If you want to send goods from one place to another, most people will use the words freight, shipment, and cargo for the goods being shipped. These words are used interchangeably to mean a product goes from one point to another.
The words freight, shipment, and cargo can mean the same thing, but there are also slight differences in their meanings. Freight has to do with goods being shipped from one point to another, usually for a fee. Cargo usually refers to goods being shipped by sea or air. And finally, shipment is when you ship several products via freight or cargo; today, shipment can also refer to shipping one single item to someone by a courier service.
Freight, Shipment Vs. Cargo Explained
When transporting goods from one location to another, most people may use the words freight, shipment, and cargo interchangeably. Even though using them interchanging is not necessarily incorrect, there can be some differences between these words.
Freight has to do with goods being shipped from one location to another for usually some fee. That is why many companies that transport goods from one place to another are called freight companies.
On the other hand, cargo has to do with goods being shipped internationally or even within the United States by sea or air. Cargo is about transporting goods from one location to another by air or sea.
Shipment is when you ship several goods from one location to another. The word shipment is not concerned with how the goods are sent, i.e., by what means, but that they are sent from one location to another.
It can be confusing that today almost all people will use the words freight, cargo, and shipment interchangeably, even though each can have slightly different meanings and implications.
As with many things to do with the English language, the words freight, cargo, and shipment have changed as our times have changed. When many of these words were first used, the only way load would go from one point to another was by sea. Today, cargo can be sent by sea, air, or even with containers placed on a train.
That is why the words have continued to have evolved.
History And Explanation Of The Word Freight
The word freight is known to come from the 14th Century Middle Dutch; it is from the word “freyght, “ which is the version of the modern-day word freight. But some say it can also come from the French word ”fret” or Spanish ”flete“ or Portuguese ”Frete.”
Freight is about goods being transported from one place to another; usually, freight is about making a payment or paying a fee to have the goods transported. Companies that will charge to transport goods from one point to another are usually referred to as freight companies.
History And Explanation Of The Word Cargo
The word cargo has been used since the mid-17th century. The word cargo comes from the Spanish word “cargar,” meaning ”a load” or ’to load.” The word freight is considered to be a synonym for cargo.
The word cargo refers to when materials and goods are transported by a vehicle, such as a ship, airplane, train, or truck. But cargo usually refers to goods being transported for commercial or business reasons.
Cargo refers to being able to carry a lot of items at one time. That is why a cargo ship with many containers will refer to all the containers as their cargo; this indicates there is more than one item and, instead, many things they are transporting.
History And Explanation Of The Word Shipment
The word shipment was first seen in the 18th century as the words ship and ment. Shipment usually refers to shipping either freight or cargo from one destination to another.
It usually has to do with several goods being shipped at one time, but today can also refer to sending a single item to someone through a courier service.
When looking at freight, cargo, and shipment, it is about moving goods and products around the world; it is interesting to know and understand when and how each of these can and should be used.
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