Freight trains offer you an environmentally friendly mode of transportation that is more fuel efficient, cost effective and has lower air emissions than semi trucks. Freight railroads offer you cargo trains to haul anything from grain, to stone, to coal, to corn, to ethanol/biofuels and more.
Rail freight rates are less expensive than trucking or flying your product. You can choose any size line from Class I, regional, down to local. In today’s industry, regardless if you are a local farmer or a major manufacturer, freight train shipping may give you a competitive and reliable transportation solution.
To accommodate your gear that is hitting the rails:
1. Find freight trains that run in your area to your point of destination, or to a hub that connects to your destination.
2. Find rail freight rates that fit your budget.
3. Make arrangements to transload your product from truck to rail, and then again from rail to truck after it has hit its destination.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Go big on your cargo trains
You can find 7 Class I rail freight companies that run through the U.S.
I recommend: You can find freight trains information on the major lines that haul gear in the US, such as
BNSF Railway (BNSF),
CSX Corporation, Inc (CSX), Canadian National Railway (CN), Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), Canadian Pacific Railway (CP),
Kansas City Southern (KCS) and Union Pacific Railroad (UP). If you choose to go regional, check out the
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association for trains in your area.
Choose companies that offer socially responsible freight trains and track records
UP offers you a "cleaner and greener" railway choice. CSX offers you high priority on safety both for its employee and for the public. KCS represents for you a Responsible Care(R) company since 1999.
I recommend: Union Pacific offers you a company with a waste reduction and recycling program. Their initiatives that make them appealing to consumers like you including replacing wooden track ties with concrete ties, recycling used oil, recycling their outdated electronic equipment, as well as initiating spill prevention measures and frequent monitoring and inspections. Information is also available to you on their
environmental stewardship policies. KCS’s involvement with
Responsible Care® means for you that they have made a commitment along with other companies to improve their health, safety and environmental performance.
Consider a broker to help you with the logistics
Thankfully, I had help arranging the transportation of my card line. My sales rep brokered the railroad freight rates as well as the transloading logistics. She helped me with the freight trains information that I was unaware of because I hadn't experienced train as a mode of product transportation before.
I recommend: Look for a train broker like
DSA to help you negotiate your rail freight costs and transportation logistics.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Allow yourself ample time if you plan to ship via train.
- Find out if you need additional insurance in addition to your railroad freight rates for your product while in transit.
The official source of Freight Trains is the Freight Trains page at Business.com
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