A common carrier is a transportation provider that offers freight or passenger services to the public for compensation under published or agreed service terms. In logistics, common carriers may include trucking companies, ocean carriers, railroads, airlines, parcel carriers, and other transport operators. They generally accept eligible shipments from multiple customers, subject to capacity, safety rules, tariffs, service areas, and cargo restrictions. Common carriers are different from private carriers, which transport goods for their own business rather than the public.
A common carrier is a transportation company that offers its services to the general public at published tariff rates, as opposed to a contract carrier that serves only specific customers under private agreements.
- Common carriers must serve all customers without discrimination
- Ocean common carriers file rates with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
- Subject to government regulation of rates and service practices
- Examples include major ocean shipping lines, airlines, and public trucking companies
Carrier liability for cargo damage is limited. Shippers with high-value cargo should obtain separate cargo insurance.
For related logistics context, see Dedola’s global logistics services and glossary entries on Carrier, Contract of Carriage, Bill of Lading (BOL), and Cargo Insurance.
