By utilizing more than one mode of transportation to move goods, you as the shipper can cut costs considerably. For example, instead of relying on OTR to handle the entire delivery, you can use rail to move over long distances.
Yes indeed, trains are making a major comeback because of their time and money saving benefits. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they are more energy efficient in a time when businesses are putting a magnifying glass on greener business practices.
In this post we are going to focus on the transition between rail to truck. This is called transloading.
Transloading is the process that involves unloading, sorting, and repackaging goods as they move from one mode of transportation to another.
When done correctly, transloading is a seamless process that reduces stress and shaves off extra costs. If you are just beginning to explore the possibilities of incorporating transloading services into your supply chain, here’s a breakdown of the process.
In the beginning extensive planning will be carried out to get your goods packaged in the best way possible and shipped via rail.
A few things to consider are the types of rail cars you’ll need, as there are a few options, including box cars, gondolas, and flat cars. If your goods need refrigeration, there are temperature controlled cars for this, as well.
Keep in mind that size matters when considering rail. If your shipment is bulk, then rail is a great option. If it’s a LTL shipment, consider consolidating with other shippers to fill up a car and save money.
If you’ve never had experience preparing a shipment for rail or you just don’t have the time, you can always look for a 3rd party logistics company in Indiana to help you make an expert plan with ease.
As your shipment is approaching the city of arrival, the railroad will notify your transloading service and a transloader will be on site ready to receive it. The car(s) containing your load will be stored at the transloading site to await the unloading process.
This is when the transloading magic happens! All of your goods are carefully (but quickly) unpacked, inventoried and received. Make sure you communicate with the transloader on how you want your goods to be packaged and handled. You’ll want to check with the railyard to ensure they have the equipment and packaging resources onsite (generally, they do, but it doesn’t hurt to check).
Sometimes the unexpected happens- especially during the holiday season when it’s typical for shipments to get backed up. You may find yourself in need of container storage to keep your goods safe and secure for a short period of time. The transloading company can help you work out the details and reserve the best storage for you.
Your goods are loaded up and ready to depart on the final mile via long haul truck or van. You can work out the details of the delivery with your own shipping company in Indiana, or you can inquire about whether this is something the transloading company can handle.
Either way, what you’ll notice is that with transloading you get all of the support you need and plenty of options to make your long distance shipment a smooth and safe process with cost effective benefits.
True Carriers Group is a non-asset based group of carriers that has been helping drive America’s supply chain for over 40 years. We offer a full range of logistics services, including Intermodal, Reefer, Van, Flatbed, Brokerage, LTL and Heavy Haul.
