The transportation of goods by aircraft, used when speed is the overriding priority - offering the fastest transit times of any freight mode at a significantly higher cost per pound.

A logistics practice where inbound freight is unloaded at a facility and immediately sorted and reloaded onto outbound vehicles with minimal or no storage time - reducing handling costs and accelerating delivery.

The short-distance transport of shipping containers between ports, rail yards, and nearby warehouses or distribution centers - a critical handoff point where delays and accessorial charges frequently accumulate.

A standard enclosed trailer - typically 53 feet long - used to ship non-temperature-sensitive freight, making it the most common and widely available equipment type in North American trucking.

A premium shipping service that guarantees faster-than-standard delivery - often through dedicated trucks, team drivers, or air freight - used when a shipment is time-critical due to stockouts, production needs, or customer commitments.

The planning, execution, and optimization of the last delivery leg from distribution point to end consumer - encompassing carrier selection, route efficiency, delivery scheduling, and customer communication.

Freight shipped on open trailers without sides or a roof, used for oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped cargo - such as machinery, steel, lumber, and construction materials - that can't fit in an enclosed trailer.

Temperature-controlled shipments maintained at or below 0�F (_18�C) throughout the entire supply chain - the most demanding segment of cold chain logistics, requiring continuous monitoring and zero tolerance for temperature deviation.

A shipping mode where a single shipper's freight occupies an entire trailer - typically 42-48 pallets or up to 45,000 lbs - moving directly from origin to destination without intermediate handling.

A shipping method that combines two or more transportation modes - most commonly rail and truck - using standardized containers that transfer between modes without unloading the cargo.

The final transportation leg that moves a product from a distribution hub or fulfillment center to the end consumer's doorstep - the most expensive and operationally complex segment of the delivery chain per package.

A shipping mode where multiple shippers share trailer space, with each paying only for the portion they use - typically for shipments between 150 lbs and 10,000 lbs classified by freight class.

A truckload shipment with scheduled pickups or deliveries at multiple locations along a single route - used to maximize trailer utilization by combining freight for several origins or destinations on one truck.

The movement of goods by cargo vessel across oceans or waterways, handling the vast majority of global trade volume - offering the lowest per-unit shipping cost for large or heavy international shipments.

The shipment of individually packaged items - typically under 150 lbs - through carrier networks like UPS, FedEx, or USPS, using standardized dimensional weight pricing and residential or commercial delivery services.

A shipping mode for freight that fills roughly 6-18 pallets - too much for standard LTL but not enough to justify a full truckload - offering fewer handoffs and typically better pricing than either alternative.

Freight shipped in temperature-controlled trailers or containers - known as reefers - that maintain a specified temperature range throughout transit, essential for perishable goods like food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

The end-to-end management of freight that must be maintained within a specific temperature range throughout the entire supply chain - from warehouse to final delivery - encompassing refrigerated, frozen, and climate-sensitive cargo.

The process of transferring freight from one transportation mode or container type to another - such as moving goods from an ocean container into domestic trailers - without the freight going into long-term storage.

A premium delivery service that includes inside placement, unpacking, assembly, and debris removal at the final destination - typically used for high-value furniture, appliances, electronics, and specialty goods.