Which Is Cheaper: RoRo or Container?

Are you looking to ship large volumes of goods overseas? You may be wondering: should I use RoRo or container shipping?

At first glance, these two options can seem the same. But a few critical differences between them will affect your costs. To select the best choice for your specific needs, you must carefully calculate each cost.

With our years of experience in the import-export industry, we're here to help you choose between RoRo and container. Let's compare the two to make a good decision fitting your budget.

What Is RoRo?

'RoRo' sounds like a toy, but it's not one at all. The term refers to "roll-on roll-off," a method increasingly popular for moving cars and other commodities.

This service is also suitable for non-standard autos: agricultural utilities, boats, yachts, SUVs, and trailer homes.

This process works by having the cars towed or driven directly onto the ship at the loading port. The vessel then acts like a huge car park filled with vehicles, offering a simple, uncomplicated, and economical way to haul products across international waters.

It is important to consider all fees when selecting RoRo service as your form. Charges are usually required for packing, flat rack loading, crating, and port delivery fees.

It's also worth noting that extra packaging costs will also be payable to export warehouses. All such expenses should be taken into consideration when selecting this particular option. However, it can still be less costly than air freight or containers.

What Is Container Moving?

It is an ideal option when it comes to moving autos that are luxury or expensive. The process starts with the car being placed inside a container, preventing any damage during transit.

To ensure the automobile remains in place for its journey, ratchet, nylon, or chock straps are used to keep it secured, along with wooden braces at each tire. Furthermore, compared to the RoRo service, this method covers more global routes making it efficient yet secure simultaneously.

Despite being a tedious and lengthier process than the regular methods, it stands out due to its flexibility. It provides a great solution to those looking forward to safely hauling, whether it's a powerful exotic sports car or your daily work van.

Additionally, port workers will carefully handle your car, ensuring maximum safety during loading and unloading and checking for all necessary safety measures up until delivery.

All in all, when you're looking for reliable quality assurance for your valuable investments, look no further than Container.

The Differences

The differences can be decisive when weighing your options.

Below, we'll look further at the differences so that you can be informed when choosing which method your freight should travel by.

Differences in Costs

RoRo is considered the most economical method of ocean freight.

Moving a standard-size vehicle, for example, from the USA to Belgium via RoRo, costs around $900. In comparison, the same shipment via container can range between $900 to $2,000, depending on several factors.

Hauling with vessels is generally straightforward and efficient. All that's required is rolling cargo onto frames or ramps that are then loaded directly onto vessels.

On the other hand, moving goods by containers requires extra handling and packing before they can be loaded onto the vessel.

The type of method chosen and its associated costs ultimately depend on the goods being moved and their destination.

Factors such as freight charges, supply chain strategy, location of landside services, speed and timing requirements, and cargo load ability affect how much it will cost to move cars from destination ports to arrival ports.

Container vessels usually have more capacity for items than RoRo ones, so if anyone needs to haul, it is more cost-effective in terms of economies of scale to use the container method rather than RoRo.

Size and Weight Restrictions

Each method comes with size and weight limitations. RoRo is best suited for large vehicles, boats, and heavy machinery. These items must be able to drive or roll onto the ship with their own power.

The container is better suited for smaller items than a standard-sized one. The size and weight of the goods must also fit within the size restrictions.

Security and Protection

Loading and unloading can be risky, especially on Roll On Roll Off ships. This is because the risk of damaging the car during this process increases proportionally to the amount of handling it receives, making RORO inherently more dangerous than container one.

Not only does RORO require driver assistance for loading and unloading off the ship, but accidents often occur in these cases due to human error, putting cars at greater risk of incurring damages.

As vehicles sit exposed in port waiting to be hauled, they are also more vulnerable to theft and vandalism while not protected inside a sealed container.

On the other hand, with container one, motorcars remain safe inside a sealed one from vessel arrival until departure, protected from any possible human interference and harsh weather conditions.

Cranes can then be used for loading and unloading, minimizing potential risks relating to damage. Hence, cars are much better protected against experiencing any harm throughout their journey by sea, compared with traveling onboard via vessels.

Container and RoRo times

When it comes to moving, speed and reliability are critical. When comparing different types of services, RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) is the best choice when it comes to departure and arrival dates.

RoRo departs on specific scheduled dates, providing movers with reliable departure times for their cargo. Additionally, the estimated arrival times are fairly accurate, and delays are rare due to the ship's limited number of stops.

This relatively accurate estimate makes it easier for customers to plan their activities accordingly without any disruption in plans caused by unexpected delays or other unplanned occurrences.

Another advantage of choosing RoRo over container is that the turnaround time from loading to unloading is much shorter with RoRo, which means shorter transit times overall and faster delivery window expectations.

Furthermore, most vessels have less environmental footprint than ships since they utilize a direct voyage with partial loads, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions significantly.

As a result, movers can rest assured knowing that their shipment will arrive within its intended timeframe, with minimal emissions to harm the environment.

Which Is Cheaper?

RoRo rates are an affordable way to haul, especially compared to single-container ones. On average, the cost is much lower than consolidated containers since a smaller quantity of vehicles can be fit into the container.

Depending on the size of the car and its destination, RoRo offers some degree of flexibility for those on a budget. For example, depending on where you're sending it, a small car could cost as little as $750 for RoRo.

However, consolidating several cars into one shared one is often cheaper than using just one sole container when it comes to larger or more expensive autos.

Consolidated ones save money because many other vehicles can fit inside them, and each customer pays a share of that one unified price tag.

However, if they're particularly valuable or classic cars, sometimes paying extra for solitary receptacles might be worth it.

In this case, customers have added protection against potential damage or theft due to their motorcar only being alone in one slot in the ship's hold rather than amongst dozens of others in a consolidated one.

Wrapping Up

Between container and RoRo, the latter can be the cheaper option of the two. However, factors such as cargo size and weight play a role in deciding which method to use.

Containers may be good for large shipments and overly complex freight, while RoRo provides the flexibility and affordability that may be perfectly suited to certain needs.

So when it comes time to choose between RoRo or container, evaluate each option carefully according to your unique needs for a successful—and cheap—experience.

A1-AT makes the hauling accessible. We offer an instant quote to compare rates and pick a specific service that fits your budget.