Types of International Road Transport

International road transport and key types of transport - Means of transportation

Road transport can be categorized using various criteria. In this article, we’ll focus on 3 main categories:

• road transport vehicles;
• specialized cargo;
• road transport services.

1. Standard transport - Curtainsider trailer transport

The most common freight road transport is transport using a curtainsider trailer with a load capacity of up to 24 tons.

It enables relatively easy loading from the side, top, or bottom of the vehicle due to the ability to slide the “curtain.” Furthermore, it provides great flexibility in transporting various palletized goods and doesn’t require special transportation conditions regarding temperature or humidity.

Due to its versatility, standard transport is often chosen by companies to transport a wide range of products.

2. Transport with a tautliner trailer

International road transport vehicles also include tautliner trailers. Along with curtainsider trailers, they rank among the most popular transportation methods offered by freight road transport.

The main distinguishing feature of tautliner trailers is the ability to remove the side tarpaulins, which enables loading from three sides: the sides, rear, and (in some models) from the top. This feature significantly streamlines logistics processes, especially for palletized goods.

Tautliner trailers combine the advantages of closed and open trailers, offering exceptional flexibility in handling various loads. The difference from curtainsider trailers is that curtains slide, while tarpaulins need to be untied and lifted.

3. Temperature-controlled transport

International road transport vehicles can also be adapted to transport goods sensitive to temperature, such as chemicals, food, medicines, or cosmetics. In such cases, goods transportation usually takes place using isothermal trailers or refrigerated trucks with cooling units that can maintain internal temperatures from -30°C to +25°C. Additionally, appropriate recorders are used for continuous temperature monitoring.

4. Container transport

Road transport also offers another type of transport, which is container transport. It is particularly important in international intermodal transport and is characterized by the use of container trailers (platforms) adapted to different container sizes. This enables efficient transshipment and changes in the means of container transport, which is particularly important in global supply chains.

Container transport plays an enormous role in intercontinental shipments, where containers are transferred between sea and road transport.

5. Car transport (Car carriers)

Both domestic and international road transport also employ a type of specialized transport adapted for transporting motor vehicles. It is commonly referred to as car transport or car carriers, and what distinguishes it is:

• The use of car transporters (car carriers) capable of accommodating from 8 to 12 passenger cars;
• The need for special care during loading and unloading;
• Frequent use by car manufacturers and dealers.

This type of specialized transport is key to the international distribution of vehicles.

6. Oversized transport

Road transport services also include the transport of oversized goods. This relates to the transport of goods exceeding standard dimensions and/or having non-standard weight.

When conducting this type of cargo transport, one must keep in mind that it requires special permits issued for a specific route and time, and pilot vehicles or police escort may be necessary in this case.

Typically, oversized transport is carried out at night to minimize traffic disruptions and requires detailed logistical planning and route analysis in advance.

Oversized transport is essential for transporting large machinery, structural elements, or other unusual loads.

7. Dangerous goods transport (ADR)

Dangerous goods transport is often referred to as ADR from the French “Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route,” which can be translated as “European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.”

As the translated phrase suggests, this type of goods transport is regulated by the international ADR convention.

8. Specialized tanker transport

Specialized cargo transport can also be carried out using tankers. In such cases, this usually involves liquid substances or bulk food products, and the specialized tankers used for this purpose:

• Are made of stainless steel or aluminum with a high degree of purity;
• Have built-in specialized loading and unloading systems;
• Are subject to rigorous sanitary requirements.

Specialized tanker transport is especially common in the food and chemical industries.

Specialized types of transport in road transport - Specialized cargo transportation

Besides the basic types of road transport, there are also more specialized forms of transportation that respond to the specific needs of various economic sectors.

Types of road transport can be categorized by the specialized cargo that must be transported, which therefore requires a dedicated means of road transport.

9. Live animal transport

Road transport by vehicles can include the transport of live animals. This is a highly specialized form of transportation that requires special attention and care for the welfare of the transported creatures.

These road transport services typically use vehicles with controlled ventilation and temperature. Furthermore, animal transport is subject to strict regulations regarding the welfare of the transported creatures, and drivers must have special certificates. Additionally, it should be noted that the characteristics of road transport for animals include limited transport time, with necessary stops for rest and watering of the animals.

10. Waste transport

International road transport can also involve waste, the transport of which is subject to strict regulations, including the Basel Convention. This means that special permits are required from the authorities of transit and destination countries.

Moreover, there are special requirements regarding the tightness and security of the cargo, and extensive documentation regarding the type, quantity, and destination of the waste is necessary.

11. Valuable transport

International road transport also includes the transport of valuable cargo such as works of art, jewelry, or money.

In this case, motor vehicles or trucks with advanced security systems are used, often specially reinforced against attacks.

Additionally, international road transport vehicles carrying valuable goods often have a security escort, routes and travel times are usually classified, and GPS tracking systems and emergency procedures are employed.

12. Furniture transport and international relocations

Road transport between countries also involves personal items and furniture. Especially for the latter group of cargo, transport takes place using trucks equipped with security and fastening systems. Moreover, road transport services for furniture often include options for packaging, carrying into buildings, or assembly and disassembly.

Furniture and personal items are also frequently insured before transport.

13. Pharmaceutical transport

Another type of international road transport categorized by cargo type is pharmaceutical transport. It is characterized by being subject to GDP (Good Distribution Practice) standards.

Moreover, motor vehicles and trucks used in international pharmaceutical transport employ systems for precise temperature and humidity control, and require validated monitoring and alarm systems.

The implementation of road transport for pharmaceuticals also requires detailed documentation of the supply chain and transport conditions.

Specialized types of transport in road transport - Road transport services

Road transport services can be divided when the adopted criterion is the specificity of solutions offered by a transport company.

14. Controlled atmosphere transport

Transport companies can offer general services for transporting goods in a controlled atmosphere. These are usually applied to food, especially fruits and vegetables, allowing cargo to be transported while maintaining its freshness.

Additionally, controlled atmosphere transport services often also include the use of trailers equipped with systems to control the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen, as well as a higher level of technological advancement than ordinary refrigerated trucks.

15. Express/courier transport

Goods transport services can also be classified as courier services or express transport.

Express transport is characterized by the rapid transport of shipments with a guaranteed delivery time using light delivery vehicles or trucks. Additionally, a hub-and-spoke system with central sorting facilities is often used here, advanced shipment tracking systems, and the whole is usually crowned with door-to-door deliveries.

This type of transport is essential in today’s rapidly developing e-commerce.

16. Intermodal/combined transport

In the previous part of the article, we also mentioned intermodal international transport. This combines several types of goods transportation, e.g., international land transport and sea transport or air transport.

In this case, road transport usually constitutes the first and last stage of delivery - the so-called “last mile.”

Moreover, intermodal transport uses standardized loading units (containers, swap bodies), and its definite advantage is the possibility of cost optimization and carbon footprint reduction. However, it requires efficient coordination between different transport operators.

This type of transport is key to the efficiency of global supply chains.

The importance of international road transport

Road transport is the foundation of international goods exchange. It is not only flexible but also widely available and enables cargo transport directly from sender to recipient. This makes it an irreplaceable element of global supply chains. Furthermore, modern road transport enables fast and efficient deliveries on an international scale, which is crucial for many industries.

Moreover, thanks to various types of road transport, international transportation of various goods is possible, which can be combined with other delivery channels, e.g., air transport or sea transport. It should therefore be remembered that each type of transport has its unique features and applications that influence the choice of the optimal solution for a specific cargo.

Advantages and disadvantages of road transport - Characteristics of road transport

Road transport has its characteristic strengths and weaknesses that should be considered when planning international shipments.

Advantages of road transport

Among the advantages of road transport, one can point out:

• Flexibility: Road transport by passenger vehicles or trucks enables a relatively easy choice of route, which allows estimating delivery time. Moreover, thanks to it, goods can be delivered directly from sender to recipient (door-to-door), eliminating the need for transshipments.
• Availability: A key factor in the prevalence of road transport is also the very well-developed infrastructure in most European countries, which makes it possible to perform road transport in EU countries, but not only, practically everywhere.
• Speed on medium distances: Cargo transport taking place on international routes up to 1500 km is usually a type of transport that offers the best ratio of delivery time to cost.
• Ease of monitoring: Road transport is also easy to monitor due to modern GPS and telematics systems. This is not only a convenience for the customer, who can track their shipments, but it also increases the safety of the driver and transport company.
• Cost competitiveness: Road transport is often associated with low transport costs compared to other types of transport. This is particularly evident in situations where the vehicle is not fully loaded (so-called LTL - Less Than Truckload).

Disadvantages of road transport

However, it should be kept in mind that road transport also has its disadvantages:

• Limited load capacity: Road transport, compared to air or sea transport, has rather limited load capacity, which is particularly visible with very large volumes.
• Dependence on road and weather conditions: As we pointed out earlier, specialized road transport needs to be carefully planned in advance, and this can be hindered due to changing road conditions (e.g., traffic jams or road repairs) and weather conditions, on which this type of goods transportation depends.
• Legal restrictions: Transport performed in different countries is subject to local regulations, so one needs to be familiar with the legal restrictions that apply in a given country. Among these are, for example, weekend driving bans for trucks in some countries or different road toll systems.
• Drivers’ working time: Regulations regarding drivers’ working time (e.g., AETR, Mobility Package) introduce restrictions on the length of the route a vehicle can cover in a specified time, which affects delivery times.

Proper assessment of these factors in the context of specific transport needs is key to choosing the optimal type of road transport or deciding to apply multimodal solutions combining different branches of transport.

Challenges and future of international road transport

International road transport faces many challenges, such as rising fuel costs, tightening environmental regulations, or driver shortages.

However, it should be kept in mind that with the development of technology, the transport industry is gaining many tools that facilitate the work of transport companies. Thanks to innovative means of road transport, goods transportation can be better optimized, and the development of artificial intelligence allows for easier route planning.

Types of international road transport - Summary

The diversity of available road transport vehicles means that this type of goods transportation allows for cost and time optimization in international logistics. Moreover, a thorough understanding of the different requirements associated with various types of cargo is key to adapting road transport vehicles to their transportation and optimizing the supply chain.

Nevertheless, due to the professionalization and development of the transport industry, international logistics companies offer a wide range of types of transportation in road transport, which enables flexible adaptation to customer needs. In turn, choosing the right type of transport can significantly affect the efficiency, costs, and timeliness of deliveries.

If you run a transport company and need support in accounting, HR and payroll services, or in settling drivers’ working time, we’ll be happy to help! Contact us and indicate what presents a challenge!