The words cargo and freight are similar, but even though they share a few things in common, the meanings are quite different.For people who are just getting into the import-export game, the difference between these terms is often blurred. Understanding the two terms and the different contexts they’re used in will help eliminate any possibilities for confusion when talking to industry professionals about your shipments.This short article will clarify the differences between the two, exploring the traditional definitions, contemporary usages, and where the lines blur.

The Traditional Difference Between Cargo & Freight

In a traditional sense, the appropriate use of the terms cargo and freight depends on the vehicle carrying the goods in question.When we refer to air freight, we don’t call the aircraft freight planes, we refer to them as cargo planes. The same goes for ocean-going vessels it’s not a freight ship, but a cargo ship.Conversely, trains carrying goods across the land are considered freight trains; you would rarely hear someone refer to one as a ‘cargo train.’ Long-haul trailers loaded with products are generally referred to as freight trucks.So, traditionally speaking, ‘freight’ is products or goods moved overland via truck or train, whereas ‘cargo’ refers to goods moved overseas via ocean carriers or through air providers.Still, even using traditional or contemporary definitions, the two terms share a few things in common. Both freight and cargo are used to communicate the transportation of products or goods, and they’re used almost exclusively in reference to commercial items.One interesting exception to this rule is mail. The accepted term for mail – whether bundles of letters and correspondence or packages and parcels – is cargo. Mail is never referred to as freight, whether it’s transported by ship, plane, train, or truck.