Classification of freight transport: types and characteristics

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Today, freight transportation is in high demand among all segments of the population. This service may be needed in various situations: when delivering various purchases, when moving products to a warehouse or between outlets, when moving to a new home.

Main classifications

The division of transportation into categories can be made according to a number of specific features. Among others, several main classifications can be distinguished. Freight transport is primarily divided depending on the type of transport that is used. Of the available options, water, land, air, pipeline and mixed (consisting of several) are mentioned. Speaking more specifically about the means of transportation themselves, we can single out the widespread use of sea and river vessels, railway trains, trucks and aviation.

Besides, what is being transported also matters. It can be not only any cargo, but also luggageor a person. The message itself can be direct or indirect, as well as with a regular, non-permanent or one-time route. Among the types of freight traffic and their classification, consideration of the transport and technological system is also allowed. The latter can be lighter, ferry or container. Depending on what goods are transported, the necessary conditions for transportation are selected.

Vehicle communication

It is considered the most popular and sought-after option for individuals and legal entities. Road freight transportation should be preferred for a number of reasons, including the relatively low cost and the ability to ship almost anywhere in the country. As a rule, only loading at the point of departure and unloading at the destination takes place during the entire transportation period. This means that the things being transported will not be subjected to relocation once again. There are no special restrictions on weight and dimensions, because you can always find a suitable car.

Companies often use this type of transport due to its reliability and high percentage of cargo safety. The driver of the car is responsible for the transported property and properly monitors it. Also, often legal entities send their own escort for even greater reliability. Among the disadvantages of this option, one can single out the impossibility of transporting very large loads that do not fit into one car. Also, it's not always cost effective to send something over long distances.

Railway service

Historically, a large share of the transport load has always been on domestic railways. Many regions of the Russian Federation have received their development precisely due to the presence of such a message. Currently, the situation has changed little and more than 50 percent of all cargo transportation is carried out by trains. This is mainly due to the high safety of the contents during transportation and the excellent level of mobility.

Among the shortcomings, one should note the complicated and excessively time-consuming clearance of cargo, as well as a rather large package of documents required for approval of transportation. Of course, the availability of such transportation is limited to the regions in which the railway is laid. The preferred way to transport something by train is storage in a container. In general, the development of freight rail transportation is a priority for the state, and therefore the complexity of registration for ordinary citizens is gradually decreasing against the backdrop of a general increase in the availability of this option.

Air service

This method is in demand not only for international transportation, but also within the same country. Many believe that the most fragile and most valuable items are best transported by air only. If you look at the classification of cargo transportation, then air transport stands out as the safest and most protected from theft.option. At modern airports, baggage control includes mandatory customs screening during loading and unloading. Land transport has only one procedure for checking the content, which is carried out directly when crossing the border.

Sometimes the choice falls on the plane for reasons beyond the control of the sender. It is not uncommon for people to find themselves in a situation where there are no roads or railways at their destination. Also, some transported products are perishable, which means they require prompt transportation. Air transportation, in turn, is the fastest of all options in the classification of freight transportation.

Water communication

Movement of objects, things or people by sea and river transport is in demand only in some regions. The water communication undoubtedly has a number of advantages, among which are the rather low cost of services for companies, and the actual absence of such a characteristic as bandwidth.

In the classification of freight transportation, this option can be called the most specific and demanding for the points of departure and destination, since both of them must be equipped with appropriate infrastructure such as ports and berths with cranes for loading and unloading, as well as other special equipment.

Other options

In the transport industry, inevitablesome associated waste of money and time. The same car drivers can take any cargo to the specified point, completely get rid of it and start returning to the starting point already “light”. However, there is a simple method for avoiding such costs. There are so-called passing freight. They lead to an increase in the loading time of vehicles up to one hundred percent, that is, they maximize its efficiency. Some change of routes for the delivery of already passing cargo is also allowed. At the same time, this variety should not be confused with shuttle transport, which moves in predetermined directions through collection points.