PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION: THE BASICS

Choosing the correct mode of transport means striking a balance between time
and budgetary constraints. Choosing your mode of transport: what to consider:
1. Budget should be the most important factor in your decision-making.
2. The speed of the transport is also important, if you have perishable items.
3. If you are transporting hazardous or dangerous, need to meet various
guidelines. If your products are expensive or are shipped by sea, insurance
should be considered. If your cargo is valuable, it might be necessary to use
a vehicle tracking system so you know exactly where it is. Optimal
packaging and labeling.
Modes of transport.
1. Road: is cheap, convenient, and one of the most flexible modes of
transport, but it’s not as eco-friendly and it can be subject to heavy delays.
Always need to be aware of height, weight and length restrictions.
2. Rail: is speedy, environmentally friendly and not subject to congestion or
delays. However, it is inflexible and can be very expensive. It is
economically viable with payloads of 300 tons or more.
3. Air: airfreight is the fastest way to transport your products across long
distances, but it’s expensive and not very eco-friendly, only is carried by
cargo airlines. Also, be aware you will also have to incur costs including
handling fees, fuel and risk surcharges, customs fees and security fees, as
well as duty and VAT if you are importing.
4. Sea: is relatively cheap, particularly if you are sending large volumes. It’s
slow, though and fairly inflexible. Sea freight vessels are made up of the
following: container ships, cargo ships, bulk carries, tankers and roll-on roll-
off. There are two types of shipping: Liner vessels operate on fixed routes
with fixed schedules. Tramp vessels operate entirely according to the
demand of the person chartering them.
5. Courier: the couriers are fast, reliable and very secure, but can be costly.
Because of the courier vehicles, they generally only deliver goods up to a
certain weight. Usually, only cost effective over short distances.
GLOSARIO:
1. Constraints: restricciones.
2. Business: negocio.
3. Perishable: perecedero.
4. Dangerous goods: mercancías peligrosas.
5. Insurance: seguro.
6. Valuable: valioso.
7. Packaged: empaquetado.
8. Labelled: etiquetado.
9. Eco-friendly: ecológico.
10. Delays: retrasos.
11. Trucks: camiones.
12. Expensive: costoso.
13. Logistics Company: compañía de logística.
14. Aircraft: aeronave.
15. Customs fees: tasas de aduana.
16. Handling fees: cargos de gestión.
17. freight forwarders: agentes de carga.
18. Sea freight vessels: buques de carga marítima.
19. Container ships: portacontenedores.
20. Tankers: petroleros.