Transportation Operations LINCS Practice Exam

A majority of U.S. exports (by tonnage) are carried by?

1. Rail freight

2. Road freight

3. Ocean freight

4. Airfreight

The correct answer is: Ocean freight

Ocean freight is the primary mode of transportation for a majority of U.S. exports by tonnage due to its capacity to handle vast amounts of cargo over long distances at a relatively low cost per ton. Shipping goods via large container vessels allows for transporting bulk commodities, manufactured goods, and a variety of other products economically, which is particularly important for global trade competitiveness. The scale of ocean freight services enables the transport of heavy or bulky items that may not be practical to ship by other modes, such as road or air. Moreover, international trade often involves shipping large quantities over long distances, which aligns well with the capabilities of ocean freight. While road freight, rail freight, and airfreight each play significant roles in transport logistics, they do not match the tonnage capacity and cost-effectiveness of ocean freight for exports. Road and rail are often used for domestic distribution, whereas airfreight, while faster, is cost-prohibitive for the bulk shipping that dominates export tonnage. Hence, ocean freight naturally stands out as the leading choice for U.S. export transportation by weight, making it the most logical answer.