3 Common Shipping Methods for Freight Chains
Selecting the best shipping method for your cargo is essential for ensuring that it makes it to its destination on time and in one piece. But if you don’t know your options, you may have a hard time deciding what’s truly ideal for your needs. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a short list of standard shipping methods, their benefits, and drawbacks in this guide.
Air Transportation
There are several common shipping methods for freight chains, and air transportation is among the most advantageous. For one, air transport is accessible across most of the world. Plus, planes move fast, so this type of shipping is ideal for packages that need to move quickly and across the country and overseas.
And because air transport works so quickly, it offers freight chains optimal security and safe handling of their cargo. Of course, the downside here is that air transport can get pretty pricey. Moreover, certain size restrictions can be problematic for companies that need to ship larger loads.
Railroad Shipping
Railroad shipping has been around for a long time and has played a significant role in the trade and logistics sectors ever since. The top three commodities in these transports included vehicles, mineral fuels, and plastics.
These are all pretty typical for the load types that rail shipping usually manages. Rail freight also offers more carrying capacity, reduces shipping delays, and minimizes impact on the environment when used over long distances. These characteristics make it the perfect shipping method for companies that need speedy ground freight that adheres to a tight schedule.
That said, railways move a bit slower than trucking and air transport. Moreover, not every region has easily accessibly railroad tracks. Sometimes, other forms of transportation have to intervene to complete the shipment. For these reasons, it’s wise to weigh the pros and cons of shipping by rails vs. other types of transportation before making a final decision.
Trucking Freight
This guide on the common shipping methods for freight chains wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention trucking. Road transportation has come a long way since its conception in the era of horse and wagon shipments. This type of shipping is ideal for the following industries:
- Grocery
- Retail
- E-commerce
- Construction
- Agriculture
This is because truck freighting can offer these industries fewer restrictions on shipping. On top of that, using a truck to transport your goods is less costly than air and maritime transportation. Plus, trucking allows for more accessibility. While not everyone has access to railroads, most companies have easy access to a central highway system. Finally, you have a vast array of options for the type of goods you can ship with trucks.
However, you should be mindful that truck shipments are more susceptible to delays, and because your products are in a trailer, you have a bit less control over the impact a rough trip on the road might have on your goods. Thus, you should consider this when deciding which form of shipment to use.
