In the grand arena of logistics, the selection of the perfect freight mode hinges upon a multitude of factors including types of cargo, urgency for delivery, the distance to be conquered, etc. Each battle is unique; you can select different arsenals to address diverse cargo challenges. Below is an air, sea, and rail freight comparison from which for your to choice for the upmost balance of reliability and cost efficiency.

Quick and Nimble — The fastest mode of transportation for intercontinental commerce activities.

Less Handling — Requires the least amount of export paperwork.

Heavy Protection — Offers the most secure shipping option for sensitive cargo, subject to heightened airport scrutiny.

A Royal Price — Given all the added advantages, it’s no wonder that it’s the most expensive form of transportation.

Being Cornered — It comes with size and weight restrictions, excluding the shipment of items like lithium batteries and oversized objects.

Cut-throat Rates — Typically offers the most competitive rates, estimated to be 4 to 6 times less expensive than air.

A Heavy Hitter — Due to loading time and restricted nautical speed, it isn’t the most time-sensitive option for intercontinental cargo transportation.

Versatile like a Rubber Band — Sea shipping handles all cargo sizes and dimensions, including full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL). It’s excellent for oversized, heavy, and bulky cargo.

The Platinum Armor — The safest option for shipping hazardous materials and dangerous cargo.

Environmentally Friendly — More environmentally friendly than other transport modes, producing fewer exhaust gas emissions per tonnage.

As Patient as a Tortoise — Ships that traditionally took 15 days to reach now take 30-45 days for the West Coast U.S. and 60 days for the East Coast U.S. due to increased loading delays, labor shortages, and port bottlenecks.

All-round Player-–Railway freight is a well-balanced logistics approach between air and sea shipping, 100% to 300% faster than sea shipping, and 75% to 88% less expensive than air shipping!

As Stable as the metronome—The fixed routes and regular operation of China-Europe shuttle train transportation ensures stable transportation time and service quality.

Pirate? What Pirate?!—Compared to sea cargo which may be affected by pirates, bad weather and other factors,  transportation environment of railway freight is safer and more predictable.

Over 10 years, the number of freight trains running between Mainland China and Europe has grown from less than 20 to more than 12,400. Europe Railway Express train are now running on 73 routes connecting more than 50 cities in Mainland China with over 200 cities from 25 countries in Europe including but not limited to Germany, France, Poland, United Kingdom, Spain, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Czech, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia, etc.

Every organization has distinct cargo shipping needs. Consider these factors when selecting the right shipping mode for your organization:

• Freight Type and Quantity: Opt for sea shipping for large or heavy cargo, followed by railway transportation. Air shipping should be chosen only when you meet regulatory cargo type constraints.
• Time Sensitivity: Air freight consistently offers the fastest delivery, followed by railway transportation, and sea shipping, which is the slowest.
• Flexibility: Railway transportation provides the most scheduling options, followed by air shipping. Sea shipping, however, is the least flexible and requires advance planning.

• Cost: Sea shipping presents the most economical freight option, with railway fees falling between sea and air shipping. Air shipping remains the costliest alternative.