5 Types of Cargo and the Ways to Transport Them

Here is a quick guide to the five most common types of cargo, including air, road, ocean, and truckload. These methods are essential to a transportation company for different kinds of freight. For example, if you plan to move heavy or bulky items, you may want to consider truckload as your primary method. This method is often the most affordable and convenient for delivering bulky items such as cars and refrigerators.

Airfreight

Airfreight has a few benefits. It is often faster than other types of transportation, and the security at airports is much higher than at trucking facilities. It is also point-to-point, so most shipments arrive on time. It also requires fewer steps than trucking, and many carriers now offer tracking numbers. As a result, airfreight can be an excellent option for smaller companies that need to compete with larger firms for expedited shipping.

Because air freight has a highly flexible pricing policy, its prices fluctuate. They are determined by the demand for a particular product at shipping. As world GDP continues to rise, airfreight rates will drop. It can be costly if it isn’t the only option.

Road freight

Among the modes of transportation, road freight is the most common and has a long history of safety. However, while road transport is inexpensive and secure, it can produce high emissions.

Specialist carrier ships are specially designed to carry large amounts of raw materials. Petroleum tankers are also standard, especially in the oil and gas industries. Airfreight is a fast and convenient way of transporting goods but is expensive. Therefore, airfreight is generally used for bulk deliveries. Cargo planes, combi aircraft, and cargo helicopters are used. For a cost-effective option, they offer different routes and carriers.

Ocean freight

Air and ocean freight both have their advantages and disadvantages. While air freight is faster, it tends to have more restrictions than the ocean freight. For instance, shipping a container of refrigerators from Malaysia to California will take about two weeks, whereas shipping a small parcel from the same country can take about a month. On the other hand, another advantage of ocean freight is that it is more affordable than air freight, with fewer restrictions.

When shipping goods, the process is complex and often requires many parties. The freight forwarder is the most important of them all. They schedule the truck to pick up the goods, book space on a container, and supply the shipping documents to the carrier. Many freight forwarders also have satellite offices in the destination country and work with local agents to facilitate procedures. If you have an international shipment, ocean freight is one of the five ways to transport it.

Truckload

There are many different types of freight, but the most common are LTL, Partial Truckload, and Full Truckload. These different types of cargo can all be shipped using trucks. Here are some of the common ways to ship every kind of freight. Full Truckloads: These shipments take up the entire bed of the truck. The cargo weighs between 5,000 and 45,000 pounds. They are best for shipping large items and are often faster than LTL or Partial Truckload shipments. Partial Truckload: These shipments don’t fill the whole truck, but they are typically larger than LTL shipments. Partial Truckload: The same as Full Truckload, but they don’t cover the entire trailer. Partial Truckload: This method is often used for smaller shipments and doesn’t require much handling.

Full Truckloads: These trucks are capable of transporting a full load. These trucks are available for hire around the clock. Some services can include lift gates and inside pickups and deliveries. Different types of trailers can carry a wide variety of products. Other types of cargo can be shipped using these trucks, and the amount of weight and pallets used in the shipment determines the freight’s size.

Intermodal

Intermodal transport is moving goods from one place to another by combining multiple means of transportation. Generally, it involves trucking, rail, or a ship. A specialized intermodal driver picks up an empty container at the origin rail ramp and transports it to its shipper. Next, it travels by railroad to its destination rail ramp. The intermodal process has many advantages for shippers and carriers.

Unlike traditional truckload transportation, intermodal transport is more secure than standard transportation methods. This is because rail and container transportation is in motion, and the cargo is transported at high speeds on railroad tracks. This means that there are fewer opportunities for theft or unattended freight. It is especially beneficial for cross-border shipments, as the length of the journey is much shorter. It also means that shipping companies can track intermodal containers in real-time, and there are fewer restrictions on loading and unloading.