Rail shipping moves freight by train, either in boxcars as carload freight or in containers and trailers as part of intermodal service.
Detailed Definition
In the US, long-haul rail freight is carried by the Class I railroads, currently BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, CN and CPKC, plus many regional and short line railroads. Palletized freight can move in two main ways. In carload service, pallets are loaded into a boxcar at a rail-served facility. In intermodal service, pallets are loaded into a container or trailer that a truck carries to and from the rail terminal. Rail usually becomes more competitive with trucking as distance grows, but transit times are longer.
Carload versus intermodal for pallet freight
Carload shipping suits shippers and receivers that have a rail spur, since a boxcar is loaded and unloaded at the dock. Intermodal suits everyone else: a drayage truck brings a container or trailer to the shipper, it is loaded like a normal trailer, and it moves by train between terminals before a second truck delivers it. Domestic intermodal commonly uses 53-foot containers, similar in size to a dry van.
Securing pallets for rail
Rail cars experience coupling impacts and long periods of vibration, which are different from road handling. Loads should be tightly stacked, stretch wrapped or strapped, and blocked or braced so they cannot shift forward and back. Void fillers or airbags are often used to fill gaps. The railroads and the Association of American Railroads publish loading guidance, and the carrier can tell you which rules apply.
When rail makes sense
- Long distances where several extra days of transit are acceptable.
- Heavy, dense freight that weighs out a truck before it fills it.
- Steady volumes that can be planned around rail schedules.
Compare the full door-to-door cost, including drayage, with a truckload quote for the same lane.
Authoritative Sources
- American Trucking Associations (ATA): the largest national trade association for the US trucking industry.
- Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA): the trade association representing US freight intermediaries and 3PL operators.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship pallets by rail without a rail siding?
Yes, through intermodal service. A trucking company delivers an empty container or trailer to your dock, you load it, and it is drayed to a rail terminal for the long-haul move. At the destination another truck delivers it to the receiver. You only need a rail siding for carload service, where the boxcar itself is loaded at your building.
Is rail always cheaper than trucking for pallets?
Not always. Rail line haul is usually economical over long distances, but intermodal moves add drayage at both ends and terminal handling, and transit is slower. On short lanes, or when the shipment is time sensitive, a truckload can cost the same or less once everything is counted. Get door-to-door quotes for both modes on the specific lane before deciding.