Home » Guides » Rail and Intermodal Equipment and Supplies Basics

Rail and Intermodal Equipment and Supplies Basics

Get starter information about rail and intermodal transportation supplies

By Lisa Maloney
Using rail equipment to transfer goods is more efficient than other methods in terms of fuel, greenhouse emissions and cost. There are some disadvantages, however: Rail schedules are relatively inflexible and trains can't make door-to-door deliveries. Truck deliveries, on the other hand, can be scheduled more flexibly and have greater freedom of movement, although at a greater cost.

Combining truck and rail delivery methods offers the best of both worlds. Sea and air transport are also methods of intermodal transport, helping to connect truck and rail systems. As you might imagine, transporting goods by several different modes of travel requires some specialized knowledge and supplies. Rail and intermodal equipment and supplies basics include:
  1. Determine which types of railroad equipment are suitable for intermodal transport or container handling.
  2. Learn how to properly package and load materials into intermodal or rail equipment.
  3. Find out where to acquire intermodal containers, transfer/handling equipment and shipping services.

 

Familiarize yourself with intermodal transportation supplies and equipment

The cargo container is the basic unit of intermodal transport: Rail products that can also be shipped by truck, sea or air. Containers come in standardized domestic or foreign sizes and may be specially equipped to safely transport dry, liquid or refrigerated goods.
Try: Union Pacific gives a comprehensive listing of various kinds of rail and intermodal equipment and supplies. The Intermodal Container Webpage helps you get acquainted with a wide variety of intermodal containers through photo galleries and notes.

Ensure that your intermodal and railway equipment is loaded correctly

Special care must be taken when packing or loading intermodal transport containers. Preventing movement of container loads is key to preventing damage, since intermodal loads may be transported by sea, road, rail or air and will arrive in the same container from at their point of origin.
Try: BNSF Railway offers an online guide for loading and securing intermodal shipments. GS Packaging offers some examples of potential uses and benefits for some intermodal load restraining materials.

Track down new and used rail equipment for sale, rent or lease

You have two major options when it comes to acquiring rail and intermodal transport equipment and supplies. You can either purchase, rent or lease the equipment yourself or allow a specialty shipper to handle the logistics, maintenance and paperwork for you.
Try: Landbridge Intermodal Equipment Sales rents, sells and leases intermodal containers, chassis and material handling supplies. Learn more about expediting domestic and international intermodal shipments at Schneider National, a transportation services company that owns their own intermodal equipment, which makes it easier for them to track your shipments.

 

  • If your shipper or source for railroad products tells you that containers are sized for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard pallets, inquire about exact dimensions or pallet sizes. The ISO recognizes several different pallet standards.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.