Railroad transportation involves shipping goods from one place to another using trains. Containers are loaded onto railcars to ship them across long distances cost-effectively and suitably. Railroad transportation facilitates intermodal transportation of goods and can ship various types of goods in one trip.
Different types of cargo are transported inside various shipping containers, such as dry unit containers. These are ISO-standard containers that are suitable for intermodal transportation using railroads. A few examples of goods transported using railroads are-
- Bulk commodities– Goods such as coal, ore, minerals, and agricultural products like grains are loaded into dry van containers for railroad transportation across the country. The ability to move large quantities of these goods efficiently makes rails an ideal mode of transport.
- Heavy machinery and automobiles– 40FT containers are best suited for loading high-volume goods, automobiles, or heavy machinery. Railroads have the potential to accommodate large shipping containers, such as 53-foot containers, easily.
- Forest materials– Non-containerized cargo such as timber and other sorts of wood are loaded on the train chassis and secured for transport using railroads. The construction industry relies on trains to transport forest essential raw materials.
- Consumer goods– Electrical appliances, clothes, and other manufactured products can be distributed across regional consumer markets. These goods are packed in standard 20ft or 40ft shipping containers, allowing easy intermodal transportation using railroads.
What are the advantages of using railroads for long-distance container transport?
Importers and exporters across the US depend on railroads for long-distance transport of goods. Let’s learn more about the benefits of railroad transportation.
- Cost-effectiveness– Shippers prefer transportation via railroad mainly due to its cost-effectiveness compared to other modes of transport, especially for long-distance transit. Trains have several coaches to accommodate large cargo volumes in a single trip, reducing the cost per ton-mile.
- Efficiency in the supply chain– Rail transport is highly efficient for bulk commodities that are not time-sensitive, such as coal, minerals, iron-ores, or agricultural products. Many such goods can be efficiently moved across cities and regions using railroad transportation.
- Sustainable shipping– Trains are more fuel efficient and require low fuel consumption per tonne mile. This helps minimise carbon emissions in shipping and makes trains a sustainable means of long-distance transport.
- Reduces highway congestion– By utilising the rail network, the burden from highways and trucking services gets divided. Using trains for transportation helps improve traffic flow, reduce road maintenance costs, and decrease wear and tear on road infrastructure.
- Intermodal connectivity– Railroad transport is commonly used for intermodal transportation across the country. It helps facilitate the seamless transfer of containers between trains, trucks, and ships. This helps offer logistics flexibility and enhances the efficiency of the overall transportation system.