Freight: Meaning and Types

Freight or cargo refers to the goods that are usually 
transported for commercial purposes. The modes ofTruckload refers to the shipments that are greater
transport that are utilized include ship, train, van, truckthan 7,000 kg. It may be noted that it is more
and aircrafts. However, majority of inter modaleconomical and efficient for large shipments to use
long-haul cargo transport use containers for shipmentone large trailer instead of sharing space on a small
of goods. The major forms of cargo are less thanLTL trailer. Parcel, LTL and express shipments are
truckload (LTL) cargo and truckload cargo. Let usmingled with other type of shipments over a single
discuss them one by one.piece of equipment. Moreover, these shipments are
 reloaded over different pieces of equipment during
The first category of cargo shipment is less thanthe transport. Truckload shipments generally travel in
truckload (LTL) cargo. This category represents thethe form of exclusive shipments on trailers. Such
greater portion of business-to-business shipments andshipments are normally delivered on the same trailer
cargo shipments. These shipments generally rangefrom which they are picked up.
between 50-7000 kg and 2.5-8.5 m in length. 
Moreover, the shipments are shrink-wrapped,While the LTL shipper can realize savings through
palletized as well as packaged for a mixed-cargobrokers, online marketplace or any other intermediary
environment. In addition, the LTL shippers need torather than contracting out directly to a trucking
provide their own packaging because LTL carriers docompany. Generally, brokers can settle the deals for
not provide any assistance or packaging supplies.lower rates as compared to the majority of direct
 dealings. However, the truckload carriers charge a
Air freight shipments are similar to the LTL shipmentsrate per mile or kilometer. The rate is decided by
on parameters like packaging requirements and size.several factors like geographical location, distance,
However, these shipments are required to move at atype of equipment needed, service time needed as
faster speed of 800 km/day. These shipments canwell as nature of products. Such shipments also
be booked directly or through online marketplacereceive various surcharges that are similar to those
services and brokers.received by LTL shipments.