Mode of Transportation

The Mode of Transportation refers to the method used to transport cargo from origin to destination. In CargoXplorer, this is a key field that determines many aspects of how a shipment is handled, documented, and charged.

Key Concepts

• Determines the type of transportation used (e.g., air, ocean, ground)
• Affects which documents are required (e.g., Air Waybill vs. Bill of Lading)
• Influences the calculation of freight charges
• Impacts customs and regulatory requirements

Common Modes of Transportation

Mode	Description	Typical Use Cases
Air	Cargo transported by aircraft	High-value, time-sensitive, or perishable goods
Ocean	Cargo shipped via sea vessels	Large volume, non-urgent shipments
Ground	Cargo moved by trucks or rail	Domestic or short-distance international shipments
Multimodal	Combination of two or more modes	Complex logistics routes, door-to-door services

Impact on CargoXplorer Operations

1. Document Generation:

   • Selecting "Air" will enable creation of Air Waybills
   • Choosing "Ocean" allows for Bill of Lading generation

2. Freight Charges:

   • Different rate structures apply based on the mode
   • Chargeable weight calculations vary (e.g., volumetric weight for air)

3. Customs Compliance:

   • Mode affects required customs declarations and procedures
   • Influences which regulatory bodies are involved (e.g., FAA for air shipments)

4. Tracking and Visibility:

   • Different tracking methods and milestones apply to each mode
   • Affects estimated transit times and delivery dates

5. Warehouse Operations:

   • Influences handling procedures and equipment needed
   • Impacts storage requirements and locations

Fields

Field Name	Type	Description	Usage
Name	String	Short name or code for the mode of transportation	Commonly used values include "Air", "Ocean", "Ground", "Rail", etc. Used for quick identification and selection
Description	String	Detailed description of the transportation mode	Provides additional context and information about the specific mode. Useful for training and reference purposes
TransportationMethod	Enum	Categorizes the broad type of transportation	Typically includes options like AIR, OCEAN, GROUND, RAIL. Used for high-level categorization and reporting
TransportationMethodDescription	String	Human-readable description of the transportation method	Provides a user-friendly explanation of the transportation method. Useful for display in user interfaces
USCustomsCode	String	Code used for US Customs reporting	Specific code required for customs documentation when shipping to/from the United States
CustomValues	Dictionary	Key-value pairs for custom fields	Allows for extensibility, storing additional information specific to an organization's needs