Freight Ton

Freight Ton is the basic unit for calculating freight charges in international ocean shipping, typically divided into Weight Ton and Measurement Ton. A Weight Ton is 1,000 kilograms or 1 metric ton; a Measurement Ton is 1 cubic meter (about 35.3147 cubic feet). Carriers charge freight based on the greater of actual weight or volume, i.e., 'charge by the greater'. Use cases include bulk cargo, LCL cargo, and some commodity shipments. Notes: Different carriers or routes may use different standards (e.g., short ton, long ton), and some cargo has special charging rules (e.g., ad valorem freight). Difference from 'chargeable ton': chargeable ton is another name for freight ton, but sometimes specifically refers to the value after choosing the greater of weight or volume; difference from 'cargo ton': cargo ton refers only to actual weight and is not used for freight calculation. Mastering freight ton helps accurately calculate ocean freight and avoid cost overruns.