RORO
RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) describes both a ship type and a freight mode where wheeled cargo — cars, trucks, buses, trailers, agricultural machinery, military vehicles, project cargo on MAFI trailers — is driven on and off the vessel via stern or side ramps.
RORO is dominant in finished vehicle logistics (Pure Car/Truck Carriers — PCTC — carry up to 8,000+ cars per voyage), trailer-based intra-EU and Mediterranean trades, and military sealift. It is also used for project cargo and heavy lift items that can be wheeled onto MAFI trailers but wouldn't fit in containers.
The two main commercial variants are Pure Car/Truck Carriers (PCTC) for vehicles and ConRo (combined container + RORO) ships for mixed trade. Ferry operators on short routes also use RORO ships extensively for road haulage trailers.
RORO moves what containers handle badly — vehicles and wheeled machinery that simply drive on and off via a ramp, with no crane or box needed. It dominates finished-vehicle logistics (a single PCTC carries 8,000+ cars) and short-sea trailer trades.
via ramp
no crane
at destination
What is a PCTC?
A Pure Car/Truck Carrier — a RORO vessel purpose-built for finished vehicles, with multiple internal decks carrying thousands of cars per voyage.
What cargo moves by RORO?
Anything wheeled or that can be put on a wheeled trailer — cars, trucks, buses, agricultural and construction machinery, military vehicles, and project cargo on MAFI trailers.