The Four Modes of Shipping

Shipping your goods can be done in one of three modes. Most of the time, even a single package will use at least two of these transportation modes. These are basic breakdowns, but they’re represented as road, rail, sea, and air transport. Each has benefits and drawbacks:

Shipping by Road

Shipping by road includes any shipping that relies upon road infrastructure. This can be shipped via a package van or a semi-truck. Even shipping by bicycle, as may happen with time-sensitive documents in a major city, is a type of road shipping.

In terms of global shipping, road transportation typically comes into play at the beginning and end of your goods’ journeys. Trucks can deliver to more precise locations than rail, sea, or air transport, but they can’t efficiently make the long journeys in between.

Rail

Rail transportation is a key link between other forms of transportation. Major shipments going across a country are often most efficiently moved by rail unless time is at issue (in which case air is a better solution). Rail transportation is often relied upon by seaports – rail is the only way to move the number of volume seaports receive in a way that will keep up.

Rail infrastructure is key to many countries. It isn’t becoming obsolete, either. Countries like Canada are increasingly relying upon high-speed rail delivery, although the U.S. has recently canceled such infrastructure projects. Shipping by rail is also the greenest way of moving cargo long distances.

Sea

Shipping by sea is the stuff of many storybook legends centering on lost treasure, but the truth is it’s become an incredibly safe option in recent decades. When shipping internationally in ways that land routes can’t accomplish, maritime shipping it the most cost-effective way to move goods. The trade-off is that it takes some time to move those goods – it’s perfect for regular deliveries, but not for time-crunch special deliveries

Air Transport

Air transport is the way to go if something must arrive immediately. Speed of transport also cuts down on time when freight is exposed to damage, so it’s a good option for high-end, antique, or specialty goods.

The best transport chain links together the most time- or cost-efficient route for you, depending on your priorities and needs. Contact us today to learn more.