This article has been prepared as part of the LOBRA project to provide a common foundation for understanding transportation.
Transportation is the process of moving goods between locations. In freight logistics, several transport modes are used, each with its own operational logic, infrastructure requirements and regulatory frameworks. Choosing a mode depends on factors such as distance, cargo type, handling needs and the availability of connections to other modes. In this information piece we outline the main types of freight transportation and explains the concepts of modal split and modal shift.
Road Transport
Road transport uses trucks and other motor vehicles to move goods through road networks. It connects production sites, warehouses, distribution centers and end-users. Road transport is commonly used for short- and medium-distance deliveries and often provides the first or last segment in multimodal chains. Infrastructure includes highways, local roads, border crossings and loading bays. The movement of goods by road is subject to weight limits, traffic regulation and vehicle standards.
Rail Transport
Rail transport moves freight using trains on fixed rail infrastructure. It is used for transporting bulk goods, containers and industrial cargo over medium to long distances. Rail transport operates on scheduled services or through block trains that run between terminals. Access to terminals is required for loading and unloading and often for transfer to or from road transport. Factors such as track gauge, electrification and network access rights influence rail operations, especially in cross-border contexts.
Water Transport
Water transport includes both inland waterway and maritime shipping. It is used to move goods on rivers, canals, coastal routes and ocean routes. Inland waterway transport typically carries bulk cargo and containers using barges or small vessels. Maritime shipping includes both short-sea and deep sea operations, which connect national and international ports. Water transport relies on port infrastructure, navigable waterways and scheduling systems. It is integrated with road and rail networks through port-based logistics terminals.
Modal Split
Modal split refers to the way freight is divided across different transport modes, such as road, rail and water within a region, country or logistics system. It is usually expressed as a percentaage of total goods transported, either by weight (tonnes) or distance moved (tonne-kilometres.
For example, if 70% of freight in a country is transported by road, 20% by rail and 10% by water, the modal split reflects this distribution. Monitoring modal split helps governments, researchers and logistics operators understand how existing infrastructure is used, identify bottlenecks and plan for the future. This is a topic field we will be inspecting definitely in the future.
Modal Shift
Modal shift is the process of changing the transport mode used for moving freight. In logistics and transport policy, modal shift typically refers to moving goods away from road transport and toward rail or water transport.
Shifts in transport mode maybe drivent by multiple factors:
- Environmental goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions or fuel use
- Economic factors: lowering transport costs for large or heavy shipments
- Infrastructure pressure: relieving congestion on roads or border crossings
- Policy incentives: financial or regulatory measures that encourage rail or water use
Modal shift is often supported by the development of intermodal terminals, where cargo can be efficiently transferred between trucks, trains and ships. Governments and the European Union promote modal shift as part of sustainable transport and climate strategies.
Transportation is one of the primary areas of focus in our Logistics Laboratory (LOBRA) project. The laboratory studies logistics and supply chain systems, including transport corridor modeling, to support planning and policy development through data analysis and applied research.
If you are interested in the field of logistics and supply chain management and want to stay informed about developments and trends, keep in touch with the project!
Project number: 404191