Rakomány

Rakomány, or cargo, refers to the goods or merchandise transported from one location to another by road, rail, sea, or air. In Hungarian usage, rakomány denotes freight and the term appears in logistics and shipping contexts worldwide. The concept encompasses tangible items such as manufactured products, raw materials, and equipment, as well as perishable or hazardous goods depending on packaging and handling.

Classification: Rakomány can be classified by mode (road, rail, sea, air), by nature (dry cargo, liquid, gas, bulk, containerized), by weight or volume, and by hazard level (dangerous goods). Unitization—packaging goods on pallets, crates, or in intermodal containers—facilitates handling and protects cargo during transport.

Handling and securing: Proper stowage and securing are required to prevent loss or damage. Documentation such as packing lists, commercial invoices, and a bill of lading (or air waybill) accompanies the shipment. Transport-specific regulations govern the carriage of dangerous goods (IMDG Code for sea, IATA DGR for air, ADR for road in Europe).

Liability and insurance: Carriers' liability for loss or damage is typically defined by international conventions (e.g., CMR for road, Hague-Visby for sea, Montreal for air) and national laws. Shippers often maintain cargo insurance to cover risks not borne by carriers.

Economics and history: The efficiency of rakomány transport underpins global trade. The advent of containerization in the mid-20th century dramatically reduced loading times and improved security and intermodal transfer.

See also: freight, bill of lading, logistics, containerization, cargo insurance, perishable cargo.