The most common words for transporting goods are transportation, shipping, and freight. These terms broadly describe the movement of items from one location to another, often for commercial purposes.
Primary Terms for Transporting Goods
Various terms are used to describe the act of moving goods, each carrying slightly different nuances depending on the context, method, and scale of the movement.
Transportation
This is the most encompassing term, referring to the general act or process of moving people or goods from one place to another. It covers all modes, including road, rail, air, and sea.
- Example: Global transportation networks are essential for international trade.
Shipping and Shipment
Shipping refers to the act of sending goods, traditionally by sea, but now also commonly by air or land, especially for parcels and larger consignments. A shipment is the actual batch or quantity of goods being transported at one time.
- Example: We are preparing the product for shipping; the shipment is expected to arrive next week.
Freight and Freightage
Freight refers to goods or cargo transported in bulk, especially by truck, train, ship, or aircraft for commercial purposes. Freightage can refer to the act of transporting freight or the charge for such transport.
- Example: The company specializes in heavy freight logistics.
Transit
Transit specifically refers to the state of goods being in the process of being transported, or the route taken for the movement.
- Example: Your order is currently in transit.
Related Terms and Synonyms
Beyond the primary terms, many other words describe specific aspects, methods, or actions involved in moving goods.
Terms Emphasizing the Act of Movement
- Hauling: Often implies moving heavy or bulky goods, typically over land by truck or similar vehicle.
- Conveyance: A general term for the act of carrying or transmitting something from one place to another.
- Carriage: Refers to the act of carrying or transporting goods, often by a common carrier.
- Movement: A straightforward term for the relocation of goods.
- Passage: Can refer to the act of goods passing from one place to another, or the right to do so.
- Removal: Describes the act of taking goods from one place to another, often implying clearing out.
Terms for Specific Types or Stages
- Transshipment: The process of transferring goods from one vehicle or mode of transport to another, often at an intermediate point.
- Truckage: Refers specifically to the transport of goods by truck.
- Lift: Can denote the action of raising goods for transport or a specific method of transport (e.g., a forklift lift).
Table of Common Terms for Transporting Goods
| Term | Common Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | Broadest term for the movement of goods (or people). | Global transportation routes; public transportation. |
| Shipping | Moving goods, often by sea, air, or parcel services. | International shipping; direct shipping. |
| Shipment | A specific consignment of goods being transported. | The latest shipment of raw materials. |
| Freight | Goods transported commercially, typically in bulk. | Air freight services; freight forwarding. |
| Transit | The state of goods being in the process of movement. | Goods are currently in transit; transit time. |
| Hauling | Moving heavy or bulky goods, usually by road. | Heavy machinery hauling; waste hauling. |
| Conveyance | The act of carrying or transmitting. | Conveyance of goods by rail; land conveyance. |
| Carriage | The act of carrying goods, often by a professional carrier. | Return carriage paid; common carriage. |
| Transshipment | Transferring goods from one transport mode to another during a journey. | Efficient transshipment points reduce costs. |
| Truckage | Transport of goods specifically by truck. | Local truckage rates; intermodal truckage. |
Understanding these terms helps in clearly communicating various aspects of logistics and supply chain management.
