GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026
Highway Freight Transport
Unlike rail or sea shipping, road freight transport requires no fixed terminal infrastructure and moves goods by motorized vehicle between any two points with road access.
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Source: https://unece.org/transport/road-transport/cmr-convention
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike rail or sea shipping, road freight transport requires no fixed terminal infrastructure and moves goods by motorized vehicle between any two points with road access. The mode spans light vans for urban last-mile deliveries and heavy articulated trucks on long-haul continental routes. This door-to-door flexibility makes road freight the dominant mode for intra-European cargo by volume and the essential first- and last-mile link in multimodal supply chains connecting seaports, rail terminals, and distribution centers. Cross-border shipments are governed by the CMR Convention, which sets out carrier liability, the required consignment note (CMR waybill), and claim periods. Road freight should be distinguished from combined transport, where the truck handles only pre- and end-carriage while the main haul moves by rail or inland waterway.
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