How Is Cargo Different From Freight Shipping?
The words freight and cargo sound similar. But they have different meanings even while having a few common things. There is a difference between freight and cargo, but shippers generally ignore it. Understanding both terms reduces the possibility of confusion. This helps transporters assign shipment tasks to industry professionals. It results in the best freight services.
Freight Vs. Cargo
Shipping providers only worry about transporting goods to the customer locations. They often ignore their value and time. Their main focus is on the money required to move the freight (for them, its cargo. This confuses confusion between the words cargo and freight and the functions of transporting goods.
Further, we will clarify the difference between freight and cargo and explore their definitions, usage, and other areas.
Traditional Difference Between Freight And Cargo
In the conventional sense, the difference between freight and cargo depends on the vehicle carrying the goods:
- While referring to air freight, we don’t call them freight planes but refer to them as cargo planes. The same applies to ocean vessels, as they’re not freight ships but cargo ships.
- Freight trains are the trains that carry goods across the land. And you would never hear people referring to one as a ‘cargo train'.
Now we know how does freight shipping works. So, ‘freight’ is the transfer of goods or products overland by train or truck. But, cargo shipping is moving goods overseas with air providers or ocean carriers.
Both cargo and load communicate the transportation of goods and products. Transporters use these for commercial items.
Here mail is an exception. Cargo is the general term for mail, whether bundles of letters or packages. People don’t refer to mail as freight, even if the transporters use trains, planes, trucks, or ships.
The difference between freight and cargo depends on the vehicle carrying the products. Additionally, people also call long-haul loaded trailers freight trucks.
Thus, we relate both these terms to the mode of transportation required for moving it. We generally use the term “freight” overland, whereas we use the word “cargo” for air and sea transport.
Contemporary Differences Between Cargo And Freight
Logistics providers consider only the transportation of goods rather than their monetary value. They focus on the “freight-payable” aspect to move the cargo. It is the actual dollar value to transport the products from one place to another.
But, the word freight is also used for payment processes for transporting goods.
For example, by “freight,” we can mean anything like:
- Charged money
- Amounts payable
- Goods or Products itself
- Methods used to move goods
The word freight bends more towards land transportation. But, sometimes transporters use it for cargo moved by train, truck, cargo ship, or plane.
Note: We can only call cargo freight while using it for both payment, cargo, and transportation costs, combined. Here is where we develop confusion.
As transportation evolves, the differences between freight and cargo are also reducing.
Nowadays, people use these terms interchangeably. But, international freight forwarders and logistics specialists still use their conventional meanings.
To summarize, it’s essential to note the small difference between freight and cargo.
In short, people use these terms to refer to commercial goods shipped by sea, plane, and mail. Whether you’re using freight or cargo delivery depends on the shipping transport method. For example, you can transfer cargo ships worldwide through a heavy machinery package. For gifting, freight service via truck, van, or train would be within anyone’s reach.
But, transporters move cargo overland in trains or trucks. Also, it affects the financial aspects of transporting goods.
Conclusion
There are some exceptions for the main difference between freight and cargo. It is for anything within the “mail” terminology regardless of transportation. Whether you transfer parcels or packages, these items classify as “cargo” instead of “freight.”
Knowing the difference between freight and cargo for general cargo shipping helps avoid confusion. There are fewer miscommunication chances while talking to the 3PL provider. Professional forwarders at Student of Knowledge LLC use the most comprehensive shipment processes. We offer the best freight services to make your high-volume shipments easy. We have the most up-to-date shipping technologies and resources. It eases shipment jobs and ensures that we meet all freight and cargo requirements.
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