A facility equipped with cranes, reach stackers, or other lifting equipment to transfer intermodal containers and trailers between railcars and trucks. Intermodal terminals are the interface between the rail and trucking networks and are located in major metropolitan areas and port cities. Throughput capacity and truck gate efficiency are critical performance metrics.
A facility where freight is transferred between railcars and trucks or other modes, enabling rail service to shippers without direct rail access. Transload facilities may handle bulk commodities, packaged goods, or intermodal containers. They serve as an economic alternative to private sidings for shippers with moderate rail volume.
An inland facility connected to a seaport by rail or highway that provides port-related services such as container storage, customs processing, and import/export cargo handling away from the congested seaport. Inland ports extend the effective reach of seaports and relieve coastal congestion. They are a growing component of supply chain infrastructure.
An intermodal service in which ISO or domestic containers are loaded onto well cars or flatcars, often double-stacked, for the rail portion of a move. COFC is the dominant form of intermodal rail service in North America and enables double-stack efficiency. Containers are transferred between trucks and trains at intermodal terminals.
An intermodal service in which an over-the-road highway trailer is loaded directly onto a flatcar for the rail portion of a move, sometimes called piggyback. TOFC allows door-to-door service with standard trailers and is used where containers are not available or practical. It has largely been supplanted by COFC double-stack service on high-density lanes.
A high-priority train carrying intermodal containers or trailers on flatcars, typically operating on expedited schedules to compete with long-haul trucking. Intermodal trains generally run at higher speeds and have priority over manifest trains in most railroad operating plans. They serve as the interface between the rail and trucking networks.