Guides
Freight guides from a China-based forwarder
No fluff, no recycled blog posts — just the practical knowledge we use every day booking containers out of Shenzhen, written down so you can plan your shipments with confidence.
Practical guides
Four guides that answer the questions we hear most from shippers buying from China:
- What goes into container shipping cost — a transparent breakdown of ocean freight, origin charges and destination fees, and how to compare quotes that look similar but are not.
- Transit times by route — realistic port-to-port and door-to-door timelines from China, and what typically adds days to the schedule.
- FCL or LCL — how to decide between a full container and consolidated cargo, with the break-even points we actually use.
- Customs documents checklist — the paperwork China exports require, what each document is for, and the mistakes that delay containers.
Route guides
Nine trade lanes we sail every week, each with a dedicated guide covering ports, transit times and destination charges:
Reading for a specific shipment? Message us on WhatsApp and we will price your lane within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes these guides?
Our Shenzhen operations team — the same people who quote, book and track containers on these lanes every week. Everything here comes from real shipments: real carrier schedules, real destination charges, real problems we have had to solve.
Can you answer a question not covered here?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp or email info@freightmainstay.com with your question, and we answer within hours on business days. If it is a good question, it may become the next guide.
Ready to move a container?
Tell us what you are shipping and where it needs to go. We will come back with a clear rate and a straight answer.