Different Modes of Transportation: Which Is the Best Option?

The transportation mode is one of the most important considerations you need to remember while shipping your goods from one location to another. Not only the cost, but you also need to consider the shipment volume, the type of the goods, and their value. Not to mention, the weight and size of the cargo will also play an important role in determining the perfect transportation option.

To help you choose the perfect transportation method, we will discuss the different types of transportation methods. Without further introduction, let’s get started.

Ocean 

The ocean controls more than 90% of worldwide transportation. As per reports, more than 177 million containers were shipped in 2019. Due to the volume and size, you will get to see different types of cargo that cannot be moved other than the ocean transport method.

Even though ocean freight services are less expensive compared to air freight services, they do take a longer time to cover the route. But when you choose ocean transportation, you will face no issue transporting heavy goods. Another great benefit of ocean transportation is all cargo tracking which will help you know your container’s location in real-time.

Whether you’re moving dangerous goods or bulk commodities, ocean transportation will always prove beneficial for your business. You can also transport heavy volumes of cargo such as steel coils, minerals, metals, etc. which would be impossible to transport via air.

As most countries in the world are connected by the ocean, you can ship goods to even the northernmost corner of the world.

Air 

This is another popular transportation mode you need to know. Over the past couple of years, the popularity of air transportation modes increased amongst business owners who want to ship their goods quickly and securely.

Air freight is undoubtedly a crucial part of the worldwide supply chain. This is because, unlike ocean freight, the process won’t take weeks to complete. Most cities have at least one airport. Hence, you can ship goods to the areas where ocean freight services are not available.

However, keep in mind that small business owners might face problems affording air freight solutions. As per World Bank, air freight is super expensive compared to ocean freight. You might end up facing negative cash flow. Additionally, tracking the real-time location of your container might not be possible if you choose air freight and GPS tracking systems are banned in many airlines.

Medicines, perishable foods, and other items that need to be transported quickly should consider air freight. You can also avoid handling too many documents.

Rail 

If you don’t want to choose air or ocean freight, rail transportation would prove effective for your business. Even though the process is smooth and you can transport a large volume of goods at once, you need to consider some additional costs.

Most of the time, longer rail journeys will save you a significant amount of money. But you might face some delays as rail freights aren’t super punctual.

Conclusion 

These are the different modes of transportation. Make sure you let us know if you have any other questions.