Pros and Cons of Shipping By Truck

Shipping cargo is a critical function in any economy because it enables the movement of raw materials from where they are produced to where they are to be used for further production of finished products. It also makes it possible to move finished products from one place to another to satisfy consumer needs. The shipping of cargo can be done using several methods such as railway, roads by trucks, air, and by sea.

Road and rail transport are employed to transport cargo within a country and across regions and continents. Transporting by road mainly involves trucks and it is the most common form of shipping cargo. The biggest portion of daily consumer goods such as groceries, milk, fruits, and detergents and soaps, among other items, are taken across countries and beyond using road transport or trucks.

So what are the pros and cons of shipping by truck?

Pros of shipping by a truck

1.      Convenient for companies shipping large volumes

Truckload shipping can be a great option for businesses moving large quantities of goods at once since it makes it possible for all of the goods to reach their destination at the same time.

2.      Ideal for transporting many types of items         

With trucks, you can transport many types of goods even if truckload carriers tend to specialize in transporting a particular kind of item. For example, there are trucks that are for transporting only perishable goods and others just transport other items. Companies in need of shipping by truck normally reach an understanding with truck companies to cater to their specific needs.

3.      Easy to monitor the cargo

Shipping cargo by trucks allows the fleet company and even the cargo owner to monitor the movement of their goods and the truck by using GPS and satellite tracking. Truck owners and fleet operators can engage fleet experts who specialize in such technologies to install vehicle tracking devices and systems so that they can keep an eye on their freight.

4.      Cost-effective

Truckload shipping is very affordable and this is especially applicable over short distances. This is because it can move large volumes of goods in a short time.

5.      Easy to price and give a quote

When shipping cargo by trucks, it is easier for the fleet companies to give a quote for the jobs because it is pretty easy to determine the space that the cargo will occupy and even its weight.

Cons of shipping by truck

1.      Limitations on size and weight

Different states may have laws prohibiting truckload shipping goods whose weight or size exceed certain limits. This may mean that the cargo being moved may have to be limited to the set maximum weight or size.

2.      Affected by weather and road conditions

Shipping goods by truck is subject to interference by weather conditions and even the state of the roads where the movement of goods could prove difficult during rain, snowy seasons, and so on, or if the area has no tarmacked (all-weather) roads.

3.      Slower over long distances

Compared to rail shipping, truck shipping is quite slow over longer distances.

4.      Expensive over long distances

Transporting goods by truck is not cost-effective over long distances. Rail transport is a better option in this case.

5.      Unfriendly to the environment

Trucks emit a lot of smoke and other pollutants to the environment. They also deplete the scarce petroleum resources in a bigger way due to the size of the load carried, all of which harms the environment.

Conclusion

Though truck shipping has its fair share of pros and cons, it is a critical mode of shipping cargo. It can be used alongside railways and other shipping methods to give customers an intermodal method of transport. This method will give customers a seamless option and will enable door-to-door transport.