What Does Freight transport Mean
We explain what freight transport is, its history, types and characteristics. Also, its advantages, disadvantages and examples.
What is cargo transportation?
Freight transport is the type of transport in charge of moving goods and merchandise from one place of origin to another of destination, in such a way that they reach their destination in good condition and within a specified period of time .
These are generally large shipments of heavy, valuable or bulky materials, the transfer of which requires special conditions. In this it differs from passenger transport.
Freight transport is one of the most common activities in the contemporary globalized economy , using land, air and water vehicles , in simple or combined ( multimodal ) modalities . All this both in a supplier-client sense, as well as a client-supplier.
See also: Globalization
History of freight transport
The exchange of merchandise between nations , even those that were at great distances from each other, is as old as humanity itself. At first, this transport was carried out by using beasts of burden , that is, donkeys, camels or other animals that supported the weight of the merchandise on their backs.
The disadvantage of transport "by blood" was that it allowed small quantities to be transported at a time, thus necessitating long lines of animals. In the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution brought new forms of transportation that made this type of exchange easier, thanks to the steam engine .
The steam engine was used in the two most revolutionary inventions in the field: the railroad and the steamship , which shortened the distances within and outside the nations in a very significant way. Thus began a wide range of commercial international transportation services.
Characteristics of cargo transportation
Freight transport differs from other forms of transport, such as passenger transport, in the fact that it carries goods, generally bulky or numerous .
Therefore, it requires large spaces (such as vaults or containers), and not comfortable or aesthetic facilities (as occurs with passenger transport). In this way, raw materials , vehicles and tools, machinery parts, chemical compounds or even consumer products are often transported .
Types of cargo transportation
Freight transport can take place in four different ways:
- Shipping . As its name indicates, it is carried out using maritime vehicles, that is, sailing through the sea: cargo ships and other similar vessels.
- Road transport . It refers to the use of land vehicles such as trucks and wheeled transporters, capable of going from one point to another in a country or region provided there are passable roads. These trucks can be unit, trailer or tractor.
- Rail transport . In this case, it refers to transport by the various types of existing train, that is, a land transport that does not involve roads but tracks. Trains can reach high speeds and travel long distances, as long as there are railways laid out at their destination.
- Air transportation . As its name indicates, in this case air vehicles are used, that is, the different types of cargo aircraft that exist in operation. In this case, the amount of transportable material, however, is noticeably less than in the rest of the previous types.
Advantages of cargo transportation
The advantages of freight transport have to do with its ability to move large loads of goods over long distances : a much more efficient , economical and direct service than using small vehicles on numerous trips.
Cargo vehicles not only have a large storage capacity, but also a greater fuel capacity . Thus, they can undertake long and sustained trips with less need to refuel.
Disadvantages of freight transport
Although cargo transportation is ideal for moving merchandise, it is not convenient when it comes to transporting people , minimal goods or other types of cargo.
More than anything because their facilities are not comfortable and, being large, they are not profitable for the shipment of a few goods . In addition, large merchandise transporters are cumbersome, difficult to maneuver and polluting, which is why they deserve constant spare parts and revisions.
Examples of cargo transportation
Some examples of cargo transportation are:
- Ships tankers of fuel or oil , usually oil or petrochemical corporations.
- The army of trucks of merchandise or raw materials, that cross the freeways of the United States connecting the east coast and the west coast.
- The Hercules cargo planes used by some armies to transport soldiers and combat vehicles from one region to another.