The classic definition of transloading is “the transferring goods from one mode of transportation to another" in order to have the goods reach their final destination. Transloading logistics come into play when it is not physically possible nor economically efficient to transport goods to a final destination using only one method of transit. Companies that ship their goods internationally are likely to use multiple methods of transport, especially if both the shipping point and the destination are located inland.
Transloading services generally offer a cost-effective way to bring imported product in ocean containers to inland distribution centers or directly to the customer. As a rule of thumb, the contents of three 40' ocean containers will fit into two 53' domestic trailers or containers.
By transloading cargo without sorting the contents for individual shipments to various destinations, transloading can reduce total landed costs, and when combined with value added services such as palletizing and shrink wrapping, reduce the overall handling at the destination DC for delivery beyond. Just to be clear, transloading is not always a magic bullet that will reduce inland or landed costs, as such, there are several factors that must be weighed prior to making transloading a permanent part of your Logistics Continuum.
In order to make transloading an integral and successful part of your transportation plan, it is important to understand a few basic rules, so to speak, regarding an effective implementation. So please, keep the following in mind during your analysis of moving cargo intact versus transloading.
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