Guide
Transport modes guide
Every transport mode has its strengths. The right choice depends on your lead time, budget, volume and the nature of the goods.
There's no universal 'best' mode: sea optimises cost per volume, air optimises speed, road offers flexibility. Multimodal combines several modes to balance cost and time.
Criteria to compare
- End-to-end lead time
- Cost by weight and volume
- Volume and weight capacity
- Flexibility and frequency
- Required documentation
- Typical use cases
Compare the modes
Sea freight
- Lead time
- Long (several weeks)
- Cost
- Lowest per volume
Large volumes, non-urgent goods.
Air freight
- Lead time
- Short (a few days)
- Cost
- High per weight
Urgent, high-value or perishable goods.
Road freight
- Lead time
- Varies with distance
- Cost
- Moderate
Regional transport and first/last-mile delivery.
Rail freight
- Lead time
- Intermediate
- Cost
- Competitive over long distances
Regular continental corridors.
Express / parcel
- Lead time
- Very short
- Cost
- High per parcel
Small parcels, samples, documents.
Multimodal
- Lead time
- Optimised by combination
- Cost
- Balanced
Routes combining several modes to balance cost and time.
Lead-time and cost indications are orders of magnitude: they vary by route, season and provider. Cargio does not display universal pricing.
Related resources
Plan the right routing
Build your Shipping Plan and compare your carriers.