You have options when it comes to shipping your goods. Whether that’s by sea, by air, or by road transport, a system that has been in place since the time of horses and oxen pulling goods to where they needed to go.
What is road transport exactly? Put simply, it is a type of transportation using roads as a way to move goods. While the methods have certainly changed, the end goal is the same: to move goods safely and efficiently from one place to another.
We’ve put together a guide on open road transportation and when you should consider road transportation solutions for your planned move or shipping needs.
How Has Road Transport Changed Over Time?
Road transportation methods have changed with new technologies and available infrastructure to move goods. Before trucking regulations were passed in the 1930s, workers mostly moved freight in containers on the railroads.
Infrastructure continued to improve with expansions to roadways and byways. By 1956, with the Interstate Highway System’s advent, improved transportation and shipping efficiencies along the country’s roads made road freight more reliable. Commercial trucking hit its stride in the 1980s, with more private companies getting into the industry.
Road freight has long been a critical piece of the supply chain, particularly over short distances where there is an eye on efficiency. Still, it has also maintained a presence over time as a critical component of moving and shipping overall.
What Are the Different Types of Road Transport Today?
The kind of road freight used for transport depends on the cargo. There are different types of vehicles meant to handle different types of goods. Types of road transport include:
- Flatbed transportation is used when the cargo is large and bulky, such as construction equipment or heavy office equipment requiring special handling.
- Curtain side trucks are flatbeds with a tarp or curtain that allows for easier access to the cargo inside. Tarps are taut enough to provide a dry, safe environment for the freight.
- Temperature-controlled transportation includes built-in refrigeration that allows for the shipper to control temperatures when the cargo requires it, such as for perishable items.
- Car-carrying transportation is a specialized service, typically on an open trailer with ramps that allow the transporters to safely and efficiently remove your vehicle once it’s reached its final destination.
A good road transportation service will allow for options depending on the kinds of goods being moved or shipped.
Advantages of Road Transport
There are several advantages of road freight in the shipping industry, mainly when shipping goods domestically.
Efficiency & Accessibility
Perhaps most importantly, if you’re on a rigid timeline, road transport is an efficient method of moving and shipping across shorter distances. It’s often your best and fastest option when in remote areas domestically, as it’s more likely for a shipping service to have access to roads across the country than other transportation methods. Air transport will get your goods to their destination faster across long distances, but improvements in road transport make it a good option even for longer distances if you’re not short on time.
Flexibility
Road transport can handle a wide range of goods safely and securely. Other modes of transport are available depending on the cargo involved. If you’re moving different kinds of goods in one shipment, a transportation specialist can help you identify the appropriate road transport for you.
Cost
Although shipping by air is more efficient across longer distances, road transport is less expensive. Especially if you’re dealing with heavy, bulky cargo. When considering transport by air or sea, you must note associated fees with cargo sent abroad, such as customs fees.
Oversight
When transporting on the road, it’s often easier to follow and keep tabs on your goods. There is minimal risk to your items with only one round of loading and unloading expected on a typical trip. You can also guarantee door-to-door service with road transport. You can even watch your goods be loaded and unloaded from start to finish.
Road transport may be used in connection with other methods. For example, if you’re moving across the country and then across an ocean. Transportation services can do that for you and find the appropriate solution for you.
Road Transportation Solutions
HLOG offers door-to-door road transportation solutions and freight forwarding for any industry, whether you’re looking for a full container load (FCL) or less-than-container load (LCD). Offering less than a full container not only saves you money but is good for the environmen. Shipments are combined to reduce emissions on half-empty boxes traveling the roads.
If you have unique road transport needs, contact HLOG today. You’ll learn more about how we can help you with your shipping plans domestically or abroad.