Classification of goods transported by road

Cargo transportation largely depends on the choice of vehicle and the conditions under which it will be carried out. At the planning stage, it is important to understand which category the goods belong to and the best method for transporting them. To properly identify cargo shipments, there is an international nomenclature and classification for cargo transported by road, which categorizes them by main features:

• Agriculture.
• Pulp and paper, woodworking, and forestry industries.
• Various metal ores and mining products.
• Fuel and energy production.
• Mineral raw materials, building materials based on them, abrasives.
• Metallurgical industry products.
• Engineering and metalworking industry products.
• Chemical products.
• Food industry (including meat, dairy, and fish products).
• Light and printing industries.
• Others.

This classification of cargo transported by road based on affiliation does not provide a complete picture, addressing only certain organizational aspects. When selecting a vehicle, it is necessary to consider the technological requirements for transporting and storing the products. The main differences in cargo transportation depend on packaging, physical properties, weight, and dimensions of the transported goods. All these factors together help to determine:

• The method for loading and unloading. Selected for single (piece), packaged, containerized, bulk, gaseous, liquid, oversized, and multi-ton cargo. Piece goods may be in containers, packaged, or unpackaged. Specialized vehicles, such as tankers and gas carriers, are used to transport liquid and gaseous substances without containers.
• Transportation conditions. There are only two options here—standard and specific. The standard method does not require special conditions. The second option provides necessary conditions for temperature, humidity, pressure, or other factors. It is also used for non-standard and oversized cargo due to specific transport requirements.
• Protection conditions from external influences. Some types of cargo require protection from precipitation, direct sunlight, excessive shaking, and impacts, as well as special handling conditions during loading and unloading operations.

Brief Classification of Cargo by Nomenclature

There is also an internal classification of cargo by nomenclature:

• Oil and petroleum products in all states.
• Coal of all grades.
• Iron and manganese ore.
• Non-ferrous metal ores and raw materials for sulfur extraction.
• Carbon steels, cast iron.
• Logging and lumber.
• Grain, flour, flour products, baked goods.
• Cement.
• Construction goods, bricks.
• Industrial goods, molding materials.
• Granulated slags.
• Soil and overburden rocks.
• Cotton.
• Animal oils, milk.
• Liquor and vodka products.
• Other food products.
• Industrial consumer goods.
• Containerized products.
• Other cargo.

We have only covered the main points, as a full classification of cargo by nomenclature spans several pages. Providing detailed descriptions of the remaining groups is unnecessary since all relevant information is handled by our experts at "Mak-Trans." Our experienced staff is ready to provide consultations on any questions, which you can request at any convenient time by submitting a request on our website.

Cargo and Their Classification by Classes

Another method to ensure quality in cargo transportation is the classification of cargo by classes, based on their properties. It is as follows:

• Piece goods (general cargo).
• Regular goods.
• Bulk goods.
• Oversized goods.
• Liquid goods.
• Gaseous goods.
• Hazardous goods.

Based on initial characteristics, the method and types of cargo transported by road are selected to ensure the safety of goods as well as the vehicles.

General or piece goods can be transported independently, either packaged or unpackaged, and can also be grouped in containers (boxes, pallets, containers, etc.). Goods grouped for shipment can vary in size and weight characteristics.

Individual items may also independently have oversized dimensions in terms of length, height, width, or weight.

This group may include:

• Metal structures.
• Vehicles, agricultural, and mining machinery.
• Concrete and reinforced concrete products, and structures based on them.
• Maritime, railway, transport, or trade containers.
• Transport packages.
• Single items.
• Coiled or barreled goods.
• Cement, flour, or other fine-structured substances transported in bags or in bulk in specialized bunker trailers or semi-trailers.
• Lumber.

Regular goods have acceptable dimensions and weight, allowing them to be transported by open trucks without any protection from weather conditions.

The bulk goods category can include small, individual, loose items. These may include rock (ore, stone, sand), grinding balls, chemical catalysts, or any other product that permits such transportation. For this group of goods, it is important to consider their flow properties, and depending on this, use a dump truck or a cargo bed for transporting mineral fertilizers.

Oversized items. These are items that exceed 2.6 meters in width, are longer than 22 meters, or are higher than 4 meters from the road level when loaded, and have a weight exceeding 40 tons. Transporting these items requires special permits and the use of multi-axle low-bed trailers with a high load capacity of 40 to 120 tons.

Attempting to transport such cargo independently can create a lot of unnecessary problems, so it’s beneficial in such cases to involve a specialized company. Working with professionals from the transport agency "Mak-Trans" can help save time and money on transporting non-standard items.

Liquid, bulk cargo. This category includes the following main types:

• Oil and its derivatives.
• Natural and synthetic alcohols.
• Synthetic and edible oils.
• Juices and food industry derivatives.

They can be transported in containers such as jars, cans, barrels, and tanks, or without them in tank trucks. While for packaged goods the aggressiveness of the transported product may not be a concern, for transport without containers this is the most critical aspect. Food products, such as milk or water, should ideally be transported in aluminum or stainless steel containers. Chemical substances can be transported in any containers to which they are inert (depending on composition) or show very low activity. For example, acid can be transported in a stainless steel barrel or in a black steel barrel with a Teflon or ceramic coating.

Gaseous substances. As the name suggests, these are gases, primarily including nitrogen, oxygen, propane, and argon. Transportation can be carried out in individual cylinders or in gas transport tanks. In this case, the gas can be in a gaseous state under certain pressure or in a liquefied state.

Hazardous substances. This category includes all products and substances that can harm humans and the environment during transportation. This group includes the following types:

• Explosives and materials in a stable state but prone to explosion.
• Any gas in compressed or liquefied form.
• Liquids with a low flash point.
• Flammable materials, excluding explosives.
• Peroxides and oxidizers.
• Pesticides and substances that can carry or induce infections.
• Radioactive elements.
• Substances that cause aggressive corrosion.
• Unclassified substances with harmful effects on living organisms and nature.

In addition to the 9 hazard classes, there are letter classification codes that help identify the type of danger. You can read more about them in ADR — the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. Chapters 2.2 and 3.3 provide detailed descriptions of classes and codes used for hazardous goods.

If you are unsure about how cargo transportation is classified by hazard class and which letters should be displayed on the label, contact "Mak-Trans." Our company has long experience in transporting various types of hazardous goods. Our extensive fleet with specialized vehicles and the necessary permits for transporting dangerous goods will save you from unnecessary hassles.

What Difficulties May Arise When Transporting Oversized and Hazardous Cargo

Oversized and hazardous cargo can cause certain difficulties in vehicle movement and pose specific risks in the event of an accident.

Cargo transported by road, whose dimensions or weight exceed the generally permitted limits, requires a special permit from the Ministry of Transport. Municipal, regional, and local Road Authorities can issue these permits if all standards and requirements are met.

Transporting hazardous cargo is somewhat more complicated, as the driver must complete training at a specialized center and have a certificate of the established form. Additionally, a transport company can obtain a license to transport such goods if it intends to do so regularly.

The classification of freight transportation for the delivery of large and hazardous goods is a complex task that requires a careful approach, as the correct classification impacts almost everything:

• Transportation safety.
• Need for permits.
• Choice of vehicle.
• Selection of optimal route.
• Delivery cost.

If you have any doubts or lack experience in transportation, contact specialized organizations like "Mak-Trans." Our transport agency has many years of experience transporting a wide range of goods throughout Ukraine and far beyond.