Lecture 4.

Elements and Objects of the Transportation Process

1.
2.

Types of cargo transportation process.

Basics of cargo classification.

4.1 Types of cargo transportation process

The process of cargo transportation can be classified on the level of complexity as simple and complex. When the cargo is
transported from the origin point to the point of destination without intermediary stops or with short stops en-route the
transportation process is called simple. The elements of simple transportation process (initial operation of loading, intermediary
operation of transportation and final operation of unloading) are illustrated on figure 4.1 below.

Fig.4.1. Simple transportation process

If the cargo transportation process implies carriage of the goods from the origin point to the destination point including
additional operations then such a process is called complex (fig. 4.2). The additional operations are: reorganization of vehicles
en-route with making up of trains; partial additional loading onto vehicles in intermediary points.

Fig.4.2. Elements of complex transportation process

The transportation process is also considered to be complex if the cargo is carried to the destination point by means of several
transport modes. In that case, additional transfer of cargo from one transport mode to another is performed.

Fig.4.3. Elements of complex transportation process (with interaction of different transport modes)
4.2. Basics of cargo classification
All types of cargo that are accepted for transportation can be classified based on a number of criteria. The
classification should be justified only by the most sufficient features though. Therefore, the factors relevant for
classification of goods are:
1) loading and unloading method;
2) conditions of transportation and storage;
3) load capacity of the vehicle used for transportation;
4) safety of cargo;
5) degree of danger during loading, transportation and unloading.

According to the loading and unloading method, the cargo is subdivided into unit load, bulk cargo and liquid
bulk cargo.
Unit load is characterized by size, mass and form. They are accepted for transportation and returned to the
customer by volume and mass.
Bulk cargo is commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities. It refers to material in
granular, particulate form, as a mass of relatively small solids, such as grain, coal, or gravel. This cargo is usually
dropped.
Liquid bulk cargo is commodity cargo that is liquid or half liquid such as petroleum, acids, oils, liquefied natural
gas, etc. Liquid bulk cargo is often poured and transported in drums, containers and tanks.
Regarding the conditions of transportation and storage, the cargo is subdivided into specific and normal.
Normal cargo is the cargo that requires no specific conditions for its transportation, loading, unloading and
storage and can be carried by drop-side trucks.
Specific cargo requires special conditions and caution during transportation, loading, unloading and storage.
They are further grouped as:
1) sanitary and non-sanitary cargo;
2) perishable cargo;
3) heavy loads;
4) long loads;
5) oversized cargo;
6) dangerous goods.
Sanitary cargo are goods that require specific sanitary conditions, such as food commodities.
Non-sanitary cargo are sewage and dusty cargoes.
Perishable cargo are goods, which may deteriorate over a given period of time or after exposure to adverse
temperature, humidity or other environmental conditions.
Heavy loads are the commodities that exceed the weight of 250 kg per package (or 400 kg for rolled cargo).
Long loads are the commodities that exceed the size of the largest standard flat pallet 1200x1600 mm with
possible overhang of 40 mm to the side.
Oversized cargo is the cargo exceeding 2,5 m of width and 3,8 m of height with possible overhang of 2 m over
the tailgate.
Dangerous goods are materials or items with hazardous properties which, if not properly controlled, present a
potential hazard to human health and safety, infrastructure and/ or their means of transport.
The transportation of dangerous goods is controlled and governed by a variety of different regulatory regimes,
operating at both the national and international levels. Prominent regulatory frameworks for the transportation of
dangerous goods include the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, ICAOs
Technical Instructions, IATAs Dangerous Goods Regulations and the IMOs International Maritime Dangerous
Goods Code. Collectively, these regulatory regimes mandate the means by which dangerous goods are to be
handled, packaged, labelled and transported.
Regulatory frameworks incorporate comprehensive classification systems of hazards to provide a taxonomy of
dangerous goods. Classification of dangerous goods is broken down into nine classes according to the type of danger
materials or items present:
1. Explosives.
2. Gases.
3. Flammable Liquids.
4. Flammable Solids.
5. Oxidizing Substances.
6. Toxic and Infectious Substances.
7. Radioactive Material.
8. Corrosives.
9. Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods.
The multitude of dangerous goods regimes across the world and the complexity of dangerous goods
classifications and regulations render compliance a particularly difficult task. Below is a detailed explanation of the
dangerous items and their characteristics relevant for transportation.
CLASS 1 EXPLOSIVES
Explosives are materials or items which have the ability to rapidly conflagrate or detonate as a consequence of
chemical reaction.
Explosives are capable by chemical reaction of producing gases at temperatures, pressures and speeds as to cause
catastrophic damage through force and/or of producing otherwise hazardous amounts of heat, light, sound, gas or
smoke.
CLASS 2 GASES
Gases are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which have a vapor pressure of 300 kPa or
greater at 50c or which are completely gaseous at 20c at standard atmospheric pressure, and items containing these
substances. The class encompasses compressed gases, liquefied gases, dissolved gases, refrigerated liquefied gases,

mixtures of one or more gases with one or more vapors of substances of other classes, articles charged with a gas
and aerosols.
Gases are capable of posing serious hazards due to their flammability, potential as asphyxiants, ability to oxidize
and/or their toxicity or corrosiveness to humans.
CLASS 3 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
Flammable liquids are defined by dangerous goods regulations as liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids
containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapor (have a flash point) at temperatures of
not more than 60-65C, liquids offered for transport at temperatures at or above their flash point or substances
transported at elevated temperatures in a liquid state and which give off a flammable vapor at a temperature at or
below the maximum transport temperature.
Flammable liquids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility and potential in
causing or propagating severe conflagrations.
CLASS 4 FLAMMABLE SOLIDS; SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION;
SUBSTANCES WHICH EMIT FLAMMABLE GASES WHEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER
Flammable solids are materials which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily combustible or may
cause or contribute to fire through friction, self-reactive substances which are liable to undergo a strongly
exothermic reaction or solid desensitized explosives. Also included are substances which are liable to spontaneous
heating under normal transport conditions, or to heating up in contact with air, and are consequently liable to catch
fire and substances which emit flammable gases or become spontaneously flammable when in contact with water.
Flammable solids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility and potential in
causing or propagating severe conflagrations.
CLASS 5 OXIDIZING SUBSTANCES; ORGANIC PEROXIDES
Oxidizers are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which may cause or contribute to
combustion, generally by yielding oxygen as a result of a redox chemical reaction. Organic peroxides are substances
which may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide where one or both hydrogen atoms of the chemical
structure have been replaced by organic radicals.
Oxidizers, although not necessarily combustible in themselves, can yield oxygen and in so doing cause or
contribute to the combustion of other materials. Organic peroxides are thermally unstable and may exude heat whilst
undergoing exothermic autocatalytic decomposition. Additionally, organic peroxides may be liable to explosive
decomposition, burn rapidly, be sensitive to impact or friction, react dangerously with other substances or cause
damage to eyes.
CLASS 6 TOXIC SUBSTANCES; INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
Toxic substances are those which are liable either to cause death or serious injury or to harm human health if
swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact. Infectious substances are those which are known or can be reasonably
expected to contain pathogens. Dangerous goods regulations define pathogens as microorganisms, such as bacteria,
viruses, parasites and fungi, or other agents which can cause disease in humans or animals.
Toxic and infectious substances can pose significant risks to human and animal health upon contact.
CLASS 7 RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Dangerous goods regulations define radioactive material as any material containing radionuclides where both the
activity concentration and the total activity exceeds certain pre-defined values. A radionuclide is an atom with an
unstable nucleus and which consequently is subject to radioactive decay.
Whilst undergoing radioactive decay radionuclides emit ionizing radiation, which presents potentially severe
risks to human health.
CLASS 8 CORROSIVES
Corrosives are substances which by chemical action degrade or disintegrate other materials upon contact.
Corrosives cause severe damage when in contact with living tissue or, in the case of leakage, damage or destroy
surrounding materials.
CLASS 9 MISCELLANEOUS DANGEROUS GOODS
Miscellaneous dangerous goods are substances and articles which during transport present a danger or hazard not
covered by other classes. This class encompasses, but is not limited to, environmentally hazardous substances,
substances that are transported at elevated temperatures, miscellaneous articles and substances, genetically modified
organisms and micro-organisms and (depending on the method of transport) magnetized materials and aviation
regulated substances.
Miscellaneous dangerous goods present a wide array of potential hazards to human health and safety,
infrastructure and/ or their means of transport.
Based on the load capacity of the vehicle (v), all goods are subdivided into 4 classes:
Class 1, v = 1,0
Class 3, v = 0,51-0,70

Class 2, v = 0,71-0,99
Class 4, v = 0,40-0,50