Logistics Terminology: Air, Rail, and Motor Freight
Air Freight Transportation
Aircraft: A vehicle capable of flight, such as an airplane or helicopter.
Valuable: Being worth a lot of money.
Belly Hold: The underside of an aircraft where cargo is placed for transport.
Time-Sensitive: Needing to be delivered by a certain time or date.
Passenger Operator: A company that only transports passengers.
Specialized Operator: A transport company that focuses on transporting certain goods.
Combination Service: A company that transports both cargo and passengers.
Impediment: An obstacle that slows down progress.
Flights: Air routes.
Freights Integrators: Companies that use their own fleet.
Dedicated Cargo: Specialized operator or a company that moves merchandise.
Fleet: A collection of vehicles.
Airspace: Air routes.
Valuable Time-Sensitive: Perishable or time-critical cargo.
Aviation: Aviation laws.
Rail Freight Transportation
Railways: Railroads.
Locomotives: Engines that pull trains.
Cars: Wagons.
Piggyback: Cargo carried on top of another vehicle or as a child is carried.
Container on Flat Car (COFC): A container placed on a flatcar.
Trailer on Flat Car (TOFC): A truck trailer placed on a flatcar.
Roll On-Roll Off (RO-RO): Transport of wheeled cargo.
Rail Yards: A depot or railway park.
Tracks: Railway lines.
Unit Trains: Trains carrying a single type of cargo.
Flat Car: A wagon platform.
Double Stack Cars: Wagons designed to carry two layers of containers.
Motor Freight Transportation
Common Carriers: Highly rated carriers.
Long Hauls: Long distances.
Short Hauls: Short distances.
Semi-Trailers: A trailer that is attached to a tractor unit.
Car Carriers: Transport of automobiles.
Curtain Siders: Transport with side curtains for wide items.
Double Deckers: Trucks with two levels for large quantities.
Flatbed Trailers: Trailers for items too large to fit in a box.
Box Trailers: Trailers for average cargo.
Reefers: Refrigerated trailers for temperature-sensitive cargo.
Tractors: Tractor units for pulling trailers.
Truckload: A full truck of cargo.
Less Than a Truckload (LTL): Not a full truckload of cargo.
Email Example: Requesting Cargo Transport Information
To: HYPERWAYLOGISTICS@CENTRAL.COM
From: ALDANACHAPARROPAZ@GMAIL.COM
Subject: Inquiry Regarding Shipping Details for Auto Parts
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing on behalf of my fictitious logistics company. I am responsible for warehouse operations, specifically in the picking department. My company needs to arrange the transport of two containers containing auto parts, specifically hubcaps.
The shipment is destined for Argentina and is time-sensitive, requiring delivery no later than Monday, the eighteenth. Could you please provide the following information:
- Available flights that can meet this deadline.
- The capacity of your aircraft for this type of cargo.
- Any potential impediments that could delay the shipment.
- Whether you operate as a dedicated cargo operator or if this would involve a combination service.
Additionally, please inform me if you collaborate with any freight integrators to ensure a faster delivery.
Thank you in advance for your assistance. I look forward to your prompt reply.
Best regards,
Aldana Chaparro