Freight Transportation

Welcome back to Transportation Logistics, where I want to continue with the information articles with a discussion about the benefits of freight transportation, or that by which cargo is transported by road using trucks.

Trucking freight is another way of saying cargo that is transported in trucks by road to their destination. At first sight, trucks must seem an expensive way to transport freight especially with rising fuel costs, but in actual fact a well packed, semi trailer truck is much more economical than several smaller vehicles and can of course access places that may not be served by rail. There are many things to know about the requirements of freight transportation especially via truck and that will be a subject for a later post to delve into more deeply. But let’s look at what modern day trucks have going in their favor as a viable alternative to other methods of freight transportation.

Modern trucks are equipped with the latest fuel saving devices as well as having cabs fitted out with incredibly luxurious accessories to make the driver’s job as stress free as possible. Loading and unloading a large trailer is relatively simple especially when it is done by a professional, because they know how to get the best fit for all the cargo that is intended to be transported.

Damage to freight in transit is far less common than is suspected as well packed goods generally will not move once they are put into place and packers always ensure that fragile goods are placed in the best possible areas to facilitate easy retrieval with minimal risk of damage. In any case, full freight forwarders insurance, or carriers insurance is always included in any reputable transport company’s itinerary.

Deliver times are usually predicted to great accuracy, the more so the longer the journey’s distance as traffic considerations are all accounted for by the logistics experts of the transport company before the truck leaves the depot. So if you were deliberating on whether to put your trust in a trucking freight company, then rest assured. The better professional freight and haulage companies all offer excellent service and complete piece of mind for your cargo.

Freight
Transportation Logistics

What are Freight Forwarders?

A common question that gets asked quite a lot and one that I’ll deal with here at Transportation Logistics is, “What are freight forwarders?”

Essentially, freight forwarders are third party transport and logistics providers. As a non asset based, third party provider, a freight forwarder is responsible for dispatching shipments of cargo via asset-based carriers and books and to arrange the necessary space for those shipments.

There are several carrier types that are used for freight forwarders transportation and logistics companies, which include land based vehicles such as trucks via road or freight trains via rail, waterborne vessels such as ships or container barges and air freight via airplanes.

Freight forwarders are typically known for arranging cargo movement to international destinations, although they also national land transport as well. for this reason they are often referred to as international freight forwarders.

International freight forwarders have the expertise and knowledge that means they are able to prepare and process all the necessary documentation as well as performing such related activities which pertain to international shipments.

A freight forwarder will review such typical information as the bill of lading, shipper’s export declaration, commercial invoice and any other documents that are required by the carrier or of country of export or import and transshipment. Currently, the majority of this information is processed using computer technology allowing for a paperless environment.

Freight forwarders involved with all international ocean shipping that are based in the United States are licensed as Ocean Transportation Intermediaries by the Federal Maritime Commission. In similar fashion, freight forwarders that also handle air freight are often accredited as a cargo agent with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Freight forwarders based in the United Kingdom are not licensed. However many of these are British International Freight Association (BIFA) members. UK based freight forwarders consolidate a variety of goods from different consignors together as a single full load for road transport to Europe. This practice is often known as “groupage”.

A number of freight forwarders offer some additional related services such as export packing and case making.

It is worth noting that the regulations regarding the exportation of untreated timber pallets and cases has become increasingly more strict. For many countries an exporter is now expected to provide a special “phytosanitary certificate” otherwise they may risk the additional expense of having their cargo specially fumigated.

We hope that you now have a better understanding of what freight forwarders are and what their function is with regards to the business of transportation and logistics.

Transportation Logistics

Transportation Logistics

Welcome to Transportation Logistics. For those of you who are not familiar with that particular tern, transportation logistics refers to the process of moving freight or cargo from one point to another and all the related parts of that process.

This blog is therefore set up to provide the reader with knowledge and information about the transport industry in all its guises and to cover every aspect of this fascinating side of modern life for the benefit of anyone who may be searching for any relevant information. Let’s face it, most people will move house at least once in their lifetimes and often it will happen on more than one occasion. Similarly, businesses be they small or large are also apt to change address from time to time either to expand into larger office space or manufacturing premises, or to downsize to smaller more economical premises.

Whatever the reason for moving, be it family based or business based, you’re going to need the services of a professional transport and logistics company so it helps to know some things about that business to ensure that you get the best possible service and don’t get taken for a ride by shysters.

So this is the blog that will get plenty of articles on the many facets of the transport, logistics and freight forwarding business to help you make informed choices and ensure you get the best possible deal out of your next move, be it a business move or a family home move to a new location.

We hope you’ll find this blog highly useful in whatever you decide to do.

Transportation Logistics