T1u—Introduction to Cargo Transportation for Forwarders & Other Intermediaries (U.S.)
T1u—Introduction to Cargo Transportation for Forwarders & Other Intermediaries (U.S.)
Non-subscriber price: $185.00, Subscriber price: $143.00
Estimated total study time: 13 hours 4 minutes
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This course is designed as a primer for entry-level personnel who are or will be involved in any mode of commercial cargo transportation. It should also be taken as a foundation by anyone planning to take more advanced cargo-related courses.
Lesson 1u: Our Role as Transportation Intermediaries (U.S. Version course)
This course looks at the world of international cargo transportation from the perspective of the various "players." This first lesson sets up our topic by focusing on the knowledge responsibility of the freight forwarder (also knows as a transportation intermediary), who, as the shipper's agent and/or indirect carrier must make a variety of decisions, prepare complex documents, and coordinate all the rest of the "players" in order to deliver a shipment reliably, on time and at a competitive cost. What knowledge and skills should a freight forwarder have? What are our objectives in taking this course?
(Estimated study time: 55 minutes)
- Introduction
- The Freight Forwarding Profession
- Our Professional Mandate
- Our Focus: Customer Need Determines Transportation Solution
- Competitive Advantage
- Performance vs. Cost
- Our Work and Learning Challenges
- Learning Perspective
- Subject Matter Organization
- Subject Matter Repetition
Lesson 2u: Freight Forwarder Functions; Basic Cargo Concepts
This second lesson covers very basic concepts and issues which will shape our perception of, and affect our decisions concerning, commercial cargo transportation. Also covered are the the basic operational functions of a "freight forwarder," now and in the future.
(Estimated study time: 1 hour 33 minutes)
- Introduction
- Freight Forwarder Functions and Opportunities
- Traditional Single Mode Expertise
- Through Intermodal Surface Transportation
- (U.S.) Through Intermodal Surface Transportation
- Government Regulation—Current Trends
- U.S. Regulations
- Through Airfreight Transportation
- Delivery Terms (Trade Terms) Determine Extent of Through Transportation
- Multimodal Expertise Now an Imperative
- Cargo Transportation—Basic Concepts and Issues
- Physical Movement—Visualize What Will Happen
- Cargo Security/Safety
- Predictable Destination (Delivery Point)
- Predictable Departure and Arrival Times
- Predictable Cost or Alternative Cost
- Making it Happen: Transportation Modes, Carriers and Expertise
Lesson 3u: Cargo Transportation Modes
In this lesson we begin to take up the primary modes of cargo transportation and examine their respective characteristics, advantages and limitations.
Regardless of which transportation modes we may have a particular interest in based on our current work or job assignment, everyone involved in cargo routing, carrier selection or cargo documentation should have at least a basic understanding of the comparative characteristics of all commercial modes of transportation. This is especially true of anyone involved in routing intermodal movements and/or determining which combination of transport modes should be used in meeting specific shipment needs.
(Estimated study time: 1 hour 58 minutes)
- Introduction
- What is a Cargo Transportation Carrier?
- Physical Modes of Commercial Cargo Transportation
- Inland Waterway and Intra-Coastal (Short-Sea) Transportation
- History
- Advantages of Inland Waterway and Inter-Coastal (Short Sea) Transportation
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Inland Waterway Transportation
- Deep Sea (Ocean) Transportation and Shipping
- History
- Advantages of Deep Sea Transportation
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Deep Sea Transportation
- New Options in Ocean Cargo Transportation
- Rail Transportation
- History
- Advantages of Rail Transportation
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Rail Transportation
- Truck Transportation (Motor Carriers)
- History
- Advantages of Truck Transportation
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Truck Transportation
- Air Cargo Transportation
- History
- Advantages of Airfreight
- Disadvantages/Limitations of Airfreight
- Other Mode Carriers
- Cost Comparison of Cargo Transportation Modes
- Cargo Transportation Trends as Part of Broader Logistics Services
- History of Multimodal Indirect Carriers (Consolidators & Door-to-Door)
- The Single Source "Door-to-Door" Logistics
- Recent Industry Trends—Forwarders Extending Scope of Services
- Current Logistics Services in Response to Shipper (Customer) Preferences
- Seamless Logistics and Information Systems
Lesson #4u: Relationship between Shipper and Carrier
This lesson defines the three alternative types of relationship between cargo transportation carriers and shipper, as well as the contractual and operational differences between direct and indirect carriage.
(Estimated study time: 2 hours 4 minutes)
- Introduction
- Shipper-to-Carrier Relationship
- Common Carriage
- General
- Tariffs and Common Carriage
- Carrier Liability Terms/Limits
- Contract Carriage
- General
- Common Carriage Masquerading as Contract Carriage
- Private Carriage
- Services In Addition to Carriage
- Direct vs. Indirect Carriage
- General
- Direct Carriage
- Indirect Carriage
- Indirect Carrier Terms and Conditions
- Minimum Standards for Carrier Financial Responsibility
- FMC Financial Requirement for Ocean Forwarders and NVOs
- Requirements for Truck Carriers and Property Brokers
- Direct and Indirect Carriage Combinations
- Carrier-to-Carrier Arrangements
- Co-Loading
- Substituted Service
- Cargo Pooling/Joint Services
- Sub-Contracting of Conveyances/Conveyance Operators
Lesson #5u: Carrier Regulation
This lesson provides an overview of the various forms of regulation which govern and/or affect commercial cargo transportation. Although economic regulation of cargo transportation in the U.S. has greatly declined, regulation of commercial practices remains for certain modes, and safety-related regulation has increased.
(Estimated study time: 1 hour 48 minutes)
- Introduction
- Types of Regulation
- General
- Purpose/Impact of Commercial Regulation
- Benefit to Small Shippers
- Benefit to Carriers
- Carrier Subsidy
- Effectiveness, Compliance, and Alternatives
- Cargo Transportation Carrier Regulation in the U.S.
- General
- Safety Regulation
- FMC Regulation of Ocean Common Carriage (U.S.)
- ICC Regulation (Historical Perspective)
- Surface Transportation Board
- U.S. Transportation Security Regulation
- State/Local Transportation Regulation
- U.S. Regulation of Cargo Carriers' Commercial Practices
- General
- U.S. Treaty Participations
- Industry Self-Regulation
- Ocean Carrier Shipping Conference and Multi-Carrier Agreements
- U.S. Regulation of Shipping Conferences
- Industry Trade Associations
Lesson #6u: Cargo Carrier Tariffs
This lesson covers the generic features, distinct sections and typical content of cargo transportation tariffs.
(Estimated study time: 50 minutes)
- Introduction
- Carrier Tariffs—General
- Tariffs & Common Carriage
- Tariff Format—General
- Table of Contents
- Rules Section
- Commodity/Class Index
- Rate Section(s)
- Shared Tariff Arrangements
- Joint Tariff Filing
- Participation in the Tariff of Another Carrier
- Adoption by Reference
- Limitations of Shared Tariff Arrangements
Lesson #7u: Types of Shipping Rates/Charges - "Rate Basis"
In this lesson we take up many factors which influence cargo transportation costs (e.g., transportation mode, distances involved, cargo characteristics and shipper/carrier circumstances influence cost) and rate basis (i.e., type of rate, and the unit of measure on which it is computed).
(Estimated study time: 1 hour 33 minutes)
- Introduction
- Factors that Influence Rate Structures (Rate Basis) and Relative Costs
- Cargo Metrics and Conversion Factors
- General—Weight and Cube
- Measuring Cargo
- Conversion Factors between Metric and English
- Transportation Mode
- Water Mode
- Rail Mode
- Truck Mode
- Air Mode
- Geographical Routes/Routing Options
- Geographical Routes/Routing Options (U.S.)
- Commodity
- Total Shipment Size and/or Weight
- Cargo Density
- Cargo Packaging/Configuration
- Shipper Circumstances and Volume of Cargo Shipped
- Carrier and Carrier Combinations
Lesson #8u: Shipping Rates used in Ocean/Intermodal Transportation
In this lesson we continue our coverage of transportation rates and accessorial charges. Cargo carriers of all modes tend to use the same basic types of rates: commodity rates, class rates, combination rates, and/or lump-sum full-vehicle rates (e.g., container rates, FTL or carload/piggyback rates, etc.).
(Estimated study time: 1 hour 23 minutes)
- Introduction
- Freight Rates & Charges Used in Ocean & Through Intermodal Carriage
- Commodity Rates
- Class Rates
- Through Intermodal Rates
- Add-on or Component Rates
- Other/Special Purpose Rates
- Accessorial Charges
- Conference Rates/Tariffs
- VOCC-Shipper Service Contracts
- Ocean Forwarder/NVO-Shipper Contracts
Lesson #9u: Types of Cargo Rates as used in Truck, Rail and Air Transportation
In this final lesson of our course we continue our coverage of transportation rates and accessorial charges by identifying and describing types of rates commonly used in truck, rail and airfreight transportation.
(Estimated study time: 59 minutes)
- Introduction
- Type of Rates/Charges used in Truck/Rail Cargo Transportation
- Class Rates
- Commodity Rates
- Rail Intermodal "Plan" Rates/Service Codes
- Other/Special Purpose Rates
- Through and Add-on or Component Rates
- Accessorial Charges
- Shippers' Agents, Domestic Indirect Carriers
- Freight Forwarders, Indirect Carriers, Integrated Carriers, Substitute Services