Types of Cargo Shipping You Should Know

What Are Cargo Shipping Methods

One must understand what is shipping before getting into the cargo shipping methods. Simply put, shipping refers to the process of moving goods from one location to another using various modes of transportation.

Now, cargo shipping methods refer to the methods by which goods are transported from one location to another, primarily between cities, countries, and across continents. Shipping methods today can be categorized into four main types: sea, air, land, and rail.

Each method is unique and plays an important role in global trade. Additionally, each method has its own benefits, limitations, and ideal use cases, depending on the type of cargo and delivery requirements.

In this blog, we will cover these four methods to help you better understand how cargo shipping works.

What Are the Types of Shipping

1. Sea Shipping

Sea shipping involves transporting goods using cargo vessels across oceans. There are various types of vessels used to transport different commodities. It is one of the oldest methods, dating back thousands of years.

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), today, over 80 percent of global trade by volume and about 70 percent by value is carried by sea. Now, the reason this shipping method is so popular is due to its cost-effectiveness, capacity to handle large volumes, and ability to connect distant markets across continents.

That’s why the sea shipping method is ideal and widely used for heavy, bulky, or non-urgent shipments, such as oil, machinery, vehicles, or raw materials. Containers are loaded onto large ships and transported from port to port. And these containers carry large volume of cargo and ships.

2. Air Shipping

Air shipping is another cargo shipping method that involves moving goods via cargo aircraft. It is the fastest method to move goods today used for time-sensitive, high-value, or perishable items. Items like electronics, medicines, or luxury products.

According to IATA, airlines transport over 62 million tonnes of cargo each year, making up more than 33 percent of global trade by value but less than 1 percent by volume. In aircraft, cargo is typically loaded into the lower deck (also known as the belly) of passenger planes or the main deck of dedicated cargo planes.

These planes are equipped with special loading systems to handle containers and pallets safely and efficiently. Some common air cargo carriers include FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, DHL Aviation, Emirates SkyCargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, and Cargolux.

3. Land Shipping

Land shipping means transporting cargo by road using trucks, trailers, or vans. It is a common method for domestic deliveries and short to medium-range regional trade. Road transport dates back to the invention of the wheel, but modern trucking took off in the early 1900s.

Today, though there are no exact statistics on how much cargo is transported by land, it is hard to measure because of different data sources and the complexity of defining what counts as land cargo. But, land cargo shipping still remains crucial for shorter distances, bulk shipments, and specific regional needs.

Land shipping allows door-to-door delivery, making it flexible and convenient. It is ideal for goods that require frequent distribution, such as groceries, fashion products, or electronics. However, it is affected by traffic, road conditions, and fuel prices.

4. Rail Shipping

Rail shipping involves transporting cargo on trains using freight cars. It is a reliable and efficient method for heavy, high-volume goods over long distances on land. The first rail freight services started in the early 1800s during the industrial revolution.

According to the European Environment Agency, freight rail transport is expected to reach 476 billion tonne-kilometers in 2025, which is a 20.1 percent increase compared to 2015. While exact cargo volume data for 2025 is not yet available, these estimates show steady growth in rail shipping this decade.

Today, countries like the US, China, and India still rely heavily on rail to move goods like coal, steel, chemicals, and agricultural products. Rail is more fuel-efficient than trucks and can carry much larger volumes.

How to Choose the Right Shipping Method

The best shipping method depends on your specific needs. You should consider:

Delivery time: Is the shipment urgent?
Budget: What can you afford?
Weight and size: Are the goods light or bulky?
Distance: Local, regional or global?
Product type: Are the items fragile, valuable or time-sensitive?

For example, a high-value smartphone being delivered across continents might be best sent via air. On the other hand, if you are shipping furniture from one country to another and have time, sea shipping makes more sense.

Why Businesses Use a Mix of Methods

Most businesses today use a combination of shipping methods, known as multimodal or intermodal transport. It helps them handle different types of products, serve multiple regions, and optimize cost and time.

For example, a company might use sea freight to bring goods from China to a European port, then switch to road transport for local delivery. Using a mix also helps manage risks like delays, strikes, or capacity shortages.

It gives companies flexibility, better control over inventory, and the ability to serve customers faster and more reliably. That’s why even small and medium businesses now explore multiple shipping options.

Alliance Shipping As Your Shipping Partner

Now that you’re familiar with the main shipping methods, the next important step is choosing a trusted shipping partner.

Alliance Shipping is here for you. Based in Dubai, UAE, we are one of the leading logistics companies, offering a full range of services that include sea, air, land, and rail shipping.

Need to send cargo across the GCC? Our reliable land services are ideal for that. Shipping to international destinations? You can count on our sea and air freight solutions. We got people, network, and years of experience behind us to help you move cargo from one country to another.