Transloading transportation is the transfer of goods from one mode of transportation to another. It’s a necessary service that helps companies effectively get their goods and products across the country and globe. Usually, transloading transportation includes a combination of railroads, trucks, and ports, depending on what type of product is being shipped.
There are many benefits associated with transloading transport. These benefits include affordability, streamlining operations, and flexibility. In this article, we’ll review how transloading works and the benefits of choosing transloading over other shipping methods.
How Does Transloading Work?
When products are moved using transloading, there can be several components utilized. Depending on the type of transloading, there can be slight variances in the process. The three types of transloading transportation include origin transloading, destination transloading, and door-to-door transloading.
Origin Transloading
With origin transloading transportation, the product is loaded onto trucks at the shipment’s origin. This tends to be the manufacturing facility, refinery, warehouse, etc. From here, the trucks would transport the product to a transload warehouse.
Once at the transloading facility, the product is unloaded from the trucks and moved onto rail cars. A train hauls the product to its final destination, where it’s rail-served.
Destination Transloading
The product is initially loaded onto one or more rail cars. The train hauls the product for the majority of the duration of this trip to a transload facility. Once the product arrives at the transload facility, it is unloaded from the rail car onto the truck or trucks. The trucks then haul the product a short distance to its final destination or destinations.
Door-To-Door Transloading
Door-to-door transloading combines aspects of destination transloading, but the product type determines how it would be transported. Generally speaking, it would begin with truck-to-rail transport, followed by rail-to-truck, and finally, the trucks would transport it to the final destination.
Transloading transportation is very similar to intermodal shipping in relation to how the product is transferred from trucks to trains. But the difference is that with transloading, the product is loaded and unloaded between legs instead of remaining in the same container the whole time.
Benefits of Transloading Transportation
Cost-Effective
Transloading is a cost-effective option because of the flexibility to use different shipping methods at competitive rates. Because transloading can combine trains for long-haul and trucks for shorter distances, this allows companies to secure the best rate while ensuring your product arrives at its destination on time.
Expands Your Reach
With transloading, it is possible to capitalize on various shipping methods to reach different areas, domestically and internationally. Companies are no longer confined by using rail or road for shipments. With transloading, transportation can easily move loads from rail or road to water, which can help companies expand to new markets and grow.
Shipping Is More Streamlined
Transloading storage facilities make shipping more efficient. Instead of constantly shipping products from their original location at the manufacturer to various locations, transloading facilities allow companies to store their products until they’re ready to ship at one time.
This transloading facility’s location can also be advantageous, either close to major customers or near a production facility. This helps streamline operations by taking up less time to accomplish shipping and will cost less overall. Transloading also helps improve the efficiency of getting items to their final destination.
Simplifies Your Operations
If you’re shipping bulk or heavy materials, it can create some challenges, but transloading transportation allows you to consolidate your shipment. This makes it easier to transport and is also a more affordable solution.
Where To Find The Best Transloading Transportation Company
Whether your shipment includes water, rail, road, or a combination of all three, transloading substantially benefits companies. Utilizing this method of transportation allows companies to streamline their shipments, expand their reach into new markets, and have a cost-effective method.
No matter your shipping and delivery needs, Shadow Group can help. If you’re considering exploring transloading transportation, our team of qualified operators and technicians have over 50 years of experience to find the best solution for you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can serve you.