ABC OF LAND FREIGHT FORWARDING
Ground freight transportation is a crucial backbone of the global supply chain, enabling goods and products to move efficiently from their point of origin to their final destination. Understanding the fundamentals of this type of transportation is essential for both companies that ship products and those that receive deliveries.
In this guide, we will explore the ABCs of ground freight transportation, breaking down its key components, its importance, and how to optimize its use to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. From selecting the appropriate vehicles to managing routes and complying with regulations, this journey through the world of ground freight transportation will provide you with the necessary tools to enhance your logistics operations and ensure that your goods arrive at their destination safely and on time.
Basic Notions
Pallet: A wooden platform on wich cargo is stacked for transportation
_____________________________________________________________________________
Shipper: Party that tenders goods for transportation.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Truck: Triler (dry van)
_____________________________________________________________________________
53′ Dry van
A dry van trailer is a fully enclosed semi-trailer mostly used to ship non-perishable cargo. It is specially designed to transport boxed, palletized, or loose cargo and enclosed to protect its contents from harsh external elements. A dry van trailer is also known as a box trailer or a dry van.
___________________________________________________________________
53′ Reefer
Reefer units operate on closed systems to maintain a steady temperature by collecting, pumping, and removing heat. Cooling for a reefer container is achieved through different methods, which can include:
Diesel-powered generators: These attach to the container being pulled
Cryogenic cooling: Melts frozen carbon dioxide ice to keep contents cool
___________________________________________________________________
48′ or 53′ flatbed
A flatbed truck is a large vehicle with a flat body and no sides or roof around the bed. Typically, these types of trucks are used to transport heavy loads that won’t be compromised in bad weather or on rough roads.
___________________________________________________________________
48′ or 53′ stepdeck
Step deck, also known as drop deck, trailers have top and bottom decks. They are used for cargo that is too tall or wide to fit onto a standard flatbed.
_____________________________________________________________________________
SHIPPING METHODS
FTL – full truckload
_____________________________________________________________________________
LTL – less than truckload
_____________________________________________________________________________
PTL – Partial truckload
_____________________________________________________________________________
Flatbeds