{"id":8150,"date":"2021-08-17T20:27:22","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T00:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newtruckload.rlgrandd.com\/shipping-by-rail-vs-truck-everything-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2023-05-08T13:43:02","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T17:43:02","slug":"shipping-by-rail-vs-truck-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newtruckload.rlgrandd.com\/shipping-by-rail-vs-truck-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Shipping by Rail vs Truck: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When deciding to ship freight via rail or truck, there are a number of important details to consider. Each mode of transportation comes with its own set of pros and cons. Making an informed decision on which is best for your specific shipping situation will require a close look at the advantages and disadvantages of each. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are important pros and cons to consider when shipping by rail vs truck. Over long distances, shipping by rail is used frequently thanks to the increased fuel efficiency which typically leads to lower costs. When freight needs to travel a short distance, using a truck to transport goods is often preferred. Trucks can quickly load and unload and fuel efficiency is less of a concern over a short distance. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our comprehensive guide below provides you with a complete breakdown of the important differences between shipping by rail vs truck. After reading our guide, you\u2019ll be able to make the best decision for your freight.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t

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  1. Shipping by Rail vs Truck<\/a>
  2. What is Truckload Shipping?<\/a>
  3. What is Rail Shipping?<\/a>
  4. What is the Difference Between Rail and Road Transport?<\/a>
  5. What are the Advantages of Truckload Shipping?<\/a>
  6. What are the Advantages of Rail Shipping?<\/a>
  7. What are the Disadvantages of Rail Shipping?<\/a>
  8. What are the Disadvantages of Truckload Shipping?<\/a>
  9. When Should You Use Truckload Shipping?<\/a>
  10. Is it Cheaper to Ship by Rail or Truck?<\/a>
  11. Is it Faster to Ship by Rail or Truck?<\/a>
  12. What are the Top Commodities Shipped by Rail?<\/a>
  13. What are the Top Commodities Shipped by Truck?<\/a>
  14. What Truckload Shipping Services are Available?<\/a>
  15. When is Truckload Shipping the Best Option?<\/a>
  16. Shipping by Truck with R+L Global Logistics<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

    Shipping by Rail vs Truck<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s a lot to consider when you\u2019re thinking about shipping by rail vs truck. Truck and rail shopping are both solid choices in ground transportation, but there are challenges with each.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, the <\/span>container shortage<\/span><\/a> is expected to be a problem even over the next several years It might be hard to find a container for rail shipping your goods. This also means railcar equipment costs are rising due to scarce supply making rail shipping more expensive than it has been in the past.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The best, most efficient way to reduce shipping costs when thinking about shipping by rail vs truck is to consider a multi-modal strategy. With access to the right transloading facilities and effective <\/span>container drayage service<\/span><\/a>,  you should be able to keep shipments on schedule for a fraction of the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The right 3PL partner can help you save money on multi-modal shipping no matter how volatile the industry gets. USA Truckload Shipping, powered by R+L Global Logistics, has the solutions you need for power-only drayage moves, rail shipping, and more. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ready to learn more about shipping by rail and rail for truck services? Keep reading to make sense of your options and even see when multi-modal shipping might be best.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Learn more about how using rail drayage can help reduce freight transport costs.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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    What is Truckload Shipping?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    At its core, truckload shipping is an easy concept to understand. It\u2019s a form of shipping in which an entire trailer of a truck is occupied and shipped from origin to destination. The service will usually be end to end, and this means that your goods won\u2019t have to stop and be moved onto other trucks during the shipping process, instead of staying on the same vehicle for the whole journey. You will be expected to fill the whole truck when you use this sort of service. Truckload shipping is in direct contrast to LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipping, which involves shippers occupying part of a trailer instead of all of it.. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For businesses shipping large volumes of goods that are on a tight deadline, this is the preferred method of transportation. As noted above, truckload freight is typically transported from end to end with no stops along the journey. On the other hand, LTL shipments contain freight from multiple shippers and stop multiple times to offload individual loads. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    What is Rail Shipping?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Much like truckload shipping, rail shipping is easy to understand from its name. Rather than loading up a truck with all of your goods, you will be using a train, and this can have a dramatic influence on the way that your goods are handled. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are a number of features that come with rail shipping and you can find some of the most important ones below.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n