Modular Transportation – An Overview Plus Some Tips

There's a long list of small parts involved every time we hire a shipping company to deliver our cargo from one place to another. A lot is happening behind the scenes, whether it's a car, heavy equipment, or even a mobile home.

Seeing different terms and getting confused is natural, but modular transportation is easy to understand. The catch is that you'll want a basic overview of what it involves to understand its importance and role in the hauling industry.

Here's an overview of modular transportation.

An Introduction to Modular Transportation

Transporting cargo is a very complicated process with several different cogs that work together to ensure the process goes smoothly. Each transport component has been refined over several years so drivers and shipping companies can make the process as efficient as possible.

And the culmination of optimizing every component is modular transportation. Rather than referring to one single element or small system, it's the entire chain of supply that starts from where a vehicle or heavy piece of equipment is picked up until it reaches its destination.

If you're moving abroad, your car will be transferred from your house in the USA to your new home.

And while it's as easy as submitting some documents, preparing your vehicle, and paying a company for you, there are several steps involved during the actual transport.

Modular transport refers to how the entire transport process has been designed to improve efficiency, be economical, and safe. This term includes how, when, and what is being shipped, whether ground or overseas.

Why the 'Packaging' is So Important During Car Delivery

The packaging's role is essential no matter the cargo, but it means something different for car and heavy equipment hauling. First, there are two major options for transporting standard cars.

There's enclosed transport and open transport. Heavy equipment isn't covered with a tarp or cloth, mostly because it's useless during transportation as it may get ripped.

Packaging will only involve securing the car to the carrier so it doesn't budge during transport.

Although enclosed carriers will secure the car, it'll have extra security because it won't be affected by changes in the weather. It's also less likely to get damaged on the way. Just like any other package, you pay for the extra security.

On the other hand, open carriers mean that the vehicle is fixed onto the carrier and exposed to the elements. Both are important in modular transportation because they hold two factors in the balance: people can spend a higher budget on security.

What Counts as a Cargo Transport Unit

A cargo transport unit is usually a container for the car hauling niche. While there are other ways to transport vehicles now, like RoRo shipping, using a container is still considered the most reliable and safe method. And again, a customer has the choice to use a higher budget and waiting time in return for safety.

For normal carriers, vehicles are strapped at the bottom. But if your car is being transported in a container, provided it fits into it, it'll have extra support. First, all four wheels will be chocked. The chocks are nailed to the bottom of the container so the vehicle doesn't budge.

Next, padded ratchet straps tie each wheel to eyelets built into the container. If you have a specialty car and the wheels might be damaged, the front and rear towing eyelets are used instead. Other ways to secure one cargo unit overseas include RoRo shipping methods.

Transposing Vehicles During Shipment

Another aspect of modular transportation is the waiting time. It's one of the biggest challenges in shipping overall, whether it's vehicles or standard packages. And it's especially prevalent for overseas transport because ports and Customs retain cargo for days.

The first part is why there are different shipping types, most of which are faster than container shipping. As mentioned, containers must be stored at a port and wait their turn before being taken out for inspection by Customs. Similarly, cargo can sit at a terminal for days before it's ready to be delivered.

There's also waiting time involved if a shipping company has to wait for a carrier to finish an earlier delivery, wait for enough vehicles to arrive to fill up space or risk a loss.

Transposing vehicles is important because the industry has spent a lot of energy trying to reduce wasted time, making deliveries faster and more efficient. One method is having carriers ready for moving at the terminals.

This process means that rather than waiting for the shipment to arrive at the terminal and unloading it, the trucks are stopped, and the vehicles are moved onto the carrier directly so they can set out instantly.

Why Hotshot Transport is Replacing Normal Transport

As mentioned, modular transport refers to optimizing the supply chain, so it's more efficient for customers. Quality service is highly regarded, especially concerning precious cargo like vehicles and heavy equipment like trucks, boats, or agricultural equipment.

For car transport, hotshot transport has gained traction recently. Although shipping companies may sacrifice some profits, it decreases delivery time and increases customer satisfaction, so more, and more carriers are adopting the method.

The idea is simple: a standard auto carrier can simultaneously hold eight to ten cars. Its journey is long because it has to make all those deliveries along one route, so customers usually have to wait many days before their order reaches them.

Instead of the bigger carrier, hotshot transport uses smaller auto carriers that hold four or five cars at once. Since each driver's route is less, it automatically reduces delivery time at no extra cost for the shipping company.

The company still expends the same amount of fuel and pays the drivers at the same rate, and instead of managing one large carrier, it has two smaller ones. The only major difference is in delivery times.

Line Haul Transportation and its Importance in Modular Transportation

Another modern development in the transport industry is line haul transportation.

It's a logistics term that encompasses the movement of goods and vehicles between two points at predetermined times. It doesn't have to be by any specific method.

Line haul transportation is when freight is transported between two specified areas. This movement can be done through trains, ships, or even air. It's a broad term, and its defining property is that it has previously set times.

The other factor is that it also has previously set times and routes. This means that freight is transported to a storage facility before it's sent to its destination.

If we consider vehicles, shipments will be taken to a warehouse at regular intervals, loaded onto carriers, and sent to be delivered to the drop-off areas.

The method's efficiency is in the logistics: it groups packages with nearby destinations.

Then, sending carriers along a predetermined route is easier without stopping or making unnecessary detours.

Why RoRo Shipping is More Efficient Than Container Shipping for Overseas Transport

Line haul transport is for ground transport, but RoRo shipping is a method that has become very popular for shipping vehicles overseas. We've discussed how secure container shipping and cars are strapped inside.

But apart from being more expensive, it also takes longer to deliver. Apart from Customs on both ends (during export and import), containers are retained at ports for a while.

It might be quicker if you're transporting a van, minibus, or two cars in a 40 feet container. Still, a standard 20 feet container has to wait until there's another one because the rails carry two at a time, and it's inconvenient and expensive to transport one alone.

But Roll-on Roll-off shipping, as the name implies, eliminates many time-taking factors. For one, the car is strapped to the carrier, so it can be moved with its wheels, whereas a container has to be picked up by a crane.

It's easy to get on and off the carrier, and as soon as Customs clears it, your shipping company can deliver it to you.

Factors That Affect the Efficiency of Modular Transport

Factors that affect modular transportation are very typical. They involve:

• When the shipment is taking place: some months and seasons have heavy traffic for overseas and ground transport. An example is the Christmas holidays. Any shipments, no matter how small, will take longer to reach during the holidays. So, it's best to discuss these times with your company.
• Pickup and Drop-off: If you live in an out-of-the-way area, the company will take longer to reach you. Similarly, even if the rest of the process is efficient, it'll take longer for your driver to get you if the destination is far away from the port or terminal.
• Route: It's one of the most important factors for modular transportation because some areas can have heavy traffic or uncertain weather conditions. It affects the delivery time and is why logistics is important for modular transport.

Why Logistics is the Most Important Factor in Modular Transportation

While the delivery time is important, the bulk of the work in the trucking industry happens here. If modular transportation is more economical, efficient, and safe, then an experienced logistics team is crucial.

The team will survey numerous aspects, including road width, traffic flow and concentration, weather conditions, seasonal holidays, and any necessary permits. After considering all these factors, they'll determine the most efficient route.

Next, logistics also involves accounting for all the deliveries a shipping company has to make. After pinpointing the destinations, they'll consider the carriers and divide the shipments according to routes.

Deliveries that are closer together go on one carrier, and a predetermined route is provided for the driver to make the delivery as quickly as possible.

A Quick Recap

Now that you know what modular transportation is, here's a quick recap:

• Modular transportation refers to every component involved when transporting cargo.
• There are many options for transporting vehicles and heavy equipment over land or sea. They all hold something in the balance, like extra security for a higher budget.
• Hotshot transport, line haul transportation, and RoRo shipping are being adopted for increased efficiency.
• While several factors affect modular transportation, logistics decides predetermined routes and ensures optimal delivery times.