Freight integration: what is the way forward?

摘要

Traditionally, carriers undertake to carry goods by a specific means of transportation (e.g. by road, air, sea, rail or inland waterways) or a combination of means of transportation. In the parcel distribution sector, however, a new transport model has become predominant. In this model, which we refer to as freight integration, freight integrators undertake to carry the goods without committing themselves to carry them by a specific means of transportation. The choice of this means of transportation is left to the discretion of the carrier. This freedom allows the carrier to select the most efficient means of transport at the time of the performance of the contract.