The manual booking process on ONE
Booking on ONE follows a multi-step process through the ONE eCommerce portal at ecomm.one-line.com or via ONE QUOTE for spot-rate shipments.
- 01
Search schedules on ONE eCommerce
Enter origin/destination port pair, cargo type, and preferred dates on the ONE eCommerce portal. Review available Premier Alliance services, including services operated by HMM, Yang Ming, or covered by the MSC slot exchange on Asia-Europe lanes. The ONE mobile app (iOS and Android) provides booking status visibility and shipment management.
- 02
Choose between ONE QUOTE and contract rate
For ad-hoc spot bookings: use ONE QUOTE (instant quotation via Descartes Kontainers, available at ecomm.one-line.com). ONE QUOTE covers non-DG dry and reefer FAK cargo only — DG and special cargo must use standard booking channels. For contracted lanes: submit standard bookings via ONE eCommerce or EDI (ANSI, EDIFACT, XML) using the forwarder's contract reference.
Pain pointONE QUOTE does NOT include a published loading guarantee. Unlike Maersk Spot (two-way loading guarantee with rollable compensation), CMA CGM SpotOn (priority booking, loading, and equipment), or Hapag-Lloyd Quick Quotes Spot (loading and equipment guarantee), ONE QUOTE is a quoting tool without space commitment. Cargo may be rolled without compensation. For time-critical shipments needing guaranteed space, negotiate contract terms.
- 03
Configure booking details
Enter container type and count, cargo details, preferred departure date, and DG flag if applicable. For ONE QUOTE bookings: rates are valid for the specific vessel and schedule at quoting time. Schedule ETD/ETA is explicitly excluded from ONE QUOTE contract terms. Rates are subject to non-manifested local surcharges (port-specific charges not itemised in the rate offer). Weight and cargo restrictions apply.
- 04
Evaluate Premier Alliance routing
The booking may execute on a vessel operated by ONE, HMM, Yang Ming, or MSC (on the 9 Asia-Europe slot exchange services). The booking confirmation specifies the operating carrier. Factor in: tracking feed source depends on the operating carrier's systems, equipment may come from any alliance member's pool, and terminal handling follows the operating carrier's local arrangements.
Pain pointAn 'ONE booking' may physically sail on an HMM, Yang Ming, or MSC vessel. The operating carrier affects tracking data quality, equipment availability, and port operations. This is the same cross-carrier pattern seen in Gemini (Maersk booking on Hapag-Lloyd vessel) and Ocean Alliance (CMA CGM booking on COSCO vessel).
- 05
Submit booking and await confirmation
Submit through ONE eCommerce, EDI, INTTRA, GT Nexus (Infor Nexus), or CargoSmart. ONE QUOTE bookings receive instant confirmation at the quoted rate. Contract bookings follow standard confirmation timelines.
- 06
Handle amendments and cancellations
Submit amendments through the ONE eCommerce portal or the same channel used for the original booking. No consolidated cancellation or no-show fee schedule is published by ONE. Route through digital channels and confirm fee implications with the local ONE office before committing to changes.
Premier Alliance network and ONE QUOTE
The Premier Alliance between ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming took effect on 9 February 2025 (FMC Agreement No. 201435, 5-year term) after Hapag-Lloyd departed THE Alliance to join Maersk in the Gemini Cooperation. Premier Alliance responded to Hapag-Lloyd's departure with service expansion: Asia-Europe from 17 to 24 joint services, Asia-Mediterranean from 9 to 17, transpacific gained 7 services for a total of 54, and HMM returned to Transatlantic service. A separate slot exchange with MSC covers 9 Asia-Europe services — MSC is not a Premier Alliance member; the slot exchange supplements alliance capacity on the trade lane where Hapag-Lloyd's departure created the largest gap.
The April 2026 network restructure shifts Asia-Europe services toward a hub-and-spoke design with Busan and Shanghai as primary Asian hubs, fewer direct China port calls, and more transshipment events per shipment. This is aimed at improving schedule reliability through fewer port calls per rotation. Main East-West services continue routing via the Cape of Good Hope; a separate weekly Red Sea-China Service (RCS) operates with the ONE SSF Dream.
Premier Alliance schedule reliability stands at 54.2% (Sea-Intelligence GLP #177, March/April 2026, ALL arrivals), the lowest among major groupings (Gemini 85.0%, MSC standalone 73.4%, Ocean Alliance 67.6%). Reliability slipped from 58.8% in January 2026 (GLP #174). For booking decisions, this means: build schedule buffers into consignee commitments, expect higher delay variance than Gemini or Ocean Alliance bookings, and set ETA expectations against the Premier Alliance baseline rather than industry averages.
ONE QUOTE is ONE's branded spot rate product, launched 23 February 2021 and powered by the Descartes Kontainers platform. It provides instant quotations for spot bookings through the eCommerce portal. Key characteristics: rates valid for the specific vessel and schedule at quoting time; non-DG dry and reefer FAK cargo only (DG and special cargo excluded); no published loading guarantee mechanism; schedule ETD/ETA explicitly excluded from contract terms; subject to non-manifested local surcharges; weight and cargo restrictions apply. ONE QUOTE is a quoting and booking tool, not a guaranteed-space product. Forwarders needing space commitment guarantees should negotiate contract terms rather than relying on the spot platform.
ONE ranks sixth globally by TEU capacity — smaller than the Big 4 (Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd). Whether this translates into commercial agility advantages (faster rate responses, more flexible amendments) or disadvantages (thinner equipment availability, less schedule frequency outside core lanes) is an open question. ONE's three-shareholder governance model (consensus across NYK, MOL, K Line boards) may offset any agility advantage that smaller organisational size would otherwise provide.
Where ONE booking errors happen
Common booking errors and rework triggers on ONE, based on published product terms and operational patterns.
ONE QUOTE loading assumption
CommonForwarder assumes ONE QUOTE booking has guaranteed loading, analogous to Maersk Spot or CMA CGM SpotOn. ONE QUOTE has no published loading guarantee — cargo may be rolled without compensation. For time-critical cargo needing space commitment, negotiate contract terms rather than relying on ONE QUOTE.
Premier Alliance reliability underestimate
CommonETA committed to consignee using Gemini (~85%) or Ocean Alliance (~68%) benchmarks. Actual Premier Alliance reliability is 54.2% (March/April 2026), the lowest among major groupings. Wider delay variance means missed delivery windows. Calibrate ETAs to the Premier Alliance baseline and build larger schedule buffers.
Operating carrier surprise
OccasionalONE booking confirmed on HMM or Yang Ming vessel (or MSC on covered Asia-Europe services). Forwarder expects ONE-operated service. Tracking feed, equipment source, and port operations differ from an ONE-operated leg. Identify the operating carrier from the booking confirmation and adjust tracking and operational expectations.
DG booking on ONE QUOTE
OccasionalForwarder attempts to book dangerous goods through ONE QUOTE. The product explicitly excludes DG and special cargo — only non-DG dry and reefer FAK cargo is eligible. DG bookings must go through standard eCommerce contract booking or the local ONE office.
Cape routing transit time underestimate
CommonETA based on Suez-era transit time benchmarks. ONE's main East-West services route via Cape of Good Hope, adding 10-14 days. The separate Red Sea-China Service (RCS) is a distinct product, not a return to mainline Suez routing. Default to Cape transit times for affected trades.
MSC slot exchange confusion
OccasionalForwarder treats an MSC-operated sailing (from the 9 Asia-Europe slot exchange services) as an MSC booking. The booking remains an ONE booking — ONE is the BL issuer, responsible for ENS filing, and the customer-facing carrier. MSC is not a Premier Alliance member. Maintain ONE as the carrier of record regardless of which vessel operates.
No consolidated cancellation fee
OccasionalForwarder cannot find cancellation or no-show fees in ONE's published tariff. No consolidated schedule exists. Fees are surfaced only after the fact or through the local office. Confirm cancellation terms with the local ONE office before committing to booking changes.
How Expedion agents handle ONE bookings
Expedion agents automate ONE booking management across ONE QUOTE and contract channels.
Agents compare ONE QUOTE spot rates against the forwarder's contract rates. The trade-off is surfaced explicitly: ONE QUOTE has no loading guarantee, so time-critical cargo should route through contract channels. Rate comparison and schedule options are presented to the reviewer before booking.
Agents read booking confirmations to identify whether the vessel is operated by ONE, HMM, Yang Ming, or MSC (slot exchange). Tracking integration is adjusted to poll the operating carrier's feed in parallel with ONE's to ensure milestone completeness.
ETA commitments are set against Premier Alliance's ~54% reliability baseline (March/April 2026), not industry average or Gemini benchmarks. Wider delay buffers are applied to consignee commitments. Bookings with tight delivery windows are flagged for reviewer attention.
Agents track which services route via Cape of Good Hope vs the separate Red Sea-China Service (RCS). Transit time calculations are adjusted per service, not per carrier default. RCS is flagged as a distinct product with different routing and schedule characteristics.
Agents identify DG cargo at booking stage and route through standard ONE eCommerce or local office channels — never through ONE QUOTE, which explicitly excludes DG and special cargo.
Amendments are routed through the ONE eCommerce portal or the original booking channel. Since no consolidated cancellation fee schedule is published, agents confirm fee implications with the local ONE office and surface the complete cost to the reviewer before submission.
Agents flag bookings affected by the hub-and-spoke restructure (Busan and Shanghai hubs, fewer direct China port calls, more transshipment events). Transit time expectations are adjusted for routes with added feeder legs.
ONE QUOTE vs Maersk Spot vs CMA CGM SpotOn vs Hapag-Lloyd Quick Quotes Spot
Comparison of spot booking products across four Tier 1 carriers. Each product has distinct terms — they are not interchangeable.
| Feature | ONE QUOTE | Maersk Spot | CMA CGM SpotOn | Hapag-Lloyd Quick Quotes Spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Descartes Kontainers | Maersk.com | My CMA CGM | Online Business Suite |
| Launch date | 23 February 2021 | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 |
| Price validity | At time of quotation (vessel-specific) | Instant (valid at acceptance) | 24 hours (extendable to 72 with Lock My Price) | Validity period on quote |
| Loading guarantee | No published guarantee | Two-way loading guarantee (+/- 3 days from ETD) | Priority loading | Loading guarantee (origin + transshipment) |
| Rollable compensation | None published | Published compensation mechanism | Not published | Loading priority on next sailing (no published $) |
| Equipment guarantee | Not published | Not published | Priority equipment release | Equipment guarantee |
| Cargo scope | Non-DG dry and reefer FAK only | FCL (standard and reefer) | FCL (standard and reefer) | FCL (standard and reefer) |
| DG eligible | No | Yes (with DG surcharge) | Yes (with DG surcharge) | Yes (with DG surcharge) |
TMS compatibility for ONE booking
Expedion agents place ONE bookings from within your existing TMS. For CargoWise users, agents exchange booking data via the eAdaptor and submit through ONE's eCommerce portal (ecomm.one-line.com) or EDI via INTTRA. For GoFreight and Magaya, agents use the respective REST and Connect APIs for forwarder-side data exchange, with ONE's DCSA-aligned API at developers.one-line.com handling the carrier-side integration. ONE's DCSA Booking 2.0 is still in Beta; production booking submission runs through the eCommerce portal or EDI channels rather than a DCSA standard.
ONE QUOTE is ONE's branded spot product, launched 23 February 2021 and powered by the Descartes Kontainers platform. It covers non-DG dry and reefer FAK cargo, is quoted through the eCommerce portal, and does not publish a loading guarantee. DG and special cargo route through standard booking channels. Expedion agents drive the ONE QUOTE flow when a spot quote is needed, route DG and special cargo through contract channels, and return both confirmations to the TMS so the booking record stays consistent. Full TMS compatibility details are on the ONE overview page.
Related pages
ONE carrier pages: Overview · Shipping instructions · Bill of lading · Documentation · Tracking & visibility
Booking across carriers: Maersk booking · MSC booking · CMA CGM booking · Hapag-Lloyd booking · COSCO booking · Evergreen booking
Solutions: Booking automation
Glossary: SCAC Code
Frequently asked questions
What is ONE QUOTE and how does it work?
ONE QUOTE is ONE's branded spot rate product, launched 23 February 2021 and powered by the Descartes Kontainers platform. It provides instant quotations for spot bookings through the ONE eCommerce portal at ecomm.one-line.com. Rates are valid for the specific vessel and schedule selected at quoting time. ONE QUOTE covers non-DG dry and reefer FAK cargo only — DG and special cargo must use standard booking channels. Rates are subject to non-manifested local surcharges. Weight and cargo restrictions apply.
Does ONE QUOTE include a loading guarantee?
No. ONE QUOTE does not publish a loading guarantee mechanism. This distinguishes it from Maersk Spot (explicit two-way loading guarantee with rollable compensation), CMA CGM SpotOn (priority booking, loading, and equipment benefits), and Hapag-Lloyd Quick Quotes Spot (loading guarantee at origin and transshipment plus equipment guarantee). Cargo booked through ONE QUOTE may be rolled without compensation. Forwarders needing guaranteed space should negotiate contract terms.
How does ONE QUOTE compare to Maersk Spot?
Maersk Spot provides instant booking confirmation, a two-way loading guarantee (booked vessel +/- 3 days from ETD, or compensation), and accepts DG cargo. ONE QUOTE provides instant quotations without a published loading guarantee, excludes DG cargo, and explicitly excludes schedule ETD/ETA from its contract terms. Maersk Spot is a guaranteed-space product; ONE QUOTE is a quoting and booking tool. The rate competitiveness varies by trade lane and timing.
What happens when an ONE booking sails on an HMM or Yang Ming vessel?
Within the Premier Alliance network, ONE bookings may execute on vessels operated by HMM or Yang Ming (or MSC on the 9 covered Asia-Europe slot exchange services). The booking remains an ONE booking — ONE is the BL issuer and the customer-facing carrier. However, tracking milestones originate from the operating carrier's systems, equipment may come from any alliance member's pool, and terminal handling follows the operating carrier's local arrangements. Expedion agents identify the operating carrier from the booking confirmation and adjust tracking integration accordingly.
What is the MSC slot exchange and how does it affect ONE bookings?
Premier Alliance signed a slot exchange cooperation with MSC covering 9 Asia-Europe services, announced September 2024 and effective February 2025. MSC is NOT a Premier Alliance member — the slot exchange is a separate commercial arrangement that supplements alliance capacity on the trade lane where Hapag-Lloyd's departure created the largest gap. For ONE bookings sailing on MSC tonnage, ONE remains the BL issuer and the responsible carrier for ENS filing and customer-facing documentation.
What are ONE's booking cancellation fees?
ONE does not publish a consolidated cancellation or no-show fee schedule. Cancellation fees are handled through the local ONE office and may vary by geography and booking type. This contrasts with carriers like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd that publish more structured cancellation fee schedules. Forwarders should confirm cancellation terms with the local ONE office before committing to booking changes.
How does Premier Alliance reliability affect booking decisions?
Premier Alliance schedule reliability is 54.2% (March/April 2026, Sea-Intelligence GLP #177), the lowest among major groupings (Gemini 85.0%, MSC standalone 73.4%, Ocean Alliance 67.6%). Reliability slipped from 58.8% in January 2026. For booking decisions: build larger schedule buffers into consignee commitments, expect higher delay variance than Gemini or Ocean Alliance bookings, and use proactive tracking rather than passive milestone polling to catch delays early.