When businesses first venture into maritime logistics, they should prioritize understanding total landed cost over simply focusing on freight rates. This common mistake can lead to significant budget overruns and supply chain inefficiencies. The ocean freight quote is typically only 30-40% of total import costs. Many businesses are blindsided by additional expenses like terminal handling charges, customs bonds, duties, documentation fees, drayage, demurrage and detention fees. These "hidden" costs often exceed the base freight rate by 2-3 times. We recently helped a consumer electronics company that was selecting shipping routes based solely on ocean freight quotes. By analyzing their complete landed cost structure, we identified that their fastest-growing SKU was incurring unnecessary destination charges of $2,700 per container by routing through a major port instead of a regional alternative just 50 miles away. For businesses new to maritime shipping, I recommend first mapping your entire shipping journey from factory floor to final destination. Calculate costs at each handoff point and identify where you lack visibility. Understanding these transition points between modes and parties is where most cost leakage and delays occur. This exercise often reveals that what initially seemed like the cheapest route is actually more expensive when accounting for all components of landed cost.