The four modes of Containerised Transport

Containerised transportation of goods is the most budget-conscious and common form of cargo transport found in today’s logistics industry. We will be discussing containerised transport and the four modes of transport associated with containers.

What is Containerised Transport?

Container transport is the process of transporting goods (also known as freight or cargo) by placing them inside a suitable container. This form of transporting goods was developed in the early twentieth century and today is considered one of the most ecologically beneficial ways to transport goods over long distances.

Why is containerised transport so popular?

Container transport has moved large amounts of goods more convenient and flexible. The large containers can transport goods of almost any size in large quantities, they also move seamlessly from one mode of transport to the other without the need to be repacked or organized. These qualities have made transporting goods less expensive and more profitable to all businesses involved. Due to their size and stability, they can be stacked on top of one another, which means logistics companies can move huge quantities of them at the same time. This has resulted in reduced costs for both the logistic companies and their clients.

What are the four methods of transporting containers?

Due to a container’s rectangular shape and rigidity they can be easily loaded and unloaded onto various forms of transportation. Let’s take a look at the different methods of transporting containers:

Transporting Goods by Land

Containers can be transported on land via roads on trucks or railways inside trains. This form of transportation is the most common as this is what is used to transport goods short distances and up to their final destinations whereas the two other forms of transport are limited in where they can deliver the goods.

 

Transporting Goods by Sea

This transportation mode is the best if you are looking for the cheapest way to regularly transport large volumes of goods. The liner vessels operate on fixed schedules which allows for businesses to organise themselves accordingly. Whereas tramp vessels are more flexible and can be hired when needed. This mode is commonly used for large quantities of commodities that are not urgently needed.

Transporting Goods by Air

Transporting goods by air is by far the fastest way to transport goods however it is also the most expensive as you are charged per kilogram. Items with less weight are cheaper to move than heavier items. But for urgent deliveries and time-sensitive cases transportation by air would be the way to go. Also depending on the destination and how often flights land, it can be cheaper than sea because vessels have stricter routes than aeroplanes.

Intermodal Transportation

Intermodal Transportation is simply a combination of the above three modes of transport to deliver goods to a specific destination. Oftentimes using one mode of transport is inefficient or not able to meet a businesses needs. Intermodal transportation is more specifically used when referring to shipping containers that are easily loaded and unloaded onto the different mediums of transport.

Bridgewater Logistics Containerised Transport Service:

Bridgewater Logistics is a South African based Logistics company that prides itself on providing world-class distribution and transportation services to its clients. Our wide range of trucks and vehicles within our fleet ensures that we can meet all of your transportation needs.  If you require transportation services, be it on a large or small scale, contact us via our website: https://bridgewaterlogistics.co.za/contact-us/