Published on:

02.09.2025

Transportation of bulk cargo

In the field of transport, each type of cargo has its own specific features and organizational requirements in the transportation process. Moreover, most categories of goods are subject to certain transport regulations. A more specific case is the transportation of bulk cargo.

These are goods transported in large quantities without packaging. The cargo is loaded or unloaded by pouring it into or out of the transport vehicle. Bulk cargo is divided into two main groups – liquid or solid. In this article, we will focus on so-called “dry bulk cargo” or “solid bulk cargo.” These materials consist of small, often movable fractions, homogeneous or heterogeneous in composition.

Dry bulk cargoes are divided into several categories:

Agricultural
(grain, millet, rye, oats, and others)
In grain transport, there are characteristic seasonal peaks during the harvest period and a defined role within the supply chain. For this reason, reliability and uninterrupted operation are of critical importance.
Industrial
(ore, coal, sand, scrap, and others)
For certain bulk cargoes such as flour or cement, special transport vehicles are required, and their transportation takes place in specialized tanks designed exclusively for this type of load.

For the transportation of dry bulk cargo, trucks called dump trucks are most often used. Gondola type dump trucks transport different types of bulk cargo, according to their specifics:

24 m³ – for transporting inert materials and asphalt
60 m³ with vertical unloading – for transporting grain crops
Four-axle quarry dump trucks – for excavation of soil masses and hauling aggregates in hard-to-reach or mountainous terrain

Interesting and useful facts related to the transportation of dry bulk cargo:

The process of preparing cargo for loading may include the following operations: crushing, sorting, enrichment, and anti-freezing treatment, while ensuring that the load does not exceed the edges of the side enclosure.
Cargo is covered with tarpaulin or another dense material to protect it from moisture and other environmental factors.
Safety measures include careful driving to prevent spillage of part of the cargo, avoiding overheating, and preventing spontaneous combustion of flammable substances.
Special attention is given to the condition of the trailers – specialized cleaning is carried out before/after each different type of cargo.
Depending on the specifics of the cargo, the vehicle must be equipped with the legally required identification plate as well as the necessary permits.
The term “fraction” in the transport of dry bulk cargo is used to describe the chemical composition, size, density, or another property characterizing the material.
Pricing in bulk cargo transport is most often based on transport costs calculated per ton per kilometer. Due to the specifics of the cargo, the traveled distance is usually considered as a round trip.