View source for Cargo

{{Short description|Goods or produce transported}}
{{About|transported goods||Cargo (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Freight|the price paid in a [[Chartering (shipping)#Charter types|voyage charter]]|Freight rate}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2014}}
[[File:DTTX 724681 20050529 IL Rochelle.jpg|thumb|An articulated [[double-stack rail transport|double-stack]] [[well car]] owned by the [[TTX Company]]. The {{convert|53|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} capacity car is a [[The Greenbrier Companies#Rail vehicles|Gunderson]] Maxi-IV.]]
{{Admiralty law}}

In [[transportation]], '''cargo''' refers to [[goods]] transported by [[land transport|land]], [[water transport|water]] or [[air transport|air]], while '''freight''' refers to its conveyance. In [[economics]], freight refers to goods transported at a [[freight rate]] for [[Commerce|commercial]] gain. The term cargo is also used in case of goods in the [[cold chain|cold-chain]], because the perishable [[inventory]] is always in transit towards a final end-use, even when it is held in [[refrigeration|cold storage]] or other similar climate-controlled facilities, including warehouses.

Multi-modal container units, designed as reusable carriers to facilitate unit load handling of the goods contained, are also referred to as cargo, especially by shipping lines and logistics operators. When empty containers are shipped each unit is documented as a cargo and when goods are stored within, the contents are termed containerized cargo. Similarly, aircraft [[Unit load device|ULD]] boxes are also documented as cargo, with an associated packing list of the items contained within.

== Description ==
{{expand section|date=August 2021}}
===Marine===
[[Image:CargoShip.jpg|thumb|Container ship at the [[Port of Helsinki]] in [[Finland]]]]
[[Port|Seaport]] terminals handle a wide range of [[List of cargo types|maritime cargoes]].

[[Break bulk cargo|Break bulk / general cargo]] are goods that are handled and stowed piecemeal to some degree, as opposed to cargo in bulk or modern [[Intermodal container|shipping containers]]. Typically bundled in batches for hoisting, either with [[cargo net]]s, slings, [[crate]]s, or stacked on trays, [[pallet]]s 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 [[Crane (machine)|cranes]] or [[derrick]]s present on the [[Dock (maritime)|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 [[stevedore]]s. Securing break bulk and general freight inside a vessel, includes the use of [[dunnage]]. 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 [[Bucket brigade|human chain]]. Since the 1960s, the volume of break bulk cargo has enormously declined worldwide in favour of [[containerization|mass adoption]] of [[Intermodal container|containers]].
[[Bulk cargo]], such as [[salt]], [[oil]], [[tallow]], but also [[Scrap|scrap metal]], is usually defined as commodities that are neither on pallets nor in containers. Bulk cargoes are not handled as individual pieces, the way heavy-lift and project cargo are. [[Alumina]], [[grain]], [[gypsum]], logs, and wood chips, for instance, are bulk cargoes. Bulk cargo is classified as [[liquid]] or [[dry goods|dry]].

===Air===
[[File:Cargolux B747-400F.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cargolux]] Boeing 747-400F with the nose loading door open]]
[[File:Emirates Boeing 777F (A6-EFM) arrives London Heathrow 11Apr2015 arp.jpg|thumb|[[Boeing 777]] freighter of [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] arrives at [[London Heathrow Airport]] (2015).]]
{{Main| Air cargo}}
Air cargo refers to any goods shipped by air, whereas air freight refers specifically to goods transported in the cargo hold of a dedicated cargo plane.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air cargo VS. Air freight|url=https://an.aero/air-cargo-vs-air-freight-the-usage-in-the-shipping-industry|website=AN Aviation Servies|date=12 March 2022 }}</ref> Aircraft were first used to carry [[Airmail|mail as cargo]] in 1911. Eventually manufacturers started designing aircraft for other types of freight as well.

There are many commercial aircraft suitable for carrying cargo such as the [[Boeing 747]] and the more prominent [[An-124|An‑124]], which was purposely built for easy conversion into a [[cargo aircraft]]. Such large aircraft employ standardized quick-loading containers known as [[unit load device]]s (ULDs), comparable to [[Intermodal container|ISO containers]] on cargo ships. ULDs can be stowed in the lower decks (front and rear) of several [[wide-body aircraft]],<ref>In an all-freight configuration also on their main deck, but this is less common.</ref> and on the main deck of some [[narrow-body aircraft|narrow-bodies]]. Some dedicated cargo planes have a large opening front for loading.

Air freight shipments are very similar to [[Less-than-truckload shipping|LTL shipments]] in terms of size and packaging requirements. However, air freight or air cargo shipments typically need to move at much faster speeds than {{cvt|800|km|mi|0|disp=or}} per hour. While shipments move faster than standard LTL, air shipments do not always actually move by air. Air shipments may be booked directly with the carriers, through brokers or with [[online marketplace]] services. 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. 

Shippers in the US must be approved and be "known" in the Known Shipper Management System before their shipments can be tendered on passenger aircraft.

===Rail===

{{Main|Rail freight transport}} 
[[File:Banbury box car 2001 1st.png|thumb|[[P&O Nedlloyd]] [[intermodal container]] in a [[tiphook]] [[intermodal freight]] [[Class U special wagon#Intermodal container well wagons|well wagon]] at [[Banbury station]]. [[England]], 2001]]

Trains are capable of transporting a large number of containers that come from shipping ports. Trains are also used to transport water, cement, grain, steel, wood and coal. They are used because they can carry a large amount and generally have a direct route to the destination. 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.

The main disadvantage of rail freight is its lack of flexibility. For this reason, rail has lost much of the freight business to road transport. Rail freight is often subject to [[transshipment]] costs, since it must be transferred from one mode of transportation to another. Practices such as containerization aim at minimizing these costs. When transporting point-to-point bulk loads such as cement or grain, with specialised bulk handling facilities at the rail sidings, the rail mode of transport remains the most convenient and preferred option.

Many governments are encouraging shippers to increase their use of rail rather than transport because of trains' lower environmental disbenefits.
{{clear}}

===Road===
{{main|Truck}}
Many firms, like [[Parcelforce]], [[FedEx]] and [[R+L Carriers]] transport all types of cargo by road. Delivering everything from letters to [[structure relocation|houses]] to [[containerization|cargo containers]], these firms offer fast, sometimes same-day [[Delivery (commerce)|delivery]].

A good example of road cargo is food, as [[supermarket]]s require deliveries daily to replenish their shelves with goods. Retailers and manufacturers of all kinds rely upon [[delivery truck]]s, be they full size [[Semi-trailer truck|semi trucks]] or smaller [[delivery van]]s. These smaller road haulage companies constantly strive for the best routes and prices to ship out their products. Indeed, the level of commercial freight transported by smaller businesses is often a good barometer of healthy [[economic development]] as these types of vehicles move and transport anything literally, including couriers transporting parcels and mail.<ref name="The World Bank">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2013/04/14/transport-results-profile|title=Transportation is a crucial driver of economic growth and poverty reduction.|publisher=The World Bank|access-date=14 April 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630020149/http://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2013/04/14/transport-results-profile|archive-date=30 June 2013}}</ref>
You can see the different types and weights of vehicles that are used to move cargo around .<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.returnloads.net/pdfs/haulage-courier-vehicle-types-and-weights/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-01-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210061002/http://www.returnloads.net/pdfs/haulage-courier-vehicle-types-and-weights/ |archive-date=2015-02-10 }}</ref>

====Less-than-truckload freight====
{{Main|Less than truckload shipping}}
'''Less than truckload (LTL) cargo''' is the first category of freight shipment, representing the majority of freight shipments and the majority of business-to-business (B2B) shipments. LTL shipments are also often referred to as ''motor freight'' and the carriers involved are referred to as ''motor carriers''.

LTL shipments range from {{cvt|50|to|7000|kg|lb}}, being less than {{cvt|2.5|to|8.5|m|ftin|1}} the majority of times. The average single piece of LTL freight is {{cvt|600|kg|lb|0}} and the size of a standard pallet. Long freight and/or large freight are subject to extreme length and cubic capacity surcharges.

Trailers used in LTL can range from {{cvt|28|to|53|ft|m|2}}. The standard for city deliveries is usually {{cvt|48|ft|m|2}}. In tight and residential environments the {{cvt|28|ft|m|2}} trailer is used the most.

The shipments are usually palletized, stretch [shrink]-wrapped and packaged for a mixed-freight environment. Unlike express or parcel, LTL shippers must provide their own packaging, as carriers do not provide any packaging supplies or assistance. However, circumstances may require crating or another substantial packaging.

====Truckload freight====
{{Main|Truckload shipping}}
In the United States, shipments larger than about {{cvt|7000|kg|lb|0}} are typically classified as '''truckload (TL) freight'''. This is because it is more efficient and economical for a large shipment to have exclusive use of one larger trailer rather than share space on a smaller LTL trailer.

By the [[Federal Bridge Gross Weight Formula]] the total weight of a loaded truck (tractor and trailer, 5-axle rig) cannot exceed {{cvt|80000|lbs|kg|0}} in the United States. In ordinary circumstances, long-haul equipment will [[Tare weight|weigh]] about {{cvt|15000|kg|lb|0}}, leaving about {{cvt|20000|kg|lb|0}} of freight capacity. Similarly a load is limited to the space available in the trailer, normally {{cvt|48|ft|m|2}} or {{cvt|53|ft|m|2}} long, {{cvt|2.6|m|in|frac=8}} wide, {{cvt|9|ft|0|in|m|2}} high and {{cvt|13|ft|6|in|m|2|disp=or}} high overall.

While express, parcel and LTL shipments are always intermingled with other shipments on a single piece of equipment and are typically reloaded across multiple pieces of equipment during their transport, TL shipments usually travel as the only shipment on a trailer. In fact, TL shipments usually deliver on exactly the same trailer as they are picked up on.

==== Shipment categories ====
{{citation needed span|text=Freight is usually organized into various shipment categories before it is transported. An item's category is determined by:|date=November 2016}}
* the type of item being carried. For example, a kettle could fit into the category 'household goods'.
* how large the shipment is, in terms of both item size and quantity.
* how long the item for delivery will be in transit.

{{citation needed span|text=Shipments are typically categorized as household goods, express, parcel, and freight shipments:|date=November 2016}}
* ''[[Household goods]] (HHG)'' include furniture, art and similar items.
* ''Express:'' Very small business or personal items like envelopes are considered ''overnight express'' or ''express letter shipments''. These shipments are rarely over a few kilograms or pounds and almost always travel in the carrier's own [[packaging]]. Express shipments almost always travel some distance by air. An envelope may go coast to coast in the United States overnight or it may take several days, depending on the service options and prices chosen by the shipper.
* ''Parcel:'' Larger items like small boxes are considered ''parcels'' or ''ground shipments''. These shipments are rarely over {{cvt|50|kg|lb|0}}, with no single piece of the shipment weighing more than about {{cvt|70|kg|lb|0}}. Parcel shipments are always boxed, sometimes in the shipper's packaging and sometimes in carrier-provided packaging. Service levels are again variable but most ground shipments will move about {{cvt|800|to|1100|km|mi|0}} per day. Depending on the package's origin, it can travel from coast to coast in the United States in about four days. Parcel shipments rarely travel by air and typically move via road and rail. Parcels represent the majority of business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments.
* ''Freight:'' Beyond HHG, express, and parcel shipments, movements are termed ''freight shipments''.

==Shipping costs==
An LTL shipper often realizes savings by utilizing a freight broker, online marketplace or another intermediary, instead of contracting directly with a trucking company. Brokers can shop the marketplace and obtain lower rates than most smaller shippers can obtain directly. In the LTL marketplace, intermediaries typically receive 50% to 80% discounts from published rates, whereas a small shipper may only be offered a 5% to 30% discount by the carrier. Intermediaries are licensed by the DOT and have the requirements to provide proof of insurance.

Truckload (TL) carriers usually charge a rate per kilometre or mile. The rate varies depending on the distance, geographic location of the delivery, items being shipped, equipment type required, and service times required. TL shipments usually receive a variety of surcharges very similar to those described for LTL shipments above. There are thousands more small carriers in the TL market than in the LTL market. Therefore, the use of transportation intermediaries or brokers is widespread.

Another cost-saving method is facilitating pickups or deliveries at the carrier's terminals. Carriers or intermediaries can provide shippers with the address and phone number for the closest shipping terminal to the origin and/or destination. By doing this, shippers avoid any accessorial fees that might normally be charged for liftgate, residential pickup/[[delivery (commerce)|delivery]], inside pickup/delivery, or notifications/appointments.

Shipping experts optimize their service and costs by sampling rates from several carriers, brokers and online marketplaces. When obtaining rates from different providers, shippers may find a wide range in the pricing offered. If a shipper in the United States uses a broker, [[freight forwarder]] or another transportation intermediary, it is common for the shipper to receive a copy of the carrier's Federal Operating Authority.<ref>[http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/other/faq/faqs.aspx Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222141200/https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/other/faq/faqs.aspx |date=2013-02-22 }}</ref> Freight brokers and intermediaries are also required by Federal Law to be licensed by the [[Federal Highway Administration]]. Experienced shippers avoid unlicensed brokers and forwarders because if brokers are working outside the law by not having a Federal Operating License, the shipper has no protection in case of a problem. Also, shippers typically ask for a copy of the broker's insurance certificate and any specific insurance that applies to the shipment.

Overall, shipping costs have fallen over the past decades. A further drop in shipping costs in the future might be realized through the application of improved [[3D printing]] technologies.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Durach|first1=Christian F.|last2=Kurpjuweit|first2=Stefan|last3=Wagner|first3=Stephan M.|date=2017-09-25|title=The impact of additive manufacturing on supply chains|journal=International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management|volume=47|issue=10|pages=954–971|doi=10.1108/ijpdlm-11-2016-0332|issn=0960-0035}}</ref>&nbsp;

==Security concerns==
{{main|Supply chain security}}
Governments are very concerned with cargo shipment, as it may bring security risks to a country. 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. Governments are mainly concerned with cargo entering through a country's borders.

The United States has been one of the leaders in securing cargo. They see cargo as a concern to [[national security]]. After the terrorist attacks of [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11th]], the security of this magnitude of cargo has become highlighted on the over 6 million cargo containers that enter the [[United States]] ports each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=191247|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070531213139/http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=191247|url-status=unfit|title=Murray Unveils First-in-the-Nation Port Security Demonstration|archivedate=May 31, 2007|website=U.S. Senator Patty Murray}}</ref> The latest US Government response to this threat is the [[Container Security Initiative|CSI: Container Security Initiative]]. CSI is a program intended to help increase security for containerized cargo shipped to the [[United States]] from around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/international_activities/csi/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010193043/http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/international_activities/csi/|url-status=dead|title=CSI: Container Security Initiative|archivedate=October 10, 2006}}</ref> Europe is also focusing on this issue, with several EU-funded projects underway.

==Stabilization==
{{see also|Transit bolt|Load securing#Fasteners}}
Many ways and materials are available to stabilize and secure cargo in various modes of transport. 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. Present load-securing methods offer several other options, including polyester strapping and lashing, synthetic webbings and dunnage bags, also known as airbags or inflatable bags.

Practical advice on stabilization is given in the International Guidelines on Safe Load Securing for Road Transport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wko.at/Content.Node/branchen/oe/TransportVerkehr/IRU-Ladungssicherungs-Leitfaden-2014.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706134231/https://www.wko.at/Content.Node/branchen/oe/TransportVerkehr/IRU-Ladungssicherungs-Leitfaden-2014.pdf|url-status=dead|title=International Guidelines on Safe Load Securing for Road Transport|archivedate=July 6, 2015}}</ref>
<gallery class="center" widths="175px" heights="175px" caption="Stabilization methods">
Image:Stabilizing_capabilities_Cordstrap_dunnage_bags.jpg|Application in container
Image:Lashing_and_dunnage_bag_application.JPG|Polyester strapping and dunnage bag
Image:Lashing_application_flat_rack.jpg|Polyester lashing
Image:Amphorae stacking.jpg|[[Bronze Age]] [[amphora]]e from shipwrecks near [[Bodrum]], Turkey, with rack and roping device illustrating how they might have been kept from shifting
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Cargo airline]]
* [[Cargo cult]]
* [[Cargo sampling]]
* [[Cargo scanning]]
* [[Counter-to-counter package]]
* [[DAT Solutions]] (a.k.a. Dial-a-truck)
* [[Delivery (commerce)|Delivery]]
* [[Document automation]] in management
* [[Freight company]]
* [[Freight Transport Association]]
* [[Good (economics and accounting)|Goods]]
* [[Goods train]]
* [[List of cargo types]]
* [[Product (business)|Products]]
* [[Standard Carrier Alpha Codes]]

{{div col end}}

==References==
<references />

=== Reference bibliography ===
** {{cite book|ref=CITEREFCambridgeSystematics1998|title=Multimodal corridor and capacity analysis manual|issue=399|author1=Cambridge Systematics|publisher=Transportation Research Board|year=1998|isbn=978-0-309-06072-1}}

== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary-inline|cargo}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Freight}}
{{Industries}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Freight transport]]
[[Category:Transport law]]
[[Category:Goods (economics)]]