Transloading

What Is Transloading: The Ultimate Guide to Transloading

Have you ever wondered how the process of moving freight actually works? The primary responsibility of transportation companies is ensuring the supply chain is continuously moving goods. If trucks and trains cannot move freight between distribution centers and on to their final destination, the world will suffer massive financial setbacks. Most consumers do not know the extraordinary undertaking required to get goods to stores and then to the consumer. Trust us, it requires logistics, transport methods, technology, and manpower.

Transloading is one of the most important steps in supply chain management. It helps speed up the flow of goods and cut shipping costs. Logistics companies can adjust to changing demand and unexpected logistics issues. They make the adjustments while ensuring their shipments quickly get to where they need to go at a reasonable price. Transloading is a major component when you need to move freight. Keep reading for the ultimate guide to transloading.

What is Transloading?

Are you familiar with the transloading process? In its simplest form is transferring goods from one type of transportation to another during shipping. For instance, a load of bulk goods may be placed on a truck at its point of origin. Then, it may be transferred onto rail cars at the transload facility. Companies can also move their cargo between different containers or vehicles. For example, you can move a container from a semi-truck to a trailer or smaller truck for final delivery. The transfer makes getting your bulk goods to where they need to go easier. Logistics determines the best transport cross-docking methods for each stage of the journey.

Transloading can also help to overcome logistical issues, such as the following:

• No direct shipping routes
• Limited road access
• High transportation costs
• Transportation obstacles

In its totality, transloading is the process of transferring goods to their final destination.

Third-party Logistics Firms

Many distribution companies have resorted to outsourcing their logistics to third-party logistics firms (3PLs). These firms do the work that people within your company typically do. They can combine a shipment into a single container for greater efficiency and possibly lower costs. Third-party logistics providers ensure all shipments are labeled and packed correctly to prevent delays in reaching their destination.

What Does a Transloader Do?

The growth in e-Commerce sales has increased the need for fast and efficient shipping. The demand has grown further by retailers offering various options for fast delivery, like overnight and same-day shipping. When an order is placed, whether, from a retailer or a consumer, it could take more than one delivery method. The logistics of figuring out the best shipping methods fall on the 3PL.

The goods usually come from a place like a factory or a warehouse. Logistic factors to consider include things like:

• Cost
• Delivery schedule
• Route congestion
• Slowdowns
• Tariffs and taxes
• Available ports

In some instances, you must calculate the good value depreciation of the merchandise. Once logistics have been formulated and the goods are ready to get shipped, the transloading process can begin. If these factors don’t add up to the number of shipping methods you need, you’ll need a transloader. They specialize in managing the mix of new-age tech and old-age logistics infrastructure. The demand for transloaders continues to grow. Using multiple shipping methods, they must keep up with the demand to get goods from place to place faster.

What is an Example of Transloading?

We know that transloading is when cargo has to move from one form of transportation to another. Three examples of transloading include the following:

Example 1:

A shipping container starts as a railroad car but can’t reach where it needs to go. It’s then offloaded from the container onto a truck.

Example 2:

A plane lands at the airport. The cargo is transferred onto the truck for final delivery to complete the journey. Or a cargo ship loads onto a train, then offloads onto a truck.

Example 3:

The shipment starts in a freight container on a cargo ship and is unloaded at a port. It’s then loaded into another container which is most likely a truck or a train. From there, the shipment travels to its destination. It might not seem like a good idea to move a cargo shipment from one mode of transportation to another. It’s not just about transporting cargo. It’s also important to do it efficiently and ensure it reaches its destination on time.

What are Transloading Services?

It doesn’t matter if you’re shipping your goods domestically or internationally. It’s getting harder to have a single mode of transport. What works for your company may not work for another business. Some places can’t handle direct ship or train delivery. That’s where transloading comes into play. The service helps companies get their products to the places they need to be in quicker.

Inside the transload framework are transloading services. You need to know what they are and why you need them. Transloading services include the following:

• Barge Transloading
• Bulk and Dry Bulk Transloading
• Rail Transloading
• Refrigerated Transloading
• Roll-on/Roll-Off Transloading

Barge Transloading Services

When you’re shipping big loads across the US, barge transloading services are the way to go. It’s a great way to extend the life of your transloading cargo. Barge trans-loading bypasses the challenges of moving goods across the land. It maxes out the load capacity of a single shipment. They can transport up to 1,500 tons in a single shipment! Plus, barges are incredibly cost-effective in terms of miles per gallon.

Transloading barges differ from traditional barge because it focuses on one part of the process. Barge transloading is done through cranes and conveyors. It makes for a quick transfer to and from the rail car and truckload fleet. They can transport large amounts of goods at a much lower cost than most other options. Like rail transload, it’s incredibly fuel efficient compared to domestic truckloads in miles per gallon.

There are four types of barges used for transloading. They include the following:

• Dry Bulk Cargo
• Freight Container
• Liquid Cargo
• Split Hopper

Barges are capable of handling a wide range of cargo and a variety of commodities. They carry everything, including agricultural goods, liquids, grains, and more.

Bulk and Dry Bulk Transloading Services

Bulk transloading usually refers to commodities that are dry but can also be liquid. It might be loose or contained in the same manner as standard cargo. Examples of commodities that can be bulk transloaded include the following:

• Coal
• Farm feed
• Food grade products
• Fuel
• Lumber products
• Minerals
• Plastics
• Rocks

These types of commodities are difficult to transport in boxes or pallets. Also, they are likely to require a transloading facility rather than most standardized freight needing one.

Rail Transloading Services

Rail transload is a service that bridges the gap between truck and rail shipping. It’s most commonly used to describe railway transloading sites. These are locations where freight is moved from dry van trailers to flatbeds and other types of rail cars. There are many reasons why companies may choose to transload to a rail service instead of continuing in a truck. For example, a company may operate in rural areas that are not easily accessible by truck drivers. They may find nearby rail yards offer opportunities they may not be able to get anywhere else. This dilemma is especially true in inland locations. Sometimes it’s difficult to contract trucks to travel to remote locations on a regular basis. Before selecting a railroad transload site, it is crucial to ensure that the site can handle the type and quantity of goods you need to transload.

Refrigerated Transloading Services

Rail transload of refrigerated commodities is a specialized type of transloading facility that is distinct from other facilities. Rail transload facilities must be able to access climate-controlled warehouses with indoor loading capabilities. They also need access to refrigerated boxcars to meet food-grade requirements. This requirement increases the cost of transporting refrigerated goods by rail. As more companies rely on rail shipping to secure their supply lines, it is becoming increasingly difficult for rail transload facilities to keep up. During long hauls, train conductors may not stop as frequently as truck drivers. As such, it necessitates an investment in high-quality monitoring and refrigeration equipment that can run for extended periods of time.

The bottom line is, expect to pay more for this transloading service. Refrigerated boxcars are typically more expensive than other types of shipping, such as marine shipping containers or trailer reefers.

Ocean Container Transloading Services

Transloading is a great way to get ocean containers to the port quickly and cheaply. It helps shippers save money in two main ways.

1. It fits goods from three 40-foot ocean containers into two 53-foot trailers or domestic containers.
2. It allows shippers to choose the transport mode for different parts of their shipment’s journey. They can pick the most cost-effective option.

Container transloading helps cut down on empty transportation costs. Plus, it gets shipping containers back to the port.

These factors work together to save shippers a lot of money on shipping costs. When ocean containers are used in inland shipping, shippers must pay to use them, which adds to shipping costs.

Roll-on/Roll-off Transloading Services

This form of transloading service is advantageous for those who require transporting goods by roll-on/roll-off method. This type of transloading service enables the consolidation of goods and their loading onto vessels or trucks without the need for break bulk costs.

What is the Difference between Transloading and Intermodal Transport?

Transloading and intermodal transport are two different types of logistics. They cover different parts of how cargo is moved and handled. Transloading is when cargo is moved from one type of transport to another. Intermodal shipping involves using multiple modes of transport to move cargo over long distances.

In transloading, the cargo is usually loaded onto a container when it arrives at its destination. The container acts as an “intermodal” unit so that it can be moved between different modes without extra handling. With intermodal transport, the container transports the cargo using a mix of different modes until it reaches its destination.

What’s the Difference between Transloading & Cross-docking?

A lot of ocean containers are loaded straight onto the floor without going on pallets. In these cases, the cargo is put on a flatbed truck at the transloading facility. Transloading can involve multiple modes of transport used during cross-docking. Typically, a truck will show up at the distribution center and unload the cargo. The unloaded cargo is then transferred to another outbound truck, which may have loads going to one retailer.

With cross-docking, it’s more likely that a palletized part of the cargo will be put right onto a truck. Or you could also be split up and redistributed between multiple outbound trucks. Another option is for it to be placed inside the center to wait for the truck to arrive. Transloading, on the other hand, is more about moving the cargo from start to finish. It doesn’t mean it can never be stored; instead, the goal is to get it to its final destination.

The Difference

The difference between transloading and cross-docking is that transloading takes place outdoors. It exposes trucks and their loads to inclement weather and other elements. Cross-docking, on the other hand, takes place inside a distribution center. Items are shielded from the elements while transporting cargo between vehicles. However, they have the same exposure to weather conditions when they go in and out of the warehouse.

Cross-docking is a good option, but it’s essential to consider the differences between the two and decide which is suitable for your company. It’s best to base your decision on your specific needs or availability at the time. Carefully review the cross-dock agreement. You can take the product from the port, unload it, and store it for a short time, but it will come with a daily fee. Afterward, it’s loaded onto trucks or other vehicles when you’ve arranged a delivery spot.

What Are the Many Benefits of Transloading

A freight transloading solution gives you access to a vast network of railroads. You’ll be able to ship more to big markets in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Depending on where you’re shipping, you might also take advantage of the benefits of transload facilities in various places. Some logistics companies have access to networks of transload facilities all over North America. They can hook you up with transloaders no matter where you’re shipping. Other companies have many facilities in Mexico, so no matter where you are in the US, a transload facility is nearby.

Increase Productivity

Trains are way more fuel-efficient than trucks, so you can ship heavier loads further and save money on transportation costs. Plus, trains are almost four times more fuel-efficient. Just one rail car can transport the same quantity of product as three to four truckloads.

Manageable Logistics

It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from or going, having the right shipping options is important. The ability to be able to adjust to different types of terrain, weather, and any delays or changes to the loads you’re carrying, is crucial. That’s why transloading is essential – it’s a way to ensure your deliveries are on time and that your supply chain is running smoothly. Logistics make sure the shipping process is as efficient as possible. Transloading means putting the right equipment in place to get the job done right. It also allows you to easily consolidate and plan ahead to meet your customer’s needs.

Decreased Ocean Rates

Depending on your inland port, you may be able to negotiate your ocean rates down. Steamship companies are always looking for ways to increase their container turns. By helping the shipping companies save money, you will be able to keep your shipping costs low.

You’ll also benefit from lower shipping prices by obtaining door-to-door or port-to-port rates. Moving away from the traditional pricing structure, you will see more cost-effective pricing. Also, when you transload, your freight will be unloaded at the port. It will then be brought to your port-based transload provider, where it can be worked. Afterward, the containers can quickly be returned to the port.

Streamlines Operations

Transloading is a way of combining products from different suppliers into one single shipment and shipping them using specialized transport vehicles. This process makes it easier for companies to keep track of their shipments and deliveries. Ultimately, they spend less time worrying about managing and tracking them all. A transloading provider offers a consolidation service, which means your shipment will be sent from multiple suppliers under one invoice to make the most of the truck space.

Reduced Warehousing

If you can’t deal with the hassle of storing your goods and then shipping them out later, then transloading can be a great solution. Instead of waiting for your goods to move from a warehouse or distribution center, transloading will keep them moving. It can also provide significant savings on warehouse fees.

If you need to do logistics and warehousing, too, that’s okay. Having the option to transload gives you the freedom to make better choices based on the different situations of each load. You can get help from a reliable third-party logistics provider.

What Type of Materials Can be Transported by Way of Transloading?

When you hear the term transloading connected to rail cars, semi-trailers, or maybe a cargo vessel, it’s easy to think of large industrial products. Instead, transloading should be seen simply as the process of moving a shipment from one transport type to the other. No matter what consumers purchase, there must be transport modes to get the product to its final destination. If you don’t believe it, let’s look at the types of material or products that rely on transload services.

• Auto Parts
• Beverages
• Building Materials
• Clothing
• Construction Equipment
• Electronics
• Exercise Equipment
• Food
• Furniture
• Grains
• Hazardous Materials
• Household Goods
• Liquids
• Medical Supplies
• Oversized Items
• Recyclables
• Vehicles

What you’re shipping is essential. How it’s shipped, and the efficiency in doing so is the main objective of transloading services.

How is Transloading Different From Other Shipping Methods?

The transloading process facilitates the transportation of goods. It can be an effective method of transporting bulk goods when different transportation methods are necessary. The transloading process typically consists of the following steps:

Unloading the goods from the truck or other modes of transportation and checking for damage is the first step. The goods are sorted and organized according to destination, size, and weight. Sorting and ordering ensure the goods are properly loaded onto the next vehicle. The process increases the likelihood of the goods reaching their final destination in an efficient manner.

Once the goods are sorted and ordered, they are placed onto the vehicle of the next mode of transport. This process involves using cranes or other equipment to transport the goods.

Next, the goods are loaded onto the next carrier and shipped to the final destination. The transportation of the products includes shipping by rail, road, or ship, depending on which mode is most efficient and economical for each shipment stage.

After the goods arrive at the final destination, they are unloaded and ready for delivery to the final customer or further processing.

The most significant difference in the process is the use of transload logistics. Most other shipping methods don’t provide the customization found with transloading.

How Does Transloading Benefit the Supply Chain?

One of the enormous benefits of using transloading is that it makes your supply chain more flexible. It gives you more options during shipping and the ability to switch up if one mode isn’t enough. It’s also useful if there are any issues. Plus, when you combine it with cross docking, it gives you even more options. The flexibility when you’re trying to navigate the ever-changing freight shipping landscape is priceless. The way business shipping is now more complicated than ever. Companies that make it easier are the ones who will see the most success. Let’s look at some of the benefits.

Lower Costs

If you’re shipping goods on a truck to a remote location, transferring your cargo onto a train for your long haul is much more economical. You can then return it onto your truck for the last leg of your journey. The reason is trains are more fuel efficient than trucks. Another cost-effective solution for transporting goods is by sea. Large container ships are capable of carrying large quantities of cargo. It’s a good idea to ship items in bulk from a nearby port and then transfer them onto trucks to get to your final destination. In both instances, you’ll often pay less per mile for the train or ship than you would if the truck drove the entire route.

Increased Flexibility

Transloading can make your supply chain more flexible by allowing you to use different modes of transport. These modes of transportation provide more options for how to ship and when to deliver. Using multiple modes of transportation can save money since trains are usually cheaper than trucking for longer trips. Plus, you can use different shipping lanes or routes to get the goods to the port. It can help cut down on transit times and delays. Transloading can help you avoid disruptions in your supply chain by giving you the option to reroute or change the modes. Labor strikes, natural disasters, or traffic jams are reasons you may need to reroute.

Consolidate Shipments

Transloading can make it easier to consolidate shipments. You do this by combining cargo from different sources into one place for the next step. For instance, if you’re shipping containers to a terminal, you can bring them in by cargo ship and combine them with other containers. The other containers could use other means of transport, like a train or truck.

Next, you load the containers onto another vessel or truck to take them to their destination. Consolidation allows you to save money on each less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment. It’s also helpful for bulk cargo like grain, coal, or hazardous chemicals. It also works for smaller shipments when you have an LTL freight.

Scale Back on Resources

Transloading can be a great way to expand your business because it lets you use your transportation resources more efficiently. For instance, you can take your goods by train to a station near the delivery destination. Next, put them on trucks for the last leg of the journey. Doing it this way saves you money because the per-mile cost is cheaper than shipping by truck.

Limits Waste

For organizations with distribution centers in the US, waste can be a big issue. You’ve probably done expensive studies to determine how much money you spend on wasted travel miles. A benefit to the transloading supply chain is figuring out a more efficient way to deliver your load to your warehouse. Or you may have considered shipping to a third-party logistics provider. Finding a transload partner that can store your stuff and offer value-added services at a fair price is much better. Transloading services are an excellent option for your business, with minimal risk of lost revenue from waste from the supply chain.

What is a Transloading Facility?

A transloading facility is a warehouse that helps move goods from one type of transportation to another. It’s designed to speed up the process by cutting down on time, work, and money. Another way of looking at it is as a bridge between different modes of transport. Customers can quickly and easily move their goods between roads, planes, trains, boats, and the ocean. Plus, most transloading facilities offer other services like inventory tracking, extra storage, reworking loads, and even cross-docking.

What Is the Logistics of Transloading?

Transloading is an integral part of modern logistics operations, as it helps keep deliveries on time and reduces transportation costs. Unfortunately, it can be complicated to manage. That’s why logistics operators rely on transloading to ensure they meet their delivery deadlines. Logistics is super important for businesses worldwide, and when it’s done right, it usually leads to great results. Logistics also helps connect suppliers, shipping companies, and warehousing companies through automated systems.

How are Prices Usually Calculated for Transloading?

Numerous things can affect the price of a shipment. An essential list includes the following:

• Distance between stops
• Capacity limits
• How many truck drivers are available
• Warehouse location
• Weather

The transloading service will look at three main things that affect your price. These are the shipping details, availability, and market changes. The most crucial factor is how much stress your shipment has on the network.

What are the Barriers to Entry?

Barriers to entry are things that can stop or slow down new people from entering a market or industry. In turn, it can limit competition. These barriers can include high startup costs, regulatory barriers, or other things that make it hard for new people to get into a business.

Why Doesn’t Every Trucking Company Do Transloading?

There is no doubt that transloading is a big part of the transportation industry. However, not all businesses have a big enough need to support the cost of the services. Transloading adds a layer of supply chain management, and it can take about 24 hours or less to get your shipment out. Not all items can be shipped with the transloading process since the domestic container capacity isn’t being used. Therefore, moving a whole pallet inside a big container is not cost-effective. Another huge downside is theft. Shipments are more likely to be stolen or damaged in storage facilities. Companies shipping expensive items look for other cross-country transport methods that are more secure.

Did You Enjoy Our Guide?

Transloading services are beneficial to most businesses that need to ship products. There are many advantages if you’re looking to hire a transloader to meet your company’s needs.

If you’re looking for a full-service transloader and warehousing company, we’d love to hear from you. We can help with all your shipping and storage needs. Click here to request a quote.