Cargo
The term cargo is also used in case of goods in the cold-chain, because the perishable inventory is always in transit towards a final end-use, even when it is held in cold storage or other similar climate-controlled facilities, including warehouses.
Similarly, aircraft ULD boxes are also documented as cargo, with an associated packing list of the items contained within.
Typically bundled in batches for hoisting, either with cargo nets, slings, crates, or stacked on trays, pallets or skids; at best (and today mostly) lifted directly into and out of a vessel's holds, but otherwise onto and off its deck, by cranes or derricks present on the dock or on the ship itself.
If hoisted on deck instead of straight into the hold, liftable or rolling unit loads, like bags, barrels/vats, boxes, cartons and crates, then have to be man-handled and stowed competently by stevedores.
When no hoisting equipment is available, break bulk would previously be man-carried on and off the ship, over a plank, or by passing via human chain.
Since the 1960s, the volume of break bulk cargo has enormously declined worldwide in favour of mass adoption of containers.
Bulk cargo, such as salt, oil, tallow, but also scrap metal, is usually defined as commodities that are neither on pallets nor in containers.
In the US, there are certain restrictions on cargo moving via air freight on passenger aircraft, most notably the transport of rechargeable lithium-ion battery shipments.
Under the right circumstances, freight transport by rail is more economical and energy efficient than by road, mainly when carried in bulk or over long distances.
Many governments are encouraging shippers to increase their use of rail rather than transport because of trains' lower environmental disbenefits.
These smaller road haulage companies constantly strive for the best routes and prices to ship out their products.
The average single piece of LTL freight is 600 kg (1,323 lb) and the size of a standard pallet.
In the United States, shipments larger than about 7,000 kg (15,432 lb) are typically classified as truckload (TL) freight.
An item's category is determined by:[citation needed] Shipments are typically categorized as household goods, express, parcel, and freight shipments:[citation needed] An LTL shipper often realizes savings by utilizing a freight broker, online marketplace or another intermediary, instead of contracting directly with a trucking company.
Carriers or intermediaries can provide shippers with the address and phone number for the closest shipping terminal to the origin and/or destination.
Shipping experts optimize their service and costs by sampling rates from several carriers, brokers and online marketplaces.
Therefore, many governments have enacted rules and regulations, administered by a customs agency, for the handling of cargo to minimize risks of terrorism and other crime.
CSI is a program intended to help increase security for containerized cargo shipped to the United States from around the world.
Conventional load securing methods and materials such as steel strapping and plastic/wood blocking and bracing have been used for decades and are still widely used.
Practical advice on stabilization is given in the International Guidelines on Safe Load Securing for Road Transport.
