GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Means of transport
When planning a shipment, one of the first decisions is which means of transport to use.
Quick Answer
Last updated: Published:
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportmittel
Category
Check transit time: city-to-city index
Reading time
1 min
Words
130
Mentioned in
1 articles
Definition & Explanation
When planning a shipment, one of the first decisions is which means of transport to use. The term refers to any vehicle or technical asset that physically moves goods or people from one location to another—trucks, rail wagons, ocean vessels, inland waterway barges, cargo aircraft, or pipelines. Each option involves trade-offs: road offers door-to-door flexibility, sea freight moves large volumes at low unit cost, rail suits heavy or bulk cargo over land, and air provides speed at a premium. Freight forwarders select the appropriate means based on cargo type, distance, transit time requirements, and applicable regulations—such as ADR for dangerous goods by road or IMDG for sea shipments. Not to be confused with transport mode, which refers to the broader infrastructure system, or transport route, which describes the path taken.
Next steps
Matching tools and partners
Related Terms
You might also be interested in these terms
Mentioned in
Transit index
Check transit time: city-to-city index
P50/P80 transit times for sea, air and road — sourced and confidence-rated, not a carrier quote.
Connect
Find a matching partner on this lane
Verified forwarders, ranked by coverage and profile — premium capped at 10%.
Related News
Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox
Free · No password · Never a paywall. Weekly top news and facts from logistics.