Rail is often the most economical way to ship, but what if your facility isn’t rail-served? Transload combines the advantages of trucking and rail.
How it Works
THE TRANSLOAD JOURNEY:
Shipment taken from its origin by truck to a transload facility
Shipment loaded onto a railcar
Shipment taken by rail to a transload facility near its destination
Shipment unloaded from the railcar
Shipment taken to its final destination by truck
Combining these methods of transportation offers shippers cost savings, flexibility and the opportunity to expand business and market reach.
What Can Be Transloaded
Dry Bulk: plastics, minerals, aggregates, manufactured products, grains
Liquid Bulk: chemicals, fertilizer, fuels, ethanol, LPG, oils
Dimensional: transformers, wind blades, panel products, lumber, steel, government and heavy machinery
Food Grade: Frozen foods, perishables
Warehouse Commodities: Food and beverage, printing paper, household products
What Types of Facilities?
DIMENSIONAL
A facility used for transloading long products such as lumber, steel, rebar and machinery. The most common railcar types used are flatcars, gondolas and centerbeams.
WAREHOUSE
A building with rail unloading capability. Most warehouses specialize in products shipped in boxcars. Some lumber products such as Oriented Strand Board (OSB), plywood and particle board are also transloaded at warehouses.
BULK
A facility where dry and liquid products can be transferred from covered hopper cars or tank cars. Products frequently transloaded at bulk facilities include plastic pellets, flour, minerals, cement, acids and ethanol.
BNSF Transload Services
With access to over 400 facilities across our network, BNSF Transload Services enables businesses to take advantage of rail’s cost savings and efficiencies even if the freight delivery destination isn’t located on rail.
Find a Transloader
Our network of premier transloaders offers many services including cross docking, storage and forward storing, load consolidation and inventory management.
To learn more about how a BNSF Premier Transloader can work for you, Connect with BNSF .
Transload Resources
Interested in becoming a BNSF Transloader? Register your facility in BNSF’s database.
