Rail-As-An-Option-For-LTL-and-Truckload-Freight-Shipping
May 19, 2008
Rising fuel costs are forcing freight shippers of all sizes to explore new options to move their freight. One such option is rail, or, as its known, "intermodal". Essentially, this means that the freight is picked up by a truck, moved for the longhaul distance by rail, then put on a truck for delivery to the final destination.
Industry experts report an increasing demand to move freight by rail. This increased demand comes after years of lower demand and huge layoffs in the railroad freight industry. The United States Transportation department predicts that the amount of freight shipped by rail will increase sustantially over the next several years. This is forcing rail carriers to make new investments in track expansion and equipment
For smaller shippers, the best way to take advantage of rail freight is to use an experienced broker who understands how rail/intermodal freight works. For example, transit times are often longer than with over-the-road only shipments. But the savings can be substantial depending on the type of load, because rail freight fuel usage is far more efficient that with truckload. The bottome line is, the next time you are obtaining a long-haul freight quote, be sure to ask about intermodal as an alternative for your shipment.