Major Commercial Actors in Freight Distribution

Transport Sector	Function
Maritime shipping companies	Control long distance segments of the global freight distribution linking major markets. Highly capital intensive industry.
Global port operators	Control important intermodal infrastructures (terminals) within the world�s largest container ports. Have strong linkages with maritime shipping companies.
Port authorities	Manage and plan port infrastructures. Tend to lease the operation of terminals. Important intermediaries for regional distribution (hinterland).
Maritime lock and canal operators	Insure the operation of strategic passages in global and national distribution. This mainly includes the Panama canal, the Suez Canal and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Rail and rail terminal operators	Strategic inland freight carriers transporting a wide array of raw materials and commodities. Responsible for many of the transshipments between rail and road, particularly for containerized freight.
Trucking industry	Control vast and diverse assets that include critical segments of freight distribution in all economic sectors.
Third party logistics providers	Important managerial and organizational skills within supply chains. Often act as brokers between transport customers and service providers.
Air freight transport companies and air freight terminals	Important assets for the rapid distribution of high value added freight.
Distribution centers	A crucial element of modern supply chains. Perform tasks such as packaging, labeling and the consolidation of shipments to customers.