Stop Approving Freight Blind

Your freight invoice has a base rate, then it has a surcharge stacked on top. Most filers only look at the base rate, but in 2026, the surcharge stack can add 20 to 35% on top of your base ocean rate, and most of it is buried in the fine print. Here's what's in the stack right now: emergency bunker surcharge, war risk insurance pass-through, contingency fees for diversion risk, Big season surcharges already being signaled for Q2. Each one looks small individually, but together they compound. A $4,200 base rate shipment with a full surcharge stack can land at $6,500 or more. The brands getting hurt are the ones who only check the base rate and approve the invoice. Pull your last 3 freight invoices, add up every line item that isn't base ocean freight. That total is your surcharge stack. Know your number.