A private carrier is a company that transports only its own goods.
[Longman Business English Dictionary] The carrier's primary business is not
transportation
Transport (in British English) or transportation (in American English) is the intentional Motion, movement of humans, animals, and cargo, goods from one location to another. Mode of transport, Modes of transport include aviation, air, land tr ...
. Private carriers may refuse to sell their services at their own discretion, but
common carriers must treat all customers equally. Some corporations mix both systems, using common carriers and private carriage in what is called a blended operation.
Overview
Private carriage usually refers to trucking but is also found in rail and water transportation, as well as communication. Private carriage is distinguished from
independent carrier, which is an individual owner-operator or trucker who may make discretionary deals with private carriers, common carriers, or contract carriers.
A private carrier may also refer to communication or communication services. Certain frequencies that are restricted to use by law enforcement are sometimes called "private carriers". Station class codes beginning with FB6 or FB7 are private carriers.
Other uses
In the
telecommunications
Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...
industry, defining "private carrier" and "common carrier" has become increasingly difficult with the growth of
mobile phone
A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This rad ...
service providers,
VOIP
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as IP telephony, is a set of technologies used primarily for voice communication sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. VoIP enables voice calls to be transmitted as ...
, and other nontraditional means of delivering communication services.
References
External links
FCC station class codes
Freight transport
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