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T1u—Introduction to Cargo Transportation for Forwarders (U.S.)

Subscriber price: $227.00, Non-subscriber price: $295.00
Estimated total study time: 17 hours 43 minutes [Enroll now]

This course is designed as a primer for entry-level forwarder personnel who are or will be involved in any mode of commercial cargo transportation. This course includes U.S. regulatory information. It should also be taken as a foundation by anyone planning to take more advanced cargo-related courses.

Note: Students who have or will take the GISTnet "jump start" air and ocean forwarder training courses should not be assigned this training as much of the same material is covered in the "jump-start" training.

Our Role as Transportation Intermediaries

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 known 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.

(Estimated study time: 55 minutes)

Freight Forwarder Functions and Opportunities

This lesson explains the primary professional mandate of freight forwarders and other transportation intermediaries to have suitable knowledge concerning all transportation modes in order to recommend and arrange the best solutions for their shippers.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 8 minutes)

Basic Cargo Concepts

This lesson addresses the essential criteria which attend to the routing of cargo via transportation carriers regardless of the mode(s) selected.

(Estimated study time: 45 minutes)

Cargo Transportation Modes: Inland Waterway and Intra-Coastal Transportation

Here we have an overview of inland waterway and intra-coastal shipping, and how this shaped early commerce.

(Estimated study time: 35 minutes)

Cargo Transportation Modes: Deep Sea Shipping

This lesson addresses the history pf deep sea (ocean) cargo transportation, and compares the advantages and limitations of this mode vs. other modes.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 31 minutes)

Cargo Transportation Modes: Rail Transportation

This lesson addresses the history of rail transportation, and compares the advantages and limitations of this mode vs. other modes.

(Estimated study time: 53 minutes)

Cargo Transportation Modes: Air Cargo Transportation

This lesson addresses the history of air cargo transportation, and compares the advantages and limitations of this mode vs. other modes.

(Estimated study time: 41 minutes)

Transportation Modes: Truck Transportation; Cost Comparisons Among Modes

(Estimated study time: 37 minutes)

Cargo Transportation Trends as Part of Broader Logistics Services

This lesson addresses long-term and recent trends in cargo transportation as it relates to the services of cargo consolidators, integrated carriers, and 3PLs (door-to-door logistics).

(Estimated study time: 47 minutes)

Shipper-to-Carrier Relationship

This lesson defines the three alternative types of relationship between cargo transportation carriers and shipper.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 8 minutes)

Direct vs. Indirect Carriage; Carrier-to-Carrier Agreements

This lesson addresses the contractual and operational differences between direct and indirect carriage.

It also addresses carrier-to-carrier agreements entered into generally to lower carrier costs of operation, which generally benefit shippers in intensely competitive cargo transportation markets.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 10 minutes)

Introduction to Transportation Carrier Regulation

(Estimated study time: 35 minutes)

U.S. Transportation Carrier Regulation

This lesson addresses the various types of U.S. regulation of commercial cargo transportation, and the U.S. Agencies that perform such regulation.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 1 minute)

Cargo Transportation Carrier Tariffs

This lesson covers the generic features, distinct sections and typical content of cargo transportation tariffs.

(Estimated study time: 49 minutes)

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 27 minutes)

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 25 minutes)

Types of Cargo Rates as Used in Truck, Rail, and Air Transportation

In this lesson 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: 55 minutes)

Types of Rates Used in Air Cargo Transportation

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 21 minutes)