Freighter facts for kids

A freighter is a special vehicle or even a person whose main job is to move cargo, supplies, or goods from one place to another. Think of them as the hardworking movers of the world! They carry everything from food and clothes to cars and even parts for rockets. Without freighters, it would be very hard to get all the things we need and use every day.

What is a Freighter?

A freighter is any kind of transport that carries goods instead of passengers. These vehicles are designed to be strong and hold a lot of weight. They come in many shapes and sizes, depending on what they are carrying and where they are going. Freighters help connect people and businesses all over the globe.

Freighters on Water: Cargo Ships

One of the oldest ways to move goods is by water. Cargo ships are huge vessels that sail across oceans and seas. They can carry enormous amounts of cargo, making them very efficient for international trade. These ships are often called freighters or merchant ships.

Types of Cargo Ships

There are many different kinds of cargo ships, each built for a specific type of load:

• Container ships carry large metal boxes called containers. These containers can be easily moved between ships, trains, and trucks.
• Bulk carriers transport loose cargo like grain, coal, or iron ore. This cargo is poured directly into the ship's holds.
• Tankers are designed to carry liquids, such as oil, natural gas, or chemicals.
• Ro-Ro ships (Roll-on/Roll-off) carry vehicles like cars, trucks, and even trains. They have ramps for easy loading and unloading.

Freighters on Land: Trucks and Lorries

On land, the most common type of freighter is a large motor vehicle known as a truck in the United States or a lorry in the United Kingdom. These powerful vehicles move goods across cities, states, and even countries. They are essential for delivering items from ports and factories to stores and homes.

Big Rigs: Semi-Trucks

A very common type of truck is the semi-truck, also known as a "semi" or "semi-trailer truck." This vehicle has two main parts:

• The tractor unit is the front part that contains the engine and the driver's cabin.
• The semi-trailer is the long part at the back that carries the cargo. It doesn't have front wheels and relies on the tractor unit for support.

Semi-trucks are used to transport a wide variety of goods, from groceries to construction materials.

Freighters in the Sky: Cargo Aircraft

For fast delivery over long distances, cargo aircraft (also called air freighters) are used. These airplanes are specially built to carry freight instead of passengers. They have large cargo doors and reinforced floors to handle heavy loads. Cargo planes are perfect for urgent shipments or valuable goods that need to arrive quickly. An example of a cargo aircraft is the Bristol Freighter, which was used for carrying vehicles and other cargo.

Freighters in Space: Cargo Spacecraft

Believe it or not, there are even freighters that travel to space! Cargo spacecraft are uncrewed (meaning no people on board) vehicles that deliver supplies and equipment to space stations, like the International Space Station (ISS). These spacecraft carry food, water, scientific experiments, and spare parts for the astronauts living in orbit.

Why Are Freighters Important?

Freighters are a vital part of the global economy. They make sure that products can be moved efficiently from where they are made to where they are needed. Without freighters, our stores would be empty, factories would stop running, and many industries would not be able to operate. They truly keep the world moving!

See also

• Heavy hauler
• Common carrier