What does international trunk transportation mean?
International trunk transportation is an important concept in international logistics, which refers to the use of transportation vehicles such as trains, airplanes, ships, trucks, etc. to connect two distant areas and provide international logistics services with high transportation capacity and the ability to transport bulk goods. This article will introduce the definition, characteristics, classification, and development trends of international trunk transportation, hoping to help everyone have a clearer understanding of international trunk transportation.
Definition of international trunk transportation
International trunk transportation refers to a long-distance transportation method that crosses national borders in international trade to facilitate the transfer of goods from one country or region to another. International trunk transportation is a key link in the international logistics system, which determines the transportation time, cost, and safety of goods.
Characteristics of international trunk transportation
Compared with domestic trunk transportation, international trunk transportation has different characteristics in the following aspects:
Cross border: International trunk transportation involves multiple countries and regions, requiring compliance with their laws, policies, standards, etc., while also facing various political, economic, cultural, and other impacts and risks.
Long distance: International trunk transportation usually connects two distant regions, such as connecting Asia and Europe, connecting the Americas and Africa, which means that goods need to go through longer transportation times and more transit links.
Large transportation volume: International trunk transportation usually undertakes the transportation task of bulk goods, such as oil, minerals, grains, etc., which requires transportation vehicles to have high load capacity and loading efficiency.
High shipping costs: International trunk transportation, due to crossing national borders and long distances, requires higher shipping costs and taxes, as well as higher insurance and risk fees.
Classification of international trunk transportation
According to different modes of transportation, international trunk transportation can be divided into the following types:
Maritime trunk transportation: refers to the use of ships to transport goods at sea, and is the most common and inexpensive international trunk transportation method. Maritime trunk transportation can be divided into two types: coastal routes and ocean routes. The former mainly connects coastal or nearshore areas of the same ocean, while the latter mainly connects between different oceans or between oceans and inland waters.
Air trunk transportation: refers to the use of airplanes to transport goods in the air, which is the fastest and most expensive international trunk transportation method. Air trunk transportation can be divided into two types: regular flights and charter flights. The former carry out cargo transportation according to a fixed schedule and route, while the latter customize cargo transportation according to customer needs.
Land trunk transportation: refers to the use of trains or trucks to transport goods on land, which is a flexible and complex international trunk transportation method. Land mainline transportation can be divided into two types: railway transportation and road transportation. The former uses railway tracks as transportation channels, while the latter uses roads as transportation channels.
Pipeline trunk transportation: refers to the use of pipelines for underground or underwater transportation of goods, which is a safe and professional international trunk transportation method. Pipeline trunk transportation is mainly used for transporting liquid or gas goods, such as oil, natural gas, water, etc.
Multimodal trunk transportation: refers to the use of two or more modes of transportation for the transportation of goods, which is a comprehensive and innovative international trunk transportation method. Multimodal trunk transportation can fully utilize the advantages of various transportation modes, achieve seamless connection of goods between different transportation modes, and improve the efficiency and quality of international trunk transportation.
