Connect each company to its role, scope and response channel. Confirm whom you contract with and which instructions each participant can accept before authorizing changes.
Start with the role being offered
FIATA describes forwarding and logistics as a broad range that can include arranging transport and other operations. This general definition does not establish what a specific proposal includes: request a list of the work you are contracting.
In its maritime guide’s public introduction, FIATA distinguishes acting as an intermediary from acting as a contractual carrier. Ask the provider to explain its capacity in your transaction and which documents record that agreement.
Identify the company and proposal contact
Request the entity issuing the offer and contracting with you, the proposed scope and the contact authorized to confirm it. If another entity will issue documents or invoices, ask its function and connection to the agreed service.
Keep these answers with the quotation reference and version. Distinguish the entity’s identity from a trading name or the person answering messages, so documents can be connected to the same file.
Use a task matrix for your shipment
Complete the table with the parties involved. One company may appear in several rows; ask each response to identify what it can confirm and when it must consult another participant.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Task | Role to identify | Record to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation | Who presents and confirms scope | Entity, contact and accepted version |
| Booking | Who contracts and can request amendments | Reference and confirmation procedure |
| Physical transport | Who performs each planned leg | Operator and communicated contact |
| Documents | Who prepares, issues and corrects each file | Issuer and current version |
| Updates | Who verifies the last event | Source, date and next response |
| Receiving | Who coordinates appointments and delivery | Responsible contact and physical point |
Connect documents and operators without assuming equivalence
Ask who will issue the transport document and whom to contact about its review. For references from different parties, retain their connection to the order and corresponding leg. A name in tracking needs to be understood within that relationship.
Take questions about functions, terms and documents to the contractual contact. For a liability interpretation or claim, request the applicable procedure and involvement of the competent professional.
Take changes to the party able to authorize them
Imagine the factory wants to change collection while the recipient asks another operator directly. Before treating the change as accepted, ask the coordinator to identify who can request it and who must confirm it in the booking.
Retain the accepted response and communicate the current version to supplier and recipient. If two instructions conflict, ask the responsible party to clarify them. Identify the outstanding task and who will provide the next update.
Describe the scope you need in your inquiry
For comparable proposals, use the same goods, origin, destination and requested tasks. Ask which operations the company will perform, which it will coordinate with others and which require an additional agreement.
For an MX Pacific Express inquiry, share product, package, dimension and weight details with collection and receiving points. Explain the coordination you need. The team will confirm its role, available scope and information needed to assess the shipment.
Sources and scope
Sources consulted on 26 October 2026. Checklists and examples are planning guidance prepared by MX Pacific Express. Other operators’ processes illustrate concepts; the conditions for your cargo are confirmed separately.
Prepare your next step
Share the product, packaging, weight, origin and destination. Identify any information still pending so your inquiry can be reviewed with the right scope.
Discuss the roles in my shipmentRoutes, availability and delivery conditions are confirmed in each quote.