The road freight and rail freight are commonly used in the cross-border deliveries, for example, the delivery of export goods between mainland European countries and between North American countries.

About 50% to 80% of cross-border deliveries are completed using road freight. Generally, a transit distance within 1,000 kilometers using road freight is competitive compared to rail and air freight.

In road freight, like in a RO/RO (roll on/roll off) service, the cargo on a trailer may be accompanied by a driver who completes the journey to the final destination, or another driver continues the journey with the same trailer at certain juncture to the final destination, or a subsequent carrier collects the cargo and trailer or the cargo only and continues the transit to the final destination, such as in the case of a transhipment. The trailers may come in lengths of 45', 48' and 53'.

Road freight is widely used in the inland delivery of goods to the port of export. The delivery charge is called the cartage or trucking fee. The hauling charge for transporting the ocean freight container on land, normally not including the loading and unloading of cargo, is called the drayage. In practice, the term "cartage" is used synonymously with "drayage" in certain countries. The cartage, drayage and other inland transport charges (e.g. waterway freight and rail freight) are known as inland freight.

Trucking company issues a road waybill, also known as a road consignment note.

In some countries, there are legal limitations to the overall height (e.g. 13' 6") and load (gross weight) of a vehicle on freeways and major roads. The transportation of bulk cargo may not be suitable in road freight.

TL versus LTL

TL (truckload) or FTL (full truckload) means a full trailer or truck, while LTL (less than truckload; loose truckload) means not a full trailer or truck. The TL resembles the FCL (full container load), while the LTL resembles the LCL (less than container load).