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.
The transfer of freight from one mode or container type to another at an intermediate facility, such as moving bulk commodity from a railcar into trucks for final delivery, or consolidating LTL shipments into carload quantities. Transloading allows rail to serve customers without direct rail access. Transload facilities are a critical link in multimodal supply chains.
A railroad-owned track at a public facility where multiple shippers can load or unload cars that do not have private sidings. Team tracks provide rail access to small shippers who lack the volume to justify a private siding. They are increasingly rare as freight has shifted to carload and intermodal service.
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.
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.
A short section of railroad track that branches off a mainline or branch line to serve a single industrial customer. Industrial spurs are the physical connection between the railroad network and a manufacturing plant, warehouse, or processing facility. They are often owned by the railroad and maintained under a spur agreement.