Business Name: Spacer's Rest
Staff/Proprietor:
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Goods/Services:
FREIGHT HAULING BUSINESSESJust as people need to be transported from one place to another in the Frontier, many different goods also must be hauled from place to place. This is the job of the freight ship, and another area where characters can earn some credits (if all goes well ...).
If a ship is operating under a company charter, all of its cargos will be arranged by the parent company. There is a six to 10 day layover between trips, as mentioned above. Independent haulers must "drum up" their own customers, however.
Locating Cargo
Freight haulers can set up offices, the same as passenger liners. When a hauler tries to locate a cargo at a planet or station where he has an office, a load will be offered 2d10 days after the ship arrives. Once a load is contracted, another 1d10 days must pass before the cargo can be loaded onto the ship.
A freight hauler may also find cargos at stations where he has no office. This is done by "
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Hauling Under A Charter The economics of freight hauling varies between private and company ships. Charter carriers charge the cost of the cargo to the parent corporation. After delivery, the cargo is sold for the amount listed on the Cargo Charts and profit (selling price minus purchasing price) is calculated. The parent corporation's account at the station where the cargo was sold is credited for 20% of the profit immediately, and the rest goes to the owner (or captain, if the owner is not present) of the ship. The owner must pay his crew and maintain his ship with his share of the profits.
Independent Haulers A private ship must provide some kind of guarantee on cargo before it will be brought aboard. The best guarantee is a large bankroll, that allows the private shipowner to purchase the cargo outright at the point of departure. The shipper then is free to take the cargo wherever he can sell it for a profit.
If the shipowner does not have enough cash to buy the cargo outright, the cargo's owner may demand that cargo guards accompany the merchandise. One guard will be sent for every two units of cargo, but if the cargo is smaller than four units, two guards will be sent anyway. The ship owner must pay their wages. The guards will help the ship's crew repel pirates and fight other dangers, but their primary job is to make sure that the ship and cargo do not "disappear." Cargo guards always will be 5th or 6th level weapon specialists, with demolitions, martial arts and computer skills as well.
If a freighter is running a regular route, there is a chance its owner will be trusted with a cargo. This chance equals 10% x the number of years the ship has run the same route. The shipowner can try this roll once each time a cargo is offered.
When a private shipowner secures a cargo and sells it at the end of a run, all the profit goes directly to the owner, who can use it however he wants. Crew salaries, supplies, fuel and maintenance also must be paid for, of course.
Commodities
The Cargo Chart lists the types of cargo that can be picked up both at industrial and resource centers. If the referee has not decided beforehand what cargos are available, he can choose one randomly by rolling d100.
Cargo Units. One unit of cargo is the amount of cargo that can be carried in one hull size point. For example, a freighter of hull size 8 can carry 8 units of cargo.
Supply and Demand. The prices of cargo, both at the source and the destination, are subject to modification by the referee. Not all types of
cargo should be available at all sources, and supply and demand can raise or lower prices depending on how much of a particular commodity is available on a planet.
Risks
Hauling freight is more dangerous than carrying passengers, because pirates can make a lot of profit by selling stolen cargos. Referees can use the Freighter Hazard Table to determine whether a freighter runs into trouble during a trip. The referee should apply a -10 modifier on the roll if a ship is carrying a high risk cargo.
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