Intermodal Transportation & Freight Overview Vocabulary

48 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on freight characteristics, types of cargo, air, sea, and port services in international transport.

Freight

Goods or cargo transported from one location to another by truck, rail, ship, or aircraft.

General Freight

Broad category of everyday consumer and industrial goods that do not require specialized handling.

Specialized Freight

Cargo that demands unique equipment, permits, or handling due to size, weight, sensitivity, or hazard.

Bulk Freight

Large quantities of unpackaged goods—dry, liquid, or break-bulk—moved in loose form.

Perishable Freight

Goods with limited shelf life (e.g., food, pharmaceuticals) requiring temperature-controlled logistics.

Weight (Freight Characteristic)

Mass of cargo that influences handling equipment choice and transportation cost.

Size (Freight Characteristic)

Physical dimensions of cargo that affect packaging, storage, and mode selection.

Perishability

Tendency of goods to spoil or degrade, dictating need for fast, temperature-controlled transport.

Dangerous Goods

Substances that pose health, safety, or environmental risks and require regulated handling and labeling.

Value (Freight Characteristic)

Monetary worth of cargo, influencing security, insurance, and risk management measures.

Fragility

Susceptibility of cargo to damage, necessitating careful packaging and handling.

Seasonality

Fluctuations in freight volumes tied to specific times of year, impacting logistics planning.

Density

Ratio of weight to volume; low-density items take more space and affect cost calculations.

Oversized Cargo

Loads exceeding standard dimension limits, often requiring escorts and route surveys.

Heavy Haul Freight

Exceptionally heavy loads such as turbines or transformers transported with specialized trailers.

Dry Bulk Cargo

Unpackaged solid materials like grain, coal, or ores shipped in bulk carriers or rail hoppers.

Liquid Bulk Cargo

Fluids such as crude oil or chemicals moved in tanker ships, railcars, or pipelines.

Break Bulk Cargo

Non-containerized items (e.g., timber, machinery) loaded individually rather than as bulk or container.

Fresh Produce

Highly perishable fruits, vegetables, and flowers shipped under strict temperature and humidity control.

Pharmaceuticals (Cold Chain)

Medicines and vaccines requiring continuous temperature monitoring to maintain efficacy.

Dairy and Frozen Goods

Milk products and frozen foods that must stay within specific temperature ranges during transit.

Scheduled Air Freight

Regularly timetabled cargo flights offering predictable capacity and transit times.

Charter Air Service

Ad-hoc aircraft rental for oversized, urgent, or specialized shipments.

Express Air Service

Premium, rapid air delivery used for e-commerce parcels and time-critical goods.

Cargo Aircraft

Airplanes designed or modified exclusively to transport freight, featuring large cargo doors and loading systems.

Freight Forwarder

Intermediary that arranges transportation, documentation, and logistics on behalf of shippers.

Airway Bill (AWB)

Non-negotiable document serving as the contract and receipt for air cargo shipments.

Cold Chain Logistics

End-to-end temperature-controlled supply chain required for perishable or temperature-sensitive goods.

Containerization

Use of standardized steel boxes that streamline loading, security, and intermodal transfers.

Container Shipping

Maritime transport mode utilizing standardized containers loaded onto dedicated container vessels.

Bulk Shipping (Maritime)

Sea transport of unpackaged commodities like oil, grain, or coal in specialized bulk carriers.

Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) Shipping

Vessel service allowing vehicles and wheeled machinery to drive directly on and off the ship.

Breakbulk Shipping

Sea transport of oversized or non-containerized cargo loaded piece by piece.

Bill of Lading (B/L)

Negotiable document acknowledging receipt of cargo for shipment and serving as title of goods.

Warehousing

Storage of goods in facilities such as container yards, bonded warehouses, or cold stores at ports and airports.

Customs Clearance

Official process of inspecting and authorizing imported or exported goods to satisfy regulatory requirements.

Ground Handling Services

Airport operations including loading, unloading, fueling, towing, and catering for aircraft.

Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Service that monitors and guides aircraft to ensure safe and efficient takeoffs, landings, and en-route flights.

Pilotage Services

Harbor assistance where a licensed pilot boards a vessel to navigate it safely to berth.

Tugboat Assistance

Use of powerful boats to maneuver large ships during docking, undocking, or in confined waters.

RoRo Facility

Port infrastructure featuring ramps for vehicles to roll directly on and off vessels.

Container Terminal

Dedicated port area equipped with cranes and yards for handling containerized cargo.

Bonded Warehouse

Secured storage area where imported goods may be held without payment of duties until release.

Refrigerated Storage (Cold Storage)

Temperature-controlled facility for perishable goods awaiting further transport or distribution.

Hazardous Materials Storage

Specialized area designed to safely store dangerous goods in compliance with safety regulations.

Deepwater Channel

Dredged waterway allowing large, deep-draft vessels to access ports.

Intermodal Transportation

Movement of cargo using multiple modes (e.g., ship, rail, truck) in a single, seamless journey.

Last-Mile Delivery

Final stage of the logistics chain where goods are transported from a hub to the end customer.

Telematics

Technology that transmits real-time data (location, temperature, speed) to monitor and manage freight.