When it comes to international shipping, not all methods of transportation are equal. At Millennium Cargo, we work on a multimodal model which, as well as being quite fun to say, means choosing the right mode of transport for your goods at each stage of the journey. But what is the right mode of transportation, and what impact does it have on your costs and your efficient delivery? We’re here to break down the differences.

The Main Considerations When Choosing a Mode of Transport

There are a few things that must be accounted for when making a decision. These are:

• Speed – Delivery times are often the biggest driving factor, often meaning you work backwards in your thinking, deciding when you need the goods to arrive and calculating from there what your options are. There’s more here than just mode of transport, of course, as you need to consider potential delays, customs procedures and a lot more – but choosing the right transport type makes the greatest difference.
• Cost – Next on the list is budget. The mode of transport has a significant impact on how much shipping your goods costs. Many decisions regarding the right mode of goods shipping come down to a balance between cost and speed. At Millennium Cargo, we work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep your costs down and comparing the different transport modes is key to getting that right.
• Type of Cargo – What you are shipping also needs to be considered. Is your cargo perishable? Does it need refrigeration? Is it fragile, or oversized? Answering these questions helps when weighing up the transport options.

• Distance and Routes – There are often multiple alternate routes which will impact your transport choices. When looking at the whole shipping comprehensively, getting your cargo from A to B will often mean several choices, switching modes of transport and choosing routes based on multiple factors that can include cost, availability, efficiency, and even geographical and political considerations.
• Environmental Impact – The shipping industry is working hard to cut the impact international freight has on the world at large. Evaluating the ecological impact that your transportation will have is an important part of getting the shipping right. When choosing a mode of transportation, taking carbon emissions and other environmental considerations into account is essential.

At Millennium Cargo, we have a team of experts who work constantly, keeping up to date with any changes in technology, shipping routes, cargo security, transport infrastructure, political changes and much, much more to make sure your cargo gets to its destination as efficiently as possible. We’ll work hand-in-hand with you, discussing the transport options to make sure your costs are kept low, your delivery is as rapid as possible, and your global environmental impact is low.

An Overview of Transport Modes

There are four main transportation modes available to get your cargo safely and efficiently from its origin to its destination. These are:

• Sea Freight – The most widely used form of international shipping, sea freight is ideal for transporting heavy, bulky, and non-urgent goods. It’s slow but cost-effective and getting more ecologically sound with each year of technological enhancements.
• Air Freight – Sending your goods by plane is extremely fast and well-suited when shipping perishable cargo, or other high-value items that need to reach their destination quickly. As can be expected, air freight is the most costly option, especially for bulky or heavy items.
• Road Freight – Offering door-to-door efficiency, road typically forms at least some part of all multimodal shipping. It is flexible, able to get anywhere, and perfect for shorter routes.
• Rail Freight – When moving large volumes of cargo over land, rail remains the most cost-effective process. Cheaper than road, it often forms part of a multimodal solution, especially when shipping domestically.

As a multimodal freight forwarding service, Millennium Cargo mix and match these four transport modes as needed to provide a top-quality service that will get your goods from start to finish, wherever that may be in the world.

Solving the Shipping Equation

At Millennium, we use experience and a lot of calculation to balance the many factors that affect shipping solutions to get your goods where they need to be. Consider some of these scenarios:

• Looking to ship niche electronic components fast from your factory to a supplier in the USA? Air freight may come at a higher cost, but will provide the rapid shipping needed to enable your supplier to be a vital part of an ongoing supply chain, making sure your product remains competitive in a fast-moving industry. Combined with road freight to get your goods from your factory gates to your supplier’s warehouse, a comprehensive multi-mode solution is often the perfect answer.
• Sending heavy machinery to Germany? Rail provides the most cost-effective answer, with room to take bulky cargo steadily across the continent. Once more, road offers a perfect partnership for a door-to-door solution.
• Importing non-urgent goods from China? Sea freight is the stalwart here, maximising your profit by driving your shipping costs down with volume and steady efficiency. Rail and road are then positioned as perfect partners to get your delivery from the port to your warehouse.

Getting the Most Out of Transport Modes with Millennium Cargo

Let Millennium Cargo structure a perfect multimodal transport solution for your specific shipping needs. Our team will work directly with you to evaluate every consideration and develop the right plan going forward. Contact us today for a tailor-made solution that will minimise costs and maximise your reliability.