On this page

The basic process

BNSF describes the transload journey as:

  1. truck freight to a transload near origin,
  2. load railcar,
  3. rail linehaul,
  4. unload at transload near destination,
  5. truck final delivery.

It can also be used at only one end.

Transload vs intermodal

Transload

Freight itself changes equipment.

Example: pallets leave truck and go into boxcar.

Intermodal

Freight stays inside container/trailer.

What can be transloaded?

Common categories include:

Dry bulk

  • plastics,
  • minerals,
  • aggregates,
  • grain,
  • cement.

Liquid bulk

  • chemicals,
  • fertilizer,
  • fuels,
  • oils.

Dimensional

  • machinery,
  • steel,
  • lumber,
  • transformers,
  • wind components.

Warehouse freight

  • packaged food,
  • paper,
  • consumer goods.

BNSF publicly lists these categories across its transload network.

Facility type matters

Warehouse

Boxcars / packaged freight / cross-dock/storage.

Bulk

Hoppers/tank cars with pneumatic, conveyor, pump or gravity transfer.

Dimensional

Cranes/loaders for flatcars, gondolas, centerbeams.

What to ask a transloader

  • Which railroads serve you?
  • Which car types?
  • Which commodities?
  • Max weight/dimensions?
  • Loading/unloading equipment?
  • Storage?
  • Truck hours?
  • Hazmat?
  • Food-grade?
  • Scale?
  • Track capacity?
  • Railcar free time/demurrage process?
  • Truck appointment?

Rate structure

Total can include:

  • origin trucking,
  • handling,
  • storage,
  • rail linehaul,
  • destination handling,
  • final trucking,
  • railcar/equipment charges.

Compare total landed logistics cost.

Why rail + truck can make sense

Rail is efficient for long-haul bulk/heavy volume.

Truck is flexible for first/last mile.

Transload combines those strengths.

Example

Steel shipper has no siding.

Truck 25 miles to a dimensional transload → load gondola/flatcar → rail 1,200 miles → unload near customer → final truck 18 miles.

The shipment can use rail without building track into the plant.

Inventory strategy

Some transloads offer:

  • forward storage,
  • warehousing,
  • consolidation,
  • inventory management.

That can turn the transload into a distribution point, not just a transfer point.

Bottom line

No track at your building does not automatically mean “rail is impossible.”

Related:

No siding at your facility?

Send the commodity, the volume and the two ends of the lane and we will help you look at whether a transload makes the rail leg worth it.

Request a Freight Quote

Reference

  • BNSF Transload Service: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/ways-of-shipping/door-to-door-transload.html