Considerations When Choosing Between Ocean and Air Freight Options
There are many choices to make when it comes to international cargo shipping. The most basic decision pertains to the kind of transport to use for your shipment. For instance, when thinking about Dominican shipping, is air freight or ocean freight ideal for you? Here are a few eye-opening considerations that will help you see sense in using either air or ocean freight for your Dominican shipping.
Speed
Airfreight is almost always your fastest option. Air cargo often takes one or two days to arrive, whereas sea shipments may take approximately one month to arrive. If cost is a non-issue and you need your cargo as soon as possible, then air freight is ideal. But if you are in no hurry to get your cargo, then the ocean freight option is perfect.
The Cost of Shipping
Shipping cargo to international destinations such as the Dominican Republic is relatively cheap when done by sea freight shipping. When making cost consideration, you have to learn how the carriers charge for shipments. Air shipping rates are billed based on the chargeable weight of your cargo. The chargeable weight is a figure calculated by factoring in the size and weight of your cargo.
On the other hand, ocean carriers charge based on container rates, with the conventional standard containers being the 20 and 40 feet containers. Ocean carriers may also consider weight, but shipment size is the most common consideration when charging clients. If your shipment is less than a container load, then you’ll be billed based on your shipment’s cubic meters.
For large shipments, ocean freight is often cheaper than air freight. But as the shipments become smaller, the difference between the prices of the two options becomes more modest, and in some cases, shipping by air becomes less expensive. Dominican shipping and shipping to and from most other international destinations often use ocean freight because most of the exports are heavy and bulky. By value, ocean carriers ship 38% and 53% of American exports and imports, respectively.
Eco-friendliness
Increasing social awareness on matters of the environment and climate change may change your clients’ perceptions about your business. If your company has a significant carbon footprint, the environment-conscious clients may forego your product offers because of being insensitive to matters of the environment. In turn, such happenings may affect your company’s bottom line. Shipping companies should have the responsibility to take care of the environment. Carbon dioxide emissions are high in air freight but relatively low in ocean freight. So if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly option, ocean freight is the way to go.
If you’re thinking of Dominican shipping, then always factor in speed, cost, and eco-friendliness when making a decision on whether to choose air freight or ocean freight, and you’ll never go wrong.
