An In-Depth Look at Transloading
Modern logistics services can be quite complex. It’s not enough to simply find the quickest path from the farm to the user. Whether you’re shipping goods around Canada or globally, it’s crucial to find the most efficient shipping methods that are cost-effective, sustainable, and fast. Depending on the point of origin and destination, you may need to use trains, trucks, or ships. Here are some terms to understand within logistics to help you find the best solutions for your needs.
What Is Transloading?
Transloading is a specialized activity in the logistics industry whereby the product being shipped is transferred between means of conveyances. Here is a typical example involving the movement of commercial grains and crops:
Grain is loaded into a railcar in Saskatchewan.
The railcar takes the grain to a transload facility in Vancouver.
The facility transfers the grain to an ocean container to be trucked to the port.
The port receives the container and is loaded onto a vessel.
The container makes the trip across the water to its final destination.
If required, the container is transferred onto another truck for final delivery to the end user.
Transloading can help bridge the gap in places where rail service is unavailable or more efficient methods of transportation can be exploited, but it has many other benefits for shippers and their customers.
How Is Transloading Different from Intermodal Shipping?