Freight Embargos: Effects on Shipping and Logistics

What Does Embargo Mean in Freight Shipping and Logistics?

Posted on:
Dec 04, 2023

Updated 12/4/2023

Economic factors often regulate logistics operations that can significantly affect global shipping processes. An embargo is one of the influential freight shipping factors you need to consider when organizing your supply chain. Understanding the embargo definition and its characteristics is crucial for businesses involved in international trade.

What is an embargo?

Embargo Definition: An embargo is any event or government restriction that prevents commerce or exchange (import or export) of freight to another country or state. These prohibitions apply to various goods, including services, products, and currency. But what does embargo mean in practical terms? It’s essentially a form of trade restriction that can have significant impacts on businesses and economies.

Embargo in freight shipping can be imposed in any historical context, as it covers all aspects of economic activity and trade. The embargo characteristics typically include limitations on specific types of goods or transactions. Generally, restrictions do not apply to the exchange of all goods. A specific freight embargo usually applies to particular transport, items, and services. More commonly, restraints refer to military equipment and oil embargo. These trade sanctions can result from diplomatic, unfavorable political, economic, financial, technical, and scientific pressure in international relations and foreign policy.

What are the embargo types?

Governments can impose several types of embargoes on a country or state. These can be total or partial. Some frequently used freight embargo constraints are:

  • Political embargo

  • Embargo to ensure national security

  • Trade embargoes or embargoes that are economical can stunt economic growth

  • Embargo to prevent and respond to disputes about territorial borders

  • Embargo to protect the health of citizens

  • Environmental embargo to express a country’s disagreement with another country’s environmental or animal welfare policy

As an embargo example, a country might impose a partial embargo on specific goods from another nation due to political disagreements. Some trade embargoes will still allow the exchange of specific goods such as medicine or food to meet humanitarian needs. Most international sanctions have provisions to enable certain import and export services under restrictions.

Why are freight embargoes imposed?

Typically, foreign trade embargoes relate to a specific country or group of countries threatening international security. The imposed trade embargos function as a basis for terminating or suspending all activities related to the obligations of particular governments, citizens, and organizations. A trade embargo can affect a country or state in political and economic aspects. Imposing a ban on a specific country means that they can no longer utilize their financial resources for trade to their general capacity. It has adverse effects on economic prosperity.

Besides, freight embargoes can negatively impact the supply chain flow for smaller businesses whose production is subject to restrictions. It is essential to keep an eye on the changes in freight shipping limitations to avoid possible supply chain disruptions and financial losses. Understanding what an embargo does is crucial for businesses operating in international markets.

What are the consequences of an embargo?

While an embargo is a nonviolent means of political influence, it has the potential to harm citizens and economies. The embargo impacts can be far-reaching and long-lasting.

An embargo can block the importation of specific goods and services that are critical to the welfare of citizens. Further, businesses can lose the ability to engage in trade or investments under an embargo. This can lead to significant challenges for embargoed shippers and receivers.

How does an embargo impact you?

Embargoes can pose challenges for shippers and receivers in an affected area. When a carrier imposes an embargo on a location that you commonly import to or export from, you may have to look for alternative shipping modes or more expensive carriers. This can lead to increased shipping rates and reduced shipping efficiency.

Carriers who accept these embargoed items will likely take on more freight volumes than usual, causing inevitable shipping delays. This can disrupt transportation networks and carrier networks, leading to logistical challenges for businesses.

Why do carriers implement LTL freight embargoes?

LTL freight embargoes are restrictions applied by carriers to reduce their transportation capacity for such reasons as peak shipping season, bad weather conditions, or limited access to some locations. Suppose the carrier cannot accommodate your freight volume or is unable to meet delivery deadlines. They may apply some limitations that won’t affect you as a supplier. Lifting the embargo is possible if the carrier obtains the required capacity and returns to competitive shipping.

Besides, freight carriers can implement economic sanctions related to specific geographic regions or products restricted from shipping by the US Department of the Treasury. This type of economic embargo cannot be ignored or avoided and often falls under a broader sanctions regime.

What are the effects of LTL freight embargoes?

When you are trying to meet growing customer demand and deliver their orders with no disruptions, shipping embargoes can become a stumbling block. Consequently, restrictions implemented by freight carriers can lead to a harmful impact on the supply chain process.

Tight capacity

When shipping from embargoed areas or during the busy season, you may struggle while looking for the LTL carrier to deliver your items. Be prepared for tight carrier capacity and try to schedule your shipments in advance if possible. The earlier you start lining out your transportation, the wider the choice of carrier services.

Shipping delays

Carriers who accept embargoed items will likely take on more freight than usual, causing inevitable shipping delays. In addition, if the speed of your supply chain has been affected by a range of external factors, it is better to let your customers know about the freight shipping regulations you face and notify them about a longer than usual waiting time.

Increased LTL freight rates

When a carrier imposes an LTL freight embargo on a location that you commonly import or export from, you may have to look for a more expensive carrier company to complete the delivery, resulting in higher LTL freight quotes. Similarly, if the carrier’s capacity is tight due to extremely high demand, the freight rates will increase. However, early planning can contribute to the final pricing of your shipment.

GoShip has a mission to make all freight shipping affordable, convenient, and possible under any circumstances. We cooperate with the leading freight carriers so that clients can easily find a compatible option and get the right LTL quote through the self-service platform. GoShip services include:

This shipping market simplifies finding and booking freight carriers that will work with you, even in challenging situations such as when dealing with transport sanctions or cargo restrictions. Find a compatible carrier, get instant online quotes, easy booking, and reliable support in the simplest and fastest way possible with GoShip. Our platform helps businesses navigate the complexities of shipping under embargo and addresses compliance challenges associated with international trade.


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