The Transloading Process

When an organization ships material by rail and either they or the receiver do not have direct access to rail, transloading is often the best solution. Transloading can occur both from railcar to truck or truck to railcar. The process is as follows.

• The product is loaded on the railcar and transported to the transload site. Railcars consist of several types including boxcars, gondolas and flatcars. Hoppers and tanks are used to carry bulk materials. Each car is designed for a specific type of product.
• Once the freight car is received by the host railroad, it is placed at the transload.
• The goods are removed from the freight car. Forklifts, cranes and other lifting apparatuses are used to unload goods from boxcars, gondolas and flatcars. Bulk materials may be unloaded with gravity outlets, pneumatically or by mechanical means.
• In the event a customer needs to store the product, the transload will store it onsite until the customer requests it. Long and short-term storage agreements are available.
• The goods are transloaded to short-haul trucks and delivered to their final destination. The reverse process may also be carried out where the product is transported by truck and loaded on a railcar.