Types and benefits of freight services
Freight services, often classified as freight forwarding, is the process of transporting goods, commodities, and cargo by land, sea, or air. The international trade industry relies heavily on these services to sustain itself, but freight service companies are also useful for other purposes. For instance, couriers and long-distance moving services also fall back on freight services. There are several benefits and types of freight services. This article lists a few such key elements.
Types of freight services
Here are some of the classifications of freight services that companies provide for reasonable rates:
- Intermodal rail freight
As the name implies, intermodal rail freight services transport goods and commodities through the railway network of a country. Many moving companies prefer this alternative as it is environmentally friendly, relatively risk-free, moderately quick, and efficient. These qualities make the rail route a favorite for shifting hazardous materials and bulk construction-related goods. This mode of transport is comparatively cheaper than using a truck to move goods. Moreover, freight shipping to most places across the country is seamless due to the extensive railroad systems and networks available to moving companies. - Sea freight
The transportation of commodities through cargo ships, boats, or other specialized transport firms is called sea or ocean freight. Mostly, this avenue is used by companies looking to transport heavier, bigger commodities or massive volumes of goods. Due to the vastness of the ocean route, this alternative involves the largest delivery times. On the flip side, it is also more accessible and far less expensive for businesses to use ocean freight compared to rail, road, or air freight. - Air freight
This is, unsurprisingly, the costliest of the three modes. At the same time, air freight services are among the quickest and most reliable forms of moving services available to companies. Generally, businesses that need quick and high-quality deliveries fall back on air freight. This is also the safest mode of delivery, with accidents and other mishaps almost taken out of the equation entirely.
Benefits of freight services
Some of the reasons why freight services will always be quintessential for trade and commerce are as follows:
Easy way to transport refrigerated goods
Perishable goods are among the most difficult objects to transport and deliver due to their inherent vulnerability. Fortunately, such goods can be transported over long distances in a refrigerated state through the appropriate freight services. Many services have large frozen carriers and cars to transport commodities such as food, vaccines, prescriptions, and biological equipment safely without damage.
Efficient transportation of dry goods
Freight services provide efficient transportation of a wide array of dry goods. Whether companies need to courier dry food or heavily packaged products, freight services offer the ultimate solution for their needs. Once sealed and set for transportation, these goods will be protectively carried in containers specifically designed with protective material and air-tight packaging to avoid damage or exposure to environmental elements in the goods being transported.
Allows businesses to focus on core operations
Transporting goods is an essential component of many businesses. However, it is not their actual core business operation. This is why companies tend not to focus on transporting their goods themselves but rely on experts in freight service providers to get the job done for them.