The FT spent days acquiring information regarding cargo handling practices and shipment records from transportation companies in order to conduct their research. All the companies they got in touch with only offered ballpark figures for the price of relocating a container. They also got comprehensive information about shipping expenses in general; however, this did not include expenses particular to certain products or areas. Additionally, the FT spoke with a number of freight forwarders and transportation firms over the phone. There are certain commonalities among the companies that provided the FT with the shipping charges. They all appeared to have connections between their global headquarters located throughout several nations and their international shipping corporations.