Ro-Ro
Roll-on/Roll-off · Roll-on/Roll-off ship
A Ro-Ro ship carries cargo on wheels. Trucks, trailers, cars, and machines drive on and off the ship over ramps, without cranes.
In plain words
Ro-Ro ships carry new cars, trucks with their drivers (accompanied), trailers without a tractor unit (unaccompanied), and heavy machines on wheels or on special trailers. Because nothing is lifted, loading is fast and gentle on the cargo.
For road freight between Turkey and Europe, Ro-Ro lines are a common choice. For example, lines between Turkish ports and Trieste in Italy let trailers skip a long road journey and several border crossings. The trailer then continues by road, or by rail, to its destination.
Example from real shipping
A trailer with textile goods leaves Istanbul for Germany. Instead of driving through the Balkans, it boards a Ro-Ro ship to Trieste without its tractor unit. In Trieste, a partner's tractor unit picks it up and drives it to Munich. The CMR covers the whole road transport.
Related terms
- Flat Rack containerA flat rack is a container with a strong floor and two end walls, but no side walls and no roof. It carries large, heavy cargo that does not fit in a closed box.
- CMRA CMR is the standard transport document for international road freight. It shows that the carrier received the goods, and it travels with the truck.
- Transit timeTransit time is how long the cargo is expected to travel from the start point to the end point. It is an estimate, not a fixed promise.
- Car carrierA car carrier (car transporter) is a truck and trailer with two decks and hydraulic ramps. It usually carries 7 to 10 passenger cars.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.