Different Cargo Categories of Freight Shipping

1. Liquid Bulk
2. Dry Bulk
3. Container Cargo
4. RORO (Roll On, Roll Off) Cargo

Just as there are different methods of freight shipping cargo, there are also different designations for the type of cargo being transported. And like the method of shipment, there are four primary types of cargo categories that include liquid bulk, dry bulk, container cargo, and RORO or “roll on, roll off.” In the paragraphs below, we’ll give a brief description of each category of cargo, along with some examples.

Liquid Bulk

Liquid bulk cargo is anything that is not solid and can be stored in large quantities in closed tanks that often connected to and part of a transport truck or ship. This category includes things like gasoline, chemicals, and cooking oils. The storage tanks they’re kept it can be connected directly to larger storage tanks once the load arrives through a pump or hose. The cargo and storage tanks are both specifically designed to make it easy to transfer liquid cargo between them through the use of hoses, pumps, compressors, heating coils, and vapor systems.

Dry Bulk

Solid cargo falls under the category of dry bulk and is often stored in a “loose” form and includes items such as grains, gravel, peanuts, and iron ore. Dry bulk covers a wide variety of goods and covers many of the non-liquids that can be stored and transported without being consolidated. Just as liquid bulk requires a delivery system to move it between transport tank and storage, dry bulk often does too. This system usually involves a bucket crane or large funnel to move the cargo and can sometimes even be moved by conveyor belts, particularly for agricultural goods.

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Container Cargo

Container cargo refers to any type that can be consolidated to fit onto a 20- or 40-foot container for transport. It’s an efficient and widely used method of cargo transport since containers can easily be stacked, stored, or moved from ship to truck and vice versa. Since this transport versatility is such a key part of containerized cargo, the containers are sometimes called “intermodal containers,” which refers to the ease with which they can be moved from one mode of transport to another. Examples of container cargo include appliances, clothes, and refrigerated or frozen food items.

RORO (Roll On, Roll Off) Cargo

RORO cargo is anything that can be rolled onto a transport carrier, which are outfitted with ramps to make the loading and unloading process quicker and easier. Break bulk is a subcategory of RORO cargo and refers to loads that include items that are too large to fit in a standard shipping container or moved using other modes of transport. RORO cargo is generally moved by ship, but it can also apply to air freight and includes things like vehicles, rail cars, and trailers.