3.2.3 Coordinating Transportation
Completion requirements
Three common methods exist to coordinating various modes of transportation.
Megacarriers coordinate transportation for their customers using rail, air, and/or truck. They put much emphasis on customer service.
Freight forwarders combine orders from several companies into one shipment. They determine the most efficient combination of shipments to send together, and then contract a carrier to deliver the products. Shipments must be small. Freight forwarders may use conventional mail, but this is usually quite costly.
Intermodal containerization is best if a product requires various modes of transport over a long distance (e.g., from Guangzhou City, China to Toronto, Canada). Containers are sealed. Then, they are loaded on flat-deck rail cars, ocean vessels, airplanes, or trucks, shipped to their
destination, unloaded, and unsealed. Limiting the number of times a container is sealed and unsealed reduces product damage and shipping costs.
Megacarriers coordinate transportation for their customers using rail, air, and/or truck. They put much emphasis on customer service.
Freight forwarders combine orders from several companies into one shipment. They determine the most efficient combination of shipments to send together, and then contract a carrier to deliver the products. Shipments must be small. Freight forwarders may use conventional mail, but this is usually quite costly.