T3u—Introduction to Cargo Transportation for Shippers, Importers, Exporters (U.S.)

Subscriber price: $215.00, Non-subscriber price: $279.00
Estimated total study time: 15 hours 0 minutes

This course is designed as a primer for entry-level exporter/importer personnel who are or will be involved in selecting and working with any mode of commercial cargo transportation. This course includes U.S. regulatory information. It should also be taken as a foundation by anyone planning to take more advanced cargo-related courses.

Individuals wishing to learn more basics about U.S. Export and Import processes should also consider completing the following GISTnet courses:

Cargo Transportation—Basic Concepts and Issues (U.S.)

In this lesson we begin to take up the primary modes of cargo transportation and examine their respective characteristics, advantages and limitations.

Regardless of which transportation modes we may have a particular interest in based on our current work or job assignment, everyone involved in cargo routing, carrier selection or cargo documentation should have at least a basic understanding of the comparative characteristics of all commercial modes of transportation. This is especially true of anyone involved in routing intermodal movements and/or determining which combination of transport modes should be used in meeting specific shipment needs.

(Estimated study time: 46 minutes)

Cargo Transportation Modes, Beginning with Inland and Intra-Coastal Waterways

In this lesson we begin an overview of the primary modes of cargo transportation, beginning with inland waterway.

Regardless of which transportation modes we may have a particular interest in based on our current work or job assignment, everyone involved in cargo routing, carrier selection or cargo documentation should have at least a basic understanding of the comparative characteristics, advantages and limitations of all commercial modes. This is especially true of anyone involved in routing intermodal movements and/or determining which combination of transport modes should be used in meeting specific shipment needs.

(Estimated study time: 20 minutes)

Introduction
Inland Waterway and Intra-Coastal (Short-Sea) Transportation
- History
- Advantages of Inland Waterway and Inter-Coastal (Short Sea) Transportation
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Inland Waterway Transportation

Cargo Transportation Modes: Deep Sea Shipping

This lesson addresses the history pf deep sea (ocean) cargo transportation, and compares the advantages and limitations of this mode vs. other modes.

(Estimated study time: 45 minutes)

Cargo Transportation Modes: Rail Transportation

This lesson addresses the history of rail transportation, and compares the advantages and limitations of this mode vs. other modes.

(Estimated study time: 20 minutes)

Introduction
Rail Transportation
- History
- Advantages of Rail Transportation
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Rail Transportation

Cargo Transportation Modes: Air Cargo Transportation

This lesson addresses the history of air cargo transportation, and compares the advantages and limitations of this mode vs. other modes.

(Estimated study time: 17 minutes)

Introduction
Air Cargo Transportation
- History
- Advantages of Airfreight
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Airfreight

Transportation Modes: Truck Transportation; Cost Comparisons Among Modes

(Estimated study time: 40 minutes)

Introduction
Truck Transportation (Motor Carriers)
- History
- Advantages of Truck Transportation
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Truck Transportation
Other Mode Carriers
Cost Comparison of Cargo Transportation Modes

Cargo Transportation Trends as Part of Broader Logistics Services

This lesson addresses long-term and recent trends in cargo transportation as it relates to the services of cargo consolidators, integrated carriers, and 3PLs (door-to-door logistics).

(Estimated study time: 47 minutes)

Introduction
Cargo Transportation Trends as Part of Broader Logistics Services
- History of Multimodal Indirect Carriers (Consolidators & Door-to-Door)
- The Single Source "Door-to-Door" Logistics
  - Recent Industry Trends—Forwarders Extending Scope of Services
  - Current Logistics Services in Response to Shipper (Customer) Preferences
  - Seamless Logistics and Information Systems

Shipper-to-Carrier Relationship

This lesson defines the three alternative types of relationship between cargo transportation carriers and shipper.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 8 minutes)

Introduction
Shipper-to-Carrier Relationship
- Common Carriage
  - General
  - Tariffs and Common Carriage
  - Carrier Liability Terms/Limits
- Contract Carriage
  - General
  - Common Carriage Masquerading as Contract Carriage
- Private Carriage
- Services In Addition to Carriage

Direct vs. Indirect Carriage; Carrier-to-Carrier Relationships; Freight Forwarders

In this lesson we explain and differentiate between direct carriage provided by asset-operating carriers (e.g., shipping lines operating vessels, airline, truck operators), and indirect carriage in which freight forwarders issue their own contracts of carriage to shippers. This enables forwarders to provide several value-added services that a shipper would not typically receive from a direct carrier, and particularly on small shipment. Indirect carriage plays a prominent role in ocean, air and through intermodal movement.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 8 minutes)

Introduction
Direct vs. Indirect Carriage
- General
- Direct Carriage
- Indirect Carriage
- Indirect Carrier Terms and Conditions; Carrier Liability
- Direct and Indirect Carriage Combinations
Carrier-to-Carrier Arrangements
- Co-Loading
- Substituted Service
- Cargo Pooling/Joint Services
- Sub-Contracting of Conveyances/Conveyance Operators
Freight Forwarders, Indirect Carriers, Integrated Carriers, Substitute Services

Transportation Carrier Regulation; Tariffs

(Estimated study time: 30 minutes)

U.S. Transportation Carrier Regulation

This lesson addresses the various types of U.S. regulation of commercial cargo transportation, and the U.S. Agencies that perform such regulation.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 1 minute)

Introduction
Cargo Transportation Carrier Regulation in the U.S.
- General
- Safety Regulation
- FMC Regulation of Ocean Common Carriage (U.S.)
- ICC Regulation (Historical Perspective)
- Surface Transportation Board
- U.S. Transportation Security Regulation
- State/Local Transportation Regulation
- U.S. Regulation of Cargo Carriers' Commercial Practices
  - General
  - U.S. Treaty Participations

Cargo Transportation Carrier Tariffs

This lesson covers the generic features, distinct sections and typical content of cargo transportation tariffs.

(Estimated study time: 49 minutes)

Introduction
Carrier Tariffs—General
- Tariffs & Common Carriage
- Tariff Format—General
- Table of Contents
- Rules Section
- Commodity/Class Index
- Rate Section(s)
Shared Tariff Arrangements
- Joint Tariff Filing
- Participation in the Tariff of Another Carrier
- Adoption by Reference
- Limitations of Shared Tariff Arrangements

Cargo Freight Rate Structures/Charges

In this lesson we take up many factors which influence cargo transportation costs (for example, transportation mode, distances involved, cargo characteristics and shipper/carrier circumstances influence cost) and rate basis (that is, type of rate, and the unit of measure on which it is computed).

(Estimated study time: 43 minutes)

Introduction
Cargo Metrics and Conversion Factors
- General—Weight and Cube
- Measuring Cargo
- Conversion Factors between Metric and English
Transportation Mode
- Water Mode
- Rail Mode
- Truck Mode
- Air Mode

Additional Factors Which Influence Freight Rates

This lesson continues the topic of how cargo transportation costs are affected by what is being shipped, distance, and special handling requirements and, of course, mode of transportation.

(Estimated study time: 51 minutes)

Introduction
Geographical Routes/Routing Options
Commodity
Total Shipment Size and/or Weight
Cargo Density
Cargo Packaging/Configuration
Shipper Circumstances and Volume of Cargo Shipped
Carrier and Carrier Combinations

Ocean and Intermodal Freight Rates & Charges

In this lesson we continue our coverage of transportation rates and accessorial charges. Cargo carriers of all modes tend to use the same basic types of rates: commodity rates, class rates, combination rates, and/or lump-sum full-vehicle rates (for example, container rates, FTL or carload/piggyback rates).

(Estimated study time: 50 minutes)

Introduction
Commodity Rates
Class Rates
Through Intermodal Rates

Ocean and Intermodal Freight Rates & Charges, cont.

This lesson focuses freight charges used in ocean and through intermodal transportation involving ocean mode.

(Estimated study time: 45 minutes)

Add-on or Component Rates
Other/Special Purpose Rates
Accessorial Charges
Conference Rates/Tariffs
VOCC-Shipper Service Contracts
Ocean Forwarder/NVO-Shipper Contracts

Types of Rates/Charges Used in Air Cargo Transportation

This lesson focuses freight charges used air cargo transportation.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 23 minutes)

Introduction
Types of Rates/Charges used in Air Cargo Transportation
- History of Air Cargo Rate Structure
- Types of Air Cargo Rates & Precedence of Rates
- Air Cargo Chargeable Weight (International); Actual vs. Volume Weight
- Add-on or Component Rates
- Container Rates
- Other/Special Purpose Rates
- Surcharges
- Accessorial Charges

Types of Rates/Charges Used in Rail & Truck Transportation; Forwarder Rates

In this final lesson of our course we continue our coverage of transportation rates and accessorial charges by identifying and describing types of rates commonly used in truck and rail transportation.

(Estimated study time: 54 minutes)

Introduction
Type of Rates/Charges Used in Truck/Rail Cargo Transportation
- Class Rates
- Commodity Rates
- Rail Intermodal "Plan" Rates/Service Codes
- Other/Special Purpose Rates
- Through and Add-on or Component Rates
- Accessorial Charges
- Shippers' Agents, Domestic Indirect Carriers
Freight Forwarders, Indirect Carriers, Integrated Carriers, Substitute Services

Transportation Carrier Liability for Cargo Loss or Damage; Overview of Cargo Insurance

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 4 minutes)