What Types of Freight Carriers Are In Logistics? - PLS Logistic Services (2024)

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What Types of Freight Carriers Are In Logistics? - PLS Logistic Services (1)

What is a freight carrier?

A freight carrier is an individual or a company that handles the transportation of freight shipments from one point to another. Sometimes, freight carriers not only handle loads but also act as the operators or even freight forwarders. Depending on the carrier type, there can be a significant difference in carrier accessibility, lanes, and freight rates. To understand more about various types of freight carriers, it’s important to know which role a carrier plays in the logistics and freight shipping industry.

What are the types of freight carriers in logistics?

Common Carriers and Contract Carriers

What Types of Freight Carriers Are In Logistics? - PLS Logistic Services (2)

Common carriers are the carriers who service the freight shipping needs of the public. On the contrary, contract carriers work with selected shippers with whom they sign contracts. There is also a difference between freight rates since common carriers have limited ability to set a rate, while contract carriers arranged the rate with a shipper through the contract.

Local, Regional and National Carriers

Small or local carriers make up the majority of the U.S. trucking industry – almost 60 percent of all motor carriers. Local carriers serve limited areas, typically within an 80-100 mile zone which is defined by Surface Transportation Board. Regional carriers, on the other hand, have larger fleets, more trucks, and operate in a more extensive area. The largest carriers in the market are national carriers. They compete with shipping giants like UPS and FedEx and usually work with huge businesses.

Private Carriers and For-Hire Carriers

Private carriers haul freight on the shipper’s vehicle and don’t charge additional fees. For-hire carriers can move public freight and therefore take additional charges for the service.

How to choose the right carrier for you?

While large carriers have more capacity, better equipment, and invest in technology, smaller players provide a better, more personalized service to their shippers and offer flexibility. It’s important to consider your business needs, destination, freight volume, and type when choosing a freight carrier to work with. Essentially, you should check on the carrier’s reliability, compliance, experience, etc. Generally, answering these 3 main questions should help you identify if the carrier will match your needs:

  • Does the carrier provide the equipment for my freight?
  • Is the carrier licensed and compliant with the regulations?
  • Does the cost of the shipment fit my budget?

Working with a reliable 3PL can take the burden of intricate carrier selection off your shoulders. Usually, third-party logistics providers already have a wide network of trusted carriers and can provide logistics services of any type.

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What Types of Freight Carriers Are In Logistics? - PLS Logistic Services (2024)

FAQs

What Types of Freight Carriers Are In Logistics? - PLS Logistic Services? ›

We hire freight carriers with all types of equipment but mostly dry van, reefer, flatbed, intermodal, drayage, air, and LTL.

What are the four types of carriers? ›

There are four main types of carriers in trucking and flatbeds, dry vans, reefers, and specialized carriers. Flatbeds are typically used to transport large, heavy objects like construction equipment, machinery, and materials.

What is the difference between a carrier and a logistics provider? ›

A carrier's main sell is freight capacity. Freight brokers move freight by contracting with a motor carrier to move freight. A freight broker's main sell is service. To add to this topic, a logistics service provider brings with it the same value, plus technology and further industry insight.

What is the carrier in logistics? ›

A carrier is a company or a person legally entitled to transport goods by land, water, and air. Usually, the carrier works with shippers to ship goods from one place to the other.

How many PLS are there in logistics? ›

While 3PLs are is the most widely used third-party logistics provider, you may also come across others such as 1PL, 2PL, 4PL and 5PL.

What are the classification of carriers in logistics? ›

Classification of Carriers: Generally speaking carriers are classified into (i) common carriers, (ii) private carriers and (iii) gratuitous carriers. Common Carriers.

What is a carrier list in logistics? ›

The four main types of carriers for shipping in logistics are trucking, railroads, ocean and air cargo. Trucking is the most common type of carrier, as it's often cheaper than other methods and can reach more destinations quickly.

What is the difference between logistics and freight logistics? ›

Logistics providers handle your goods and products before they are shipped to ensure they reach the buyer in a timely fashion. Where the main purpose of freight forwarders is to move your products from point A to point B.

What is common carrier in logistics? ›

Primary tabs. A common carrier is a person or a commercial enterprise that transports passengers or goods for a fee and establishes that their service is open to the general public. Typical examples of common carriers include, a shipowner, railroad, airline, taxi service, etc.

What is the difference between logistic and logistics? ›

To put it simply – logistic is about strategy while logistics deals with execution. Logistic sets out a plan for how things should be done whereas logistics involves carrying out those plans in a practical sense.

What is freight in logistics? ›

Freight refers to: 1. any type of goods, items or commodities that are transported in bulk via air transport, surface transport or sea/ocean transport. 2. the amount paid for the transportation of goods via any means or the combination of transport systems.

Is UPS a logistics carrier? ›

We've been in transportation and logistics for more than 100 years, so if you have questions, we'll get them answered.

What does logistics mean in trucking? ›

Trucking logistics refers to the planning and analysis that goes into making freight transport by truck as productive and efficient as possible. From the lens of trucking logistics, every decision related to routing, vehicle procurement, driver assignments, fuel purchasing and beyond is an opportunity for optimization.

What does PLS logistics stand for? ›

PLS was founded in 1991 as Pittsburgh Logistics Systems to transport steel for industrial companies. Later renamed PLS Logistics Services, the company has expanded its services to many other industries yet remains the largest industrial-focused 3PL.

What are the 4 major types of logistics? ›

The four types of logistics are inbound logistics, outbound logistics, reverse logistics, and third-party logistics (3PL) or fourth-party logistics (4PL).

What are the 4 carrier molecules? ›

Carrier molecules are usually proteins bound to a nonprotein group; they can undergo oxidation and reduction relatively easily, thus allowing electrons to flow through the system. There are four types of carrier: flavoproteins (e.g. FAD), cytochromes, iron-sulphur proteins (e.g. ferredoxin), and ubiquinone.

What are the types of common carriers? ›

Typical examples of common carriers include, a shipowner, railroad, airline, taxi service, etc. A private carrier, on the other hand, is a person or a commercial enterprise that only agrees in particular circ*mstances to transport passengers or goods.

What are the US classes of carrier? ›

The United States currently operates two classes of aircraft carriers: the Nimitz class, the world's second-largest aircraft carrier, and the Gerald R. Ford class, the largest in the world. The first carrier in the Nimitz class, USS Nimitz (CVN 68), deployed in May 1975 and the tenth and last ship, USS George H. W.

What are carrier categories? ›

The four types of freight carrier categories are ocean freight, air freight, trucking, and railway freight. There are many different types of freight carriers within each shipping network, and we explain few of the most popular options below.

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