicago, IL 60638
Destination: Dallas, TX 75201
Pickup date: Mon, Jul 21
Delivery date: Wed, Jul 23
Commodity: Palletized packaged food, non-haz
Total weight: 42,000 lbs
Pieces / count: 24 pallets

Please include transit time and any restrictions with your quote.

Thanks,
Jamie Rivera
Rivera Logistics

LTL freight quote email (with freight class)

Subject: Rate request: LTL Columbus, OH → Atlanta, GA

Hi,

Requesting an LTL rate for the shipment below. Please reply with your all-in rate including fuel and listed accessorials.

Equipment: LTL
Origin: Columbus, OH 43215
Destination: Atlanta, GA 30303
Pickup date: Tue, Jul 22
Commodity: Machined metal parts, non-haz
Total weight: 1,200 lbs
Freight class: Class 70
Pieces / count: 3 pallets
Dimensions: 48 x 40 x 48 in per pallet

Accessorials:
- Liftgate at delivery
- Residential delivery
- Appointment required

Please send your quote by EOD today.

Thanks,
Dana Okafor
Okafor Supply Co.

Reefer (temperature-controlled) RFQ email

Subject: Rate request: Reefer Fresno, CA → Denver, CO

Hi,

Requesting a reefer rate for the load below. Please reply with your all-in rate including fuel and any accessorials.

Equipment: Reefer (53')
Origin: Fresno, CA 93706
Destination: Denver, CO 80216
Pickup date: Thu, Jul 24
Delivery date: Sat, Jul 26
Commodity: Fresh produce, palletized
Total weight: 40,000 lbs
Pieces / count: 22 pallets
Temperature: 34°F, continuous

Notes:
Pre-cool trailer before loading. Delivery appointment required.

Please include transit time with your quote.

Thanks,
Priya Nair
Nair Fresh Distribution

Flatbed RFQ email (tarp + permit checklist)

Subject: Rate request: Flatbed Houston, TX → Oklahoma City, OK

Hi,

Requesting a flatbed rate for the load below. Please reply with your all-in rate including fuel, tarp and any permit fees.

Equipment: Flatbed (48')
Origin: Houston, TX 77002
Destination: Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Pickup date: Fri, Jul 25
Commodity: Steel coils, secured
Total weight: 46,000 lbs
Pieces / count: 6 coils
Dimensions: 60 in diameter, 48 in wide

Accessorials:
- Tarp
- Oversize / permit
- Driver assist / lumper

Please confirm chains, straps and edge protectors are on the truck.

Thanks,
Marcus Bell
Bell Industrial Freight

Drayage / container RFQ email

Subject: Rate request: Drayage Port of Long Beach → Ontario, CA

Hi,

Requesting a drayage rate for the container move below. Please reply with your all-in rate including fuel, chassis and any port fees.

Equipment: Drayage (40' container)
Origin: Port of Long Beach, CA
Destination: Ontario, CA 91761
Pickup date: Mon, Jul 21
Commodity: Consumer goods, non-haz
Total weight: 38,000 lbs
Pieces / count: 1 x 40' HC container

Accessorials:
- Chassis split
- Appointment required

Please include free-time terms and any per-diem exposure with your quote.

Thanks,
Sofia Delgado
Delgado Import Services

Dry van RFQ with liftgate + appointment

Subject: Rate request: Dry van Newark, NJ → Boston, MA

Hi,

Requesting a rate for the following dry van shipment. Please reply with your all-in rate including fuel and any accessorials.

Equipment: Dry van (53')
Origin: Newark, NJ 07102
Destination: Boston, MA 02118
Pickup date: Wed, Jul 23
Commodity: Retail goods, palletized, non-haz
Total weight: 12,000 lbs
Pieces / count: 10 pallets

Accessorials:
- Liftgate at delivery
- Inside delivery
- Appointment required

Please send your quote by tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
Alex Kim
Kim Retail Group

Frequently asked questions

What should a freight RFQ email to a carrier include?: A clear carrier RFQ email states the equipment type (dry van, reefer, flatbed, LTL or drayage), origin and destination with ZIP codes, pickup and delivery dates, commodity, total weight, piece count, any accessorials (liftgate, tarp, permits, temperature), and a request for an all-in rate that includes fuel. Ask carriers to include transit time and a quote-by deadline.
How do I ask a carrier for an all-in rate?: State explicitly that you want an all-in rate including fuel surcharge and any accessorial charges. Otherwise one carrier may quote a linehaul-only rate while another includes fuel, which makes their numbers impossible to compare directly.
What accessorials should I list in a request for quote?: List only the accessorials that apply: liftgate at pickup or delivery, inside pickup or delivery, residential pickup or delivery, tarp, oversize or permit, team drivers, driver assist or lumper, and whether an appointment is required. Listing them up front avoids a re-quote after the load is booked.
Do I need a TMS to send RFQ emails to carriers?: No. Most brokers and shippers request quotes over plain email. This generator produces a clean, copy-paste RFQ email and a mailto link with no login required.
How do I compare carrier quotes once the replies come back?: The hard part is normalizing replies that arrive in different formats — body text, PDF, or spreadsheet — to a single all-in landed cost. LaneRate reads each reply and lines the quotes up as true all-in totals in one comparison table.

The replies are the hard part.

Sending the RFQ is easy. Comparing five carrier replies in five formats is not. LaneRate reads every reply — body text, PDF or spreadsheet — and lines the quotes up as true all-in totals in one table.

See how LaneRate works