Everything You Need to Know About Shipping
If you work in the shipping industry, or even if you know someone who does, you’ve probably heard the term bunker thrown around once or twice. But what does this term actually mean? And how does it apply to the shipping industry? Anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating field should read it here!
You may have heard of containers but lack a firm grasp on their function and purpose if you’ve never worked with one directly. A shipping container is a standardized packaging unit for transporting goods via multiple modes of freight. Its primary function is to facilitate the transportation of goods via sea from one place or country to another. Containers can be transported by train, truck or plane after being offloaded from a ship at its destination port and then shipped across land.
Shipments are categorized into three types, depending on their weight. The industry refers to them as A-cargo (anything under 100 tons), B-cargo (anything between 100 and 1,000 tons) and C-cargo (everything bigger than that). Shipments, unlike automobiles, do not have a standard size or shape, so they cannot be classified by volume. Instead, dimensions like length and width are needed to provide an accurate estimate. Shipping a larger quantity of cargo takes more time because the vessel must make more stops along the way.
When it comes to moving your cargo from one location to another, you typically have four options: self-ship, full carrier, less than container load (LCL), or a combination of any and all. Each option has distinct advantages and disadvantages depending on what you require and where you are located. Once you’ve decided that shipping is the best option for your needs, you can begin planning. Whether you’re self-shipping or hiring a carrier, they will require specific information before they can take care of everything else involved with getting your goods from point A to B safely and efficiently.
Do your homework before shipping anything across the country or across the ocean. You need to find an expert to explain all of the terms you’ll need to know about the industry, from dry bulk cargo to bunker fuel and everything in between! Freight forwarding companies provide a variety of shipping options, including ocean freight and air freight, also known as express freight, as well as trucking, multimodal freight, cross-border trade, and international logistics. You should factor in the cost of insurance, delivery, and door-to-door service when comparing shipping quotes. When comparing prices between carriers, keep these factors in mind. It’s also worth shopping around if your shipment is small enough; chances are good that many companies will give you good deals on short hauls.