# Means of transport

*Last updated: 2026-06-16*

> Freight forwarders, shippers, and customs authorities use 'means of transport' to refer to the physical vehicle or infrastructure carrying goods from one point to another – truck, rail wagon, ocean vessel, inland waterway craft, aircraft, or pipeline.

Freight forwarders, shippers, and customs authorities use 'means of transport' to refer to the physical vehicle or infrastructure carrying goods from one point to another – truck, rail wagon, ocean vessel, inland waterway craft, aircraft, or pipeline. The choice depends on cargo characteristics, distance, lead time, and cost. The term also carries formal legal weight: each mode is associated with a specific carriage document – bill of lading for sea freight, air waybill for air, CMR consignment note for road – and with a distinct liability regime. It should not be confused with 'carrier', which denotes the company or person actually performing the transport.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_mode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_mode)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Means of transport |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 104 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-16 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_mode |

---

*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/means-of-transport-2](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/means-of-transport-2)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/means-of-transport-2](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/means-of-transport-2)*

*JSON summary: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/means-of-transport-2/llm-summary?lang=en](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/means-of-transport-2/llm-summary?lang=en)*