Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced a major change to its freight rating rules. Effective September 1, 2026, export shipments from Europe, Africa, and several other key trade regions will no longer be rated based on the Proforma ETD. Instead, ONE will adopt the Cargo Receiving Date (CRD) as the pricing basis, with ocean freight and all surcharges and local charges determined according to the actual cargo receiving date. The change is expected to reduce the impact of vessel schedule changes on freight quotations and alter the timing basis used by freight forwarders for bookings and quotations.

Key Highlights

• Rule change: From September 1, CRD will replace Proforma ETD as the freight rating basis for shipments from multiple regions.

• Broad coverage: The new rule will apply to ocean freight, all surcharges, and local charges within the designated trades.

• Different rating points: CY container shipments and door shipments will use different reference dates, in line with the standards already applied to FMC-regulated trades.

• Transition arrangement: Cargo received before September 1 will remain subject to the existing rule, while trades outside the designated scope will continue to use ETD-based rating.

New Rule Extends to Europe, Africa, and Other Major Trade Regions

The revised freight rating rule will apply across a broad range of international trade lanes. For shipments within the designated regions, ocean freight (OFT), all surcharges, and local charges will be calculated under the new standard.

In addition to the United States, Puerto Rico, and other FMC-regulated trades, as well as Canada, the east coast of Latin America, India, and Pakistan, the new rule will also cover export shipments from Europe and Africa. The detailed list of applicable countries is provided in ONE’s official notice.

Rating Date Defined by Shipment Type

ONE has specified the applicable rating date for different transportation modes. For CY container shipments, the rate will be based on the actual container Gate-in Date at the terminal. For door shipments, the applicable date will be the actual pickup date confirmed in the Transportation Request Order (TRO).

This method is consistent with the standard currently used for FMC-regulated trades and is intended to reduce freight-rate discrepancies caused by vessel schedule changes and improve consistency in rate application.

Clear Transition Between Existing and New Rules

ONE has set a clear transition date for the new rule. Cargo received at the terminal on or after September 1, 2026, will be rated based on the Cargo Receiving Date. Cargo that has already entered the terminal before September 1 will continue to be rated under the existing Proforma ETD rule.

For trades not covered by the new rule and for non-FMC-regulated regions, the existing first-vessel ETD method will remain in place. For shipments originating from Taiwan, China, and Thailand, the applicable freight rate will continue to be based on the mother vessel’s estimated departure date.

Operational Alerts and Recommended Actions for Freight Forwarders and Trading Companies

The change will directly affect the timing of freight quotations and booking operations. Freight forwarders and trading companies should pay close attention to the actual cargo delivery date, the container Gate-in Date, and the applicable freight-rate validity period.

Different rating methods should also be distinguished by trade region to avoid quotation errors and cost discrepancies caused by mixing the old and new rules or using an incorrect reference date.

Sources

ONE official customer notice

Timeliness Note

The new rule will take effect on September 1, 2026.

Disclaimer

The information in this article is sourced from publicly available channels and is provided solely for industry reference. It does not constitute commercial advice, booking guidance, or logistics operating guidance.