Should You Use Shipment by Air or Shipment by Sea from Houston?

The Port of Houston is the busiest port in the United States for deep-sea vessels. The port is so large that it starts 5 miles east of Houston and ends 52 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. It is directly responsible for 2.7 million American jobs.

Considering the local access to this port, many business owners struggle with the decision to ship freight via air or sea. The truth is that there are pros and cons to each option.

For those considering the use of the Port of Houston for freight shipping, now is the time to look for sea containers for sale in Texas. This research will help decide whether to ship by air or sea from Houston.

There are Many Variables to Consider

Before deciding to ship freight via air or sea, an assessment must be completed on the many variables in play. For starters, when does the shipment need to arrive by?

Air transportation is much faster than sea transportation. There are also fewer stops for an airplane as deep-sea vessels tend to make several stops along the way.

Another factor to consider is the safety of the goods being shipped. Depending on how rugged the shipping containers are, sea travel poses a greater risk to the goods being shipped.

Many business owners take environmental impact into consideration. While air transportation is faster, it also yields a greater negative impact on the environment. Airplanes emit high carbon dioxide emissions which negatively contribute to climate change.

Cost is the Most Important Variable

If cost was not an issue, many business owners would opt to use air transportation due to speed reasons. However, the biggest drawback to air shipping is the cost.

In many cases, air transportation is cost prohibitive. The costs for shipping via airplane are calculated based on the size and weight of the goods.

This means that the larger the item the higher the costs. Shipment by air could be many multiples more expensive than a comparable sea shipment.

Costs for sea transportation, on the other hand, are driven by the volume of shipping containers. The cost savings between sea and air transportation grow in parallel with the size and weight of the good. The larger the better for cost purposes.

Other Considerations

While cost is obviously important, there are a number of other considerations to keep in mind. Shipment tracking is a popular feature for business owners and is available for both air and sea transportation.

Sea transportation can damage goods if they are not preserved for a long journey. When looking for sea containers for sale in Texas, make sure to look for ruggedized units to protect your assets.

There also specific rules and regulations for both air and sea transportation. If you are exporting goods, ensure that all paperwork is filed and the shipment is in compliance with all rules and regulations both domestically and abroad.

Sea Containers for Sale in Texas – Wrapping It Up

Clearly, the decision to ship via air or sea is not an easy one. There are pros and cons to both approaches.

Business owners that opt for air transportation sacrifice cost, while sea transportation forgoes speed. If a deep-sea vessel is the right choice for you, please contact us for help in the search for sea containers for sale in Texas.