When transporting cargo domestically, the standard method uses 40ft and 20ft containers. A less conventional yet very beneficial way to ship freight is called breakbulk. Breakbulk is a method of shipping in which the hauler moves the goods without an intermodal container. Instead, the cargo is loaded into the carrier individually utilizing crates, drums, hazmat boxes, or pallets. Liquid breakbulk shipments are stored in barrels before being shipped. This differs from regular bulk, where carriers transport goods without packaging or containers.
Forklifts, cranes, and rollers are some equipment used to fill trucks with breakbulk cargo. Initially, the breakbulk was used for shipping goods by sea, but as technology developed, so did the means of transportation. Now various types of conveyances can transport by breakbulk, including trucking. Despite containerization becoming popular over the years, the market for breakbulk has stayed present due to the value added.
Advantages
One of the most significant advantages of breakbulk shipping is the time saved from shipping the item in one piece. When cargo has to move by container, the loader breaks it into smaller pieces before loading. Affordability is also a benefit since the shipper does not have to pay for a container with goods transported whole. In addition, the breakbulk allows for intermodal transportation of goods like oversized cargo. Intermodal transport is freight movement with multiple hauling modes, like a truck and vessel. This is because most ports across the U.S. have ships that allow for breakbulk loading and unloading. Trucks can deliver breakbulk cargo to ports and have drayage services to pick up goods from the seaport.
Oversized Cargo
A popular type of breakbulk cargo is known as oversized, a shipment that exceeds the standard truck transportation regulations. Some of the general guidelines for considering a load oversized include the following:
- A shipment that exceeds 80,000lbs
- A shipment that has a length of over 53ft
- A shipment with a height of over 13.6ft
- A shipment with a width of 8.6 ft
Note that the guidelines vary by state, and you should talk to a broker for an in-depth explanation of the regulations. The trucks carrying heavy haul also have necessary conditions, like the weight carried by the axle. Oversized cargo includes large machinery, industrial equipment, construction materials, vehicles, etc. Carriers must take special precautions when shipping this type of cargo due to its size and weight. Truck trailers called flatbeds are used, which are broken down further into different flatbed types like lowboys and removable goosenecks.
Along with oversized freight, goods like grains, minerals like gold, and liquids in barrels can be considered break bulk. While breakbulk is less common than containerized transport, it is still a need for supply chains in many industries. If you plan on transporting cargo domestically, contact A1 Freight Solutions at 786-375-9420 or info@a1fsinc.com to get started. The best way to ensure the successful movement of your shipment is to contract a freight broker. We find the best quotes and arrange the entire process for the shipper. Along with breakbulk shipping, we provide other solutions such as drayage, temperature-controlled, expedited, and much more!
