As more shippers look to reduce freight costs and their carbon footprint, intermodal logistics continues to see rapid growth. The Intermodal Freight Transportation Market has predicted a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.27 percent from 2021 to 2026 for intermodal logistics. And with intermodal peak season on the way, shippers using this mode must have the right shipping strategies in place.

Intermodal can be a very effective mode when it matches up with the right customers, but with the rapid growth of customers choosing intermodal logistics, we often hear a similar question from our shipping customers: “What should I expect during intermodal peak season?” So, let’s learn more about what peak season for intermodal is, how it may affect you, and what you can do to stay ahead.

WHEN IS INTERMODAL PEAK SHIPPING SEASON?

Peak shipping season refers to the time of year when freight volumes see an influx. For most modes, this falls in line with the time of year when retailers begin pushing inventory for back-to-school and the holiday season. During this time, shippers try to keep up with demand and manage inventories while fulfilling a high volume of orders, and motor carriers are busier than usual trying to deliver freight on time.

Historically, the peak shipping season for intermodal logistics is around June to December. While June may seem a bit early, many shippers are rushing to get their goods through West Coast ports before June 30^th, and rail is a popular way for shippers to transport their West Coast imports. According to the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, since 2006, the number of goods imported and then loaded into intermodal equipment through Los Angeles and Long Beach ports has grown 25 percent.

With roughly two-thirds of intermodal containers coming off the West Coast from import traffic during peak season, this limits the supply of 53’ containers heading East.

Even though June is the typical start of peak season for intermodal, it can fluctuate. Some years it can be later or earlier. But since the start of the pandemic, intermodal logistics have been greatly affected by capacity, making peak season more year-round than in former years. This is because of the rapid increase in online shopping year-round for consumers, which the pandemic only heightened.

“The past two years since the beginning of covid-19 has greatly impacted intermodal capacity,” says Jennifer Fritz, Trinity intermodal expert. “Historically peak season for intermodal logistics usually starts June through December, but with capacity affected by the change in supply chains from covid-19, it’s been tight year-round, making peak season pressure felt year-round instead of a few months of the year.”

CHALLENGES OF INTERMODAL PEAK SEASON

Expected or unexpected, any time there is a major shift in supply chains, it can throw off your operation. So, how does peak season affect intermodal logistics? Well, it’s not much different than peak season shipping for any other mode.

You’ll see tightened capacity because of the increased freight volumes and demand. And anytime we see tightened capacity, we see increased prices as well. So, the more in demand something is with less supply, it equals higher rates.

You’re also bound to see some shipping delays and need to give longer lead times. Your usual service levels may also drop because of the overwhelming volumes of freight needing to be moved during peak season shipping. Especially lately with the continued covid-19 pandemic still affecting the market, West Coast ports, and ultimately, intermodal logistics.

Take Control of Your Intermodal Logistics During Peak Season

Make sure you’re not unprepared for intermodal peak season. Each peak season is variable, rarely unlike another, and planning is more critical than ever with it being more frequent and extreme. Here are some tips to help you take control of intermodal peak season.

Give Even More Lead Time

Book your intermodal shipments as far in advance as possible. Prices are volatile during intermodal peak season, and the rate to move a shipment through intermodal logistics can increase by hundreds of dollars over a single day. In addition, available equipment can often be an issue. This is not the season to wait until the last minute.

Stay Updated on the Industry

Ever since the start of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to know what’s going on in intermodal logistics. As we’ve seen over the past few years, supply chain disruption can happen at any time, so make sure you check the news daily or have a good resource to give you all the information you need.

Try Shipping Later

Perhaps all your items don’t need to arrive during peak season. Great. If possible, schedule those shipments to ship after intermodal peak season, when there is more capacity and you’ll likely get a better shipping rate, or at least stagger them. So, if part of your shipment needs to arrive right away, have that delivered faster. And for any freight that doesn’t need to deliver quickly, schedule that shipment for a later date. 

Plan for Extra Time

As noted, with the influx of freight needing to be moved, there are bound to be delays. Many intermodal carriers have fully planned days and if they get delayed, it affects the rest of their movements. So, make sure you allow plenty of time for your products to get to their destination. This will help keep a delay from happening and possibly get you a better freight rate.

Shop Around

Prices can fluctuate between providers and from day to day. If you have the time, try getting prices from a few different providers or being more flexible with your dates to see if you can find a better value. For example, the difference between a 15-day delivery time and a 20-day delivery time could be significant. Check out all avenues and find what works best for your budget and freight.

Have Modal Flexibility

Sometimes a mode will max out on capacity. If capacity is reached for intermodal logistics, ensure you have relationships with over-the-road carriers or a third-party logistics company as a backup. This ensures no matter what, you’ll be able to get your freight from point A to point B.

Leverage Partnerships

Partnering with an experienced 3PL can make navigating peak season for intermodal logistics, or any logistics mode, more accessible. Companies, like Trinity Logistics, often have longstanding relationships with carriers for all modes, plus logistics technology and well-trained teams ready to help you. A reputable 3PL will have seen it all during peak shipping seasons and be able to help you manage your logistics without batting an eyelash.

GET HELP WITH YOUR INTERMODAL LOGISTICS, NO MATTER THE SEASON

While we can’t look into a crystal ball and predict how long this never-ending peak season for intermodal logistics will last, we can tell you that many logistics providers and shippers are adapting. Intermodal peak season shipping can be stressful, but these tips can help you better navigate your intermodal logistics during the peak shipping season.

If you’re looking for help, Trinity Logistics is here to support you. We have a full Team of Intermodal Experts, experienced and ready to assist you with your intermodal logistics. Simply click the button below and let’s get connected.

There are several shipping options available for your freight. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine which mode of transportation will suit your needs best. One mode to consider for your freight is intermodal shipping. 

If this mode has been one you’ve been interested in learning more about, we’re here to help. First, we’ll walk you through what intermodal shipping is, when you should consider this mode, its benefits, and how intermodal rates work, so you can be on your way to transporting your freight in a new way! 

What is Intermodal Shipping? 

Intermodal shipping is the use of two or more modes to get the product from shipper to receiver. This could include any combination of ocean, air, rail, or truck transportation. However, in North America, intermodal often refers to the combination of using trucks and rail to move freight in shipping containers. 

Drayage

Another good term to know when talking about intermodal shipping is drayage. Drayage describes the trucking service from an ocean port or rail ramp. Drayage carriers are power only, meaning they only supply the truck or power unit. They pick up and drop off any equipment (the container and chassis) owned by the railroad, an intermodal provider, or ocean freight liners. Most often, drayage carriers will complete multiple loads in a day respective to their region.

When Should I Consider Intermodal Shipping?

Almost anything that can ship via truckload can be shipped intermodal. Here are some qualifiers on whether your shipments make sense to ship intermodal:

· You are looking to reduce shipping costs.

· You want to reduce risk during travel and have less handling of your product.

· You want your company to be more environmentally considerate with your shipping.

· You have long-distance shipments, over 750 miles.

· You have a lot of freight to move and a flexible delivery timeline.

· You have frequent shipments going to the same locations in similar quantities.

If any of the above qualifiers sound like you and your freight shipments, read on to learn about some of the benefits of switching up to intermodal shipping for your transportation.

Benefits of Intermodal Shipping

Moves a Lot of Product

A single train can move a load size equal to 280 truckloads. Essentially, you have an entire fleet at your disposal. As a result, high-volume shipments meet maximum efficiency when shipping intermodal. This can save you time and money by reducing fuel and labor costs. 

Quick(er) Shipping

Most people wouldn’t imagine intermodal shipping being quick enough. Not too long ago, a coast-to-coast shipment would take about two weeks. Now, it only takes about seven to 10 days, depending on the lane. If your delivery date is more flexible and not immediate, intermodal can make sense for your shipments. Additionally, intermodal sees fewer disruptions, making it more reliable than truckload. Intermodal does not have to worry about traffic patterns, weigh stations, checkpoints, or other issues compared to trucking.

Stay Green

Intermodal is more fuel-efficient than trucking since more products can be moved almost 500 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), replacing Over-The-Road shipments exceeding 1,000 miles with intermodal shipping reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent. Additionally, better fuel efficiency means savings on shipping costs.

Reduced Risk

When choosing to ship intermodal, shippers have far less exposure to roadway collisions, which means less chance of damage to your product. The risk of damage is also lowered because freight is loaded onto containers and not directly handled when changing between truck and rail. In addition, theft concerns are reduced as railyards are constantly monitored and no one can go in or out without documentation.

Understanding Intermodal Rates

Intermodal shipping rates have three basic parts: an origin drayage rate, a rail linehaul, and a destination drayage rate. However, door-to-door rates are typically an all-in rate comprised of those three components.

Drayage Rates

Drayage carriers offer consistent rates since they start and/or end every load at a consistent location, the intermodal rail ramp. Like truckload, drayage rates are a flat rate plus a fuel surcharge. Drayage carriers often provide a point-to-point pricing matrix including pick-up and delivery rates from every intermodal ramp to dozens of destinations within their region. Unlike truckload spot rates, drayage rates are much less volatile because drayage carriers often update their pricing matrix once a year, unlike the spot market which fluctuates daily. 

It’s important to note that when using drayage as a stand-alone service, you see other surcharges such as chassis fees or charges for port congestion or wait time at the rail or port.

Rail Rates

There are seven Class I railroads in North America:

• Union Pacific (Western U.S)
• BNSF (Western U.S)
• CSX (Eastern U.S)
• Norfolk Southern (Eastern U.S.)
• Canadian Pacific (Canada and Northern U.S.)
• Canadian National (Canada and Northern U.S.)
• Kansas City Southern (South Central U.S. and Mexico)

Your intermodal marketing company (IMC) will get pricing matrixes from these railroads, which include rates from their intermodal ramps to other ramps. Rail rates are a flat fee plus a fuel surcharge. 

Important to note: Shippers cannot access intermodal rates directly from the railroads. You MUST work with an intermodal marketing company or third-party logistics company (3PL), like Trinity.

Don’t Forget About Accessorials

Because intermodal shipping depends on efficiency, accessorials are much more common than shipping truckload. Since intermodal shipping is very predictable and competitive, intermodal providers present shippers with the most efficient pricing, expecting to be compensated for any accessorials should they occur. 

Because of this, ensure you understand your provider’s accessorial policy and find out how those fees are factored into their rates. Even still, there’s no need to fear intermodal shipping because of the accessorial fees. In the long-term, intermodal shipping, even with accessorials, makes the overall cost savings of the mode worth it. 

Trinity Can Help With Your Intermodal Shipping

If you’re seeking to increase efficiencies in your supply chain logistics and transportation, intermodal is one mode to highly consider. The idea of using intermodal shipping over truckload can be intimidating, but choosing an experienced and knowledgeable provider, such as Trinity Logistics, can make the change an easy one. 

One of the most common type of questions when people ask us about shipping intermodal is, what makes a good intermodal customer?

Or sometimes, what would constitute a not-so-great intermodal customer?

Location Matters

One of the first things to look at is, where are your shipper and receiver physically located? The U.S. rail intermodal network covers a large portion of the country, however there are some regions that may not be intermodal friendly. Some of these areas would include, much of Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Oklahoma. Even though an area may have rail service, every rail yard or ramp may not be an intermodal facility. If a shipper or receiver is more than 100- to 150- miles from the nearest rail ramp, the dray cost could prohibit that lane from being cost effective.
Another aspect to consider is, do your shippers and receivers have some flexibility with their shipping or receiving hours? Rail movements can be less than precise at times, for various reasons, which could include but are not limited to:

• Weather,
• An originating train not having enough freight to meet tonnage requirements resulting in delays by a few hours or a day or two,
• Longer than expected interchange times, which is when containers switch from one railroad to another. This is usually a two-day process, but can take longer.

Dray Carriers

Pick-ups and deliveries depend on dray carriers and their schedules. If they are detained on any previous movements, that can affect their entire schedule for the rest of that day. Sometimes this causes appointments to run late, or be missed entirely, resulting in having to reset the missed appointments for the following day or the soonest time possible. If you have a shipper or receiver who imposes financial penalties for missing appointments, intermodal would not be a good fit. At the very least, that customer would require consideration before committing to an intermodal shipment.

Guaranteed Delivery Window?

Something else to keep in mind is that any shipments that require a guaranteed delivery date and or time, would certainly not be a good fit for moving via intermodal. Again, because rail and dray schedules are not set in stone and each require a varying amount of flexibility in order to be effective.

These three areas are some of the most common topics that could lead to arguments against moving freight via intermodal. These topics aren’t highlighted to discourage anyone from using intermodal transportation, but instead to help interested customers make the best decision of whether they would be a good fit for the mode and increase greater opportunities for success. We are a team and we all want our customers to be successful, and important keys to success are intelligence and savviness.

As always, please reach out to your Trinity Intermodal Team for any intermodal rail related questions that you may have, no question is too small to ask. We are happy to assist you with any related situations that you may encounter. Happy shipping!

If you think intermodal shipping is for you, fill out our “Get a Quote” form today!

All aboard! Intermodal (rail) shipping is a popular mode of transportation as it’s a cost-effective and greener alternative to truckload. Typically, rates for intermodal shipments will be lower than those for truckload shipments. With modern supply chain challenges, like tightening capacity on America’s highways and driver shortage, many shippers find intermodal to be a good transportation solution to have available. However, 2020 threw a curveball for many industries and modes of transportation, intermodal included. Here’s a breakdown of recent intermodal market trends and what you can expect currently. 

PORT CONGESTION

Recent high levels of congestion at ports are causing service disruptions for intermodal providers. Port congestion is causing havoc on drayage and door-to-door intermodal. With the surplus of imports coming in from the backlog caused by Covid-19 and increased volume, chassis shortages and terminal congestion it’s having a negative effect on capacity – especially on the West Coast.

Delays in shipments and restrictions are being put in place by several intermodal providers. The congestion is being caused by the rapid increase in online sales and e-commerce, as well as other reasons such as labor disruptions, equipment shortages, and more. Retailers are also having to continuously restock because of the increase in sales. Typically, during the holiday season, there is a slowdown, but that didn’t happen in 2020. 

Intermodal has consistently been moving since September 2020, with intermodal traffic being up 11 percent year-over-year in the past month. This is resulting in delays. Truck drivers are experiencing up to nine hours of wait time to pick up a container while shippers are seeing shipments delivered weeks late.

A DECLINING WORKFORCE

According to the Surface Transportation Board, November of 2020 had the lowest employee numbers of U.S. operations of Class I railroads since 2012. Year-over-year, employee headcount is down 13.7 percent since 2019 and down 1.58 percent since just October. With intermodal volume increasing and employees decreasing, capacity continues to be strained and rates remain high.

STRONG FREIGHT VOLUMES WILL CONTINUE

As consumers have continued to increase their online spending, companies are consistently needing to replenish their inventories. This looks to continue throughout the first half of 2021. Due to the recent stimulus and the vaccine coming into play, manufacturers are looking to put products back on shelves as consumers hopefully look to spending more in person again versus online. Regardless, freight volumes are expected to continue to remain elevated.

INCHING THE WAY BACK TO NORMAL

The intermodal sector closed 2020 with the closest numbers to pre-pandemic levels that they have been due to the heightened freight volumes. Capacity is looking to begin to loosen a bit for door-to-door intermodal across many markets. Rates are also looking to fall,  currently down 4.2 percent the week prior as of January 5^th. However, they still remain 6.7 percent higher from 90 days ago and up 79.3percent from a year ago. 2021 will hopefully bring us closer to the pre-pandemic volumes, capacity, and rates we used to know, but we certainly have quite a ways to go before that. Buckle in because it looks to continue to be a wild ride. 

Luckily for you, we have a Team of experts here to help you no matter the current intermodal market conditions. For more information about our intermodal services or to get a quote,

Author: Christine Morris

Whether you’re a large corporation coordinating dozens to hundreds of shipments a day, or a small family-owned business shopping for the best way to ship your product monthly, a third-party logistics (3PL) company like Trinity Logistics can help you find your best logistics solution. While our most popular service is coordinating truckload shipping, there are several logistics solutions to suit businesses with shipments of all shapes, sizes, methods, and budgets.

What Services Does Trinity Offer?

As a 3PL, we have a network of more than 70,000 authorized carriers to coordinate freight services for our customers. We can arrange:

• Truckload
• Less-than-truckload (LTL)
• Warehousing
• Managed Services
• Intermodal(rail)
• Drayage
• Expedited
• International
• Other non-standard freight: airport recovery, liftgate services, oversized and over-dimensional, specialty transportation equipment, etc.

Find the Logistics Solution You Need

TRUCKLOAD

Access our network of 70,000 authorized carriers for your dry, temperature-controlled, hazmat, or flatbed shipping needs.We arrange the transport of your freight and track it from origin to delivery.

LTL

Can’t fill a truck? We can help optimize your smaller-scale shipments. Live track your freight delivery time so you can manage your inventory with our free LTL software. Additionally, consider using LTL CSP or customer specific pricing. CSP can offer you savings on LTL freight costs, reduce dock congestion, and have you be less impacted by annual carrier general rate increases.

WAREHOUSING

Whether you’re securing seasonal warehousing, overflow storage, or planning an entire distribution network, we can help. We’ll select the best warehouse space for your needs and negotiate the most competitive pricing for your project. We can also find warehouse space or cross-dock space in an emergency situation, in any state or city.

MANAGED SERVICES

Gain control and visibility to your supply chain, reduce costs, improve performance, and increase efficiencies with our Managed Transportation technology solutions, or TMS.

INTERMODAL

If your shipments need to travel more than 750 miles, Intermodal shipping (via rail) is a cost- and environmentally-friendly alternative to truckload shipping. This mode offers reliable and consistent capacity due to less competition and is nearly as fast as shipping truckload. If you’re looking to reduce transportation spend by saving on fuel and reducing your carbon footprint, intermodal may be a good option to consider.

DRAYAGE

If you import or export freight using U.S. ports, we now offer a full array of drayage services. With drayage, your freight can be delivered from the port right to your door, or from your door right to the port, saving you money in the process. Our dedicated and knowledgeable team can coordinate pickup and/or delivery on a tight turnaround, for port cut or to get your freight out before the Last Free Day and can help you avoid unnecessary fees.

EXPEDITED

If you need your shipment moved faster than standard LTL transit times allow, we offer expedited shipping options for shipments between one and twelve pallets that weigh under 10,000 pounds. We can schedule for delivery on a tight turnaround, such as for trade shows or short appointment windows, utilize carriers with right-sized vehicles including cargo vans, sprinters, and straight trucks, and arrange for door-to-door transport of your freight via air, when expedited OTR isn’t fast enough.

INTERNATIONAL

Through our relationships with freight forwarders, we can help arrange shipment of your air and ocean dry freight shipments. We can help by having a communication intermediary between you and freight forwarders, assisting with customs clearing, providing access to U.S. customs-bonded storage, and offering additional cargo insurance.

Have other shipping needs that don’t necessarily fall under one of these categories?

We are more than happy to help. If you need heavy haul, liftgate services, specialty transportation equipment, or something else, our dedicated team of logistics professionals is waiting to help find a logistics solution for you.

Request A Quote

In 1962, A Silent Spring by Rachel Carson was released bringing societal attention to the consequences of industrial pollution. At that time, there was a larger push toward greater concern for the environment. Over the years, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, the push to ban DDT, and many more efforts have been implemented to reduce greenhouse gases.
Companies and consumers continue to invest time and resources into “going green” through simple measures such a purchasing a Prius or an electric car, to more complex efforts such as implementing eco-driving programs for the transportation industry.
Over the past several years, the Environmental Protection Agency enacted standards for strict fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gases. Environmental groups feel better fuel economy would not only save consumers billions of dollars, but would also push vehicles to be more efficient, slashing pollution. According to EPA 2017 research, the transportation sector generated the largest shares of greenhouse gas emissions at 29%.
Going green is something that is important to our company. That’s why we take measures to stay in check!

EPA SmartWay

The Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program helps companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency. Since 2008, Trinity has proudly participated in this federal initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution created by freight transportation.
The SmartWay partnership is a way for shippers, carriers, logistics companies, railways, and other transportation stakeholders to measure, benchmark, and improve logistics operations to reduce their carbon footprint.
More than 3,700 companies and organizations are now a part of SmartWay. Since 2004, it has helped its partners save 248.8 million barrels of oil, which is equivalent to eliminating the annual electricity use in over 16 million homes.
To maintain our SmartWay partnership, we report our annual freight and emissions activity to the EPA, and demonstrate commitment to constantly improve our efficiency.

Responsible Care

Trinity Logistics became part of the Responsible Care Partnership in 2009, furthering our commitment to the hazmat chemical industry we’ve served since 2002. We’ve strategically developed operating procedures in line with the key principles of Responsible Care, to ensure the safe arrangement of chemical shipments. Through Responsible Care, we commit to improve company performance through community awareness and emergency response, security, distribution, employee health and safety, pollution prevention, and process and product safety.

Intermodal (rail) Shipping

If freight isn’t extremely time sensitive, intermodal shipping is an excellent, eco-friendly alternative to truckload shipping. We have an entire team dedicated to arranging rail shipments, and encouraging our many loyal customers to consider sending some of their freight via this mode. Our team works with rail providers so we can even calculate the carbon footprint for a lane and commodity of a truckload versus intermodal.
According to the Association of American Railroads, trains are on average four times more fuel efficient than trucks, reducing highway gridlock, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing pollution. In 1980, railroads in the United States moved a ton of freight an average of 235 miles per gallon. That same ton of freight per gallon will go an average of 479 miles today. Read their full report here.

Top Green Provider for 2018

In 2018, we were named to Food Logistics Top Green Provider list, which recognizes companies whose products, services, or exemplary leadership is enhancing sustainability within the food and beverage industry. We have entered again for 2019 and hope to continue boosting our green initiatives, so we can reduce our carbon footprint.

We have just gotten over a volatile year in the transportation market, and that has left a lot of people, both providers and customers, waiting cautiously to see what happens next. Rates are higher than they have been in the past, and capacity is at an all time low. But not everywhere!
Drayage is the transportation of ocean carriers from the port or rail to the end customer, and with the U.S. economy at an all-time high, the country is open for business and a lot of it. That is only expected to increase in coming years with developments, such as the Panama Canal Expansion. Guess what? Trinity can assist with your drayage needs! If you aren’t using Trinity for your drayage needs, you really should be, but I can guess what some of your trepidations may be, so let’s dig right into those.

“My drayage is already handled by my fowarder.”

This is probably the most common rebuttal I hear, and trust me I understand- a lot of our customers are freight forwarders! They are focused on getting your freight across international boundaries, but once it arrives they reach out to companies like Trinity to help coordinate the inland portion, where we are able to utilize our size and relationships to secure you the rate and capacity you need to help your bottom line.

“My customer is shipping door to door to me.”

Then you could be leaving money on the table, and that is certainly not something I would be happy about in your shoes. The freight forwarder your customer is using may not have access to the best possible rates, or they simply may be overcharging you. No matter what, at the end of the day you aren’t that freight forwarder’s customer, which leaves you at a disadvantage. Maybe that’s not the case, but getting your own international quote is free and may save you money! P.S., Trinity does also provide international service.

“Won’t the ELD Mandate affect this like it has everything else?”

The surprising answer is probably not! Detention rates may raise because now the driver’s time is that much more valuable, but with many deliveries happening within 150 miles of the port, most carriers haven’t been heavily impacted. If you are worried about how your unloading time or distance from the port may affect you, don’t- Trinity offers a variety of options including transloading and storing your freight until you are ready to receive it.

“None of my freight is handled in ocean containers.”

Not a problem! Trinity provides so many services there is almost definitely some way we can help you, so why not give us a call. After all, the call and the quote are free!

The phrase “looking a little green around the edges” used to have a negative connotation, but for years “going green” has been something not only desirable for consumers and companies, but also something backed strongly by governmental regulations.

During President Obama’s time in office, the Environmental Protection Agency enacted standards for strict fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gases. Environmental groups feel better fuel economy would not only save consumers billions of dollars, but would also push vehicles to be more efficient, slashing pollution.

Watchful eyes are on the Trump administration, as the EPA plans to take a different route, reviewing the 2022-2025 standards set in place at the end of the Obama administration. The EPA plans to open the door for comments from the auto industry and other affected persons, paving the way for potential changes or relaxations to the current measures.

With so much uncertainty, you can rest assured that your Trinity Logistics team is staying on top of the latest changes in the industry, encouraging our carrier network to participate, and finding the answers for you.

Going green is something that is important to our company. That’s why we take measures to stay in check!

EPA SmartWay

The Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program helps companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency. Since 2008, Trinity has proudly participated in this federal initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution created by freight transportation.

The SmartWay partnership is a way for shippers, carriers, logistics companies, railyways, and other transportation stakeholders to measure, benchmark, and improve logistics operations to reduce their carbon footprint.

More than 3,000 companies and organizations are now a part of SmartWay. Since 2004, it has helped its partners save 170.3 million barrels of oil, which is equivalent to eliminating the annual energy use in over six million homes.

To maintain our SmartWay partnership, we report our annual freight and emissions activity to the EPA, and demonstrate commitment to constantly improve our efficiency.

Responsible Care

Trinity Logistics became part of the Responsible Care Partnership in 2009, furthering our commitment to the hazmat chemical industry we’ve served since 2002. We’ve strategically developed operating procedures in line with the key principles of Responsible Care, to ensure the safe arrangement of chemical shipments. Through Responsible Care, we commit to improve company performance through community awareness and emergency response, security, distribution, employee health and safety, pollution prevention, and process and product safety.

Intermodal (rail) Shipping

If freight isn’t extremely time sensitive, intermodal shipping is an excellent, eco-friendly alternative to truckload shipping. We have an entire team dedicated to arranging rail shipments, and encouraging our many loyal customers to consider sending some of their freight via this mode.

According to the Association of American Railroads, trains are on average four times more fuel efficient than trucks, reducing highway gridlock, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing pollution. In 1980, railroads in the United States moved a ton of freight an average of 235 miles per gallon. That same ton of freight per gallon will go an average of 273 miles today, up 101 percent. Read their full report here.

Top Green Provider for 2016

In 2016, we were named to Food Logistics Top Green Provider list, which recognizes companies whose products, services, or exemplary leadership is enhancing sustainability within the food and beverage industry. We have entered again for 2017 and hope to continue boosting our green initiatives, so we can reduce our carbon footprint.

When Trinity Logistics first opened its doors in 1979 as Trinity Transport, the small family-owned company specialized in the arrangement of truckload freight. In the last decade, Trinity has expanded its focus into the arrangement of more specialty services, designing solutions that don’t necessarily fit within the cookie cutter of ordinary freight arrangement. One of those services is dray service, or drayage, which is typically needed with shipments where freight is coming into a port or being transported via intermodal, or rail.

What is Drayage?

Drayage is most commonly known as the act of pulling containers out of a rail yard or ocean port and either loading them or unloading them before returning the container to the port or rail yard, typically over short distances. With dray service, an empty or full container can be mounted on chassis, or a flatbed, to be delivered either from your door to the port or rail yard or from the port or rail yard to your front door. Drayage is an important part of the shipment and transportation of products to and from different modes of transportation.

The term “drayage” comes from “dray,” meaning a horse-drawn cart with low sides, used to transport goods a short distance. Eventually, the horse-drawn carts were replaced by trucks, but even today drayage refers to short distances between multiple modes. Drayage moves continue to prove highly valuable in keeping freight moving without interruptions. The upward trend in globalized trade has increased imports and exports that are shipped via ocean, drawing attention to the need for dray services.

Why is Dray Service Needed?

Most people in Logistics think of drayage as it relates to intermodal or containers on a ship, but here are two other dray services you may not have considered: shipment to shopping malls and trade shows. For many shopping malls, there may be a centralized loading dock or drayage area where receivers pick up from in order to limit congestion at the mall itself. If you exhibit at trade shows, you are probably familiar with paying bills for trade show drayage. Whether you ship directly to the show site or to a show warehouse, every company’s exhibit needs to get from the loading dock to its respective spot on the show floor. Imagine the traffic jam if that were left entirely up to the individual companies to retrieve their crates from the loading docks! Many trade shows employ outside services who provide drayage, delivering crates to each company’s designated exhibit space, and back to the loading dock after the show is complete.

We can arrange pickup and/or delivery in advance, on a tight turnaround for port cut, or to get your freight out before the Last Free Day. Our Logistics Team is trained in drayage and can help you avoid any necessary fees to keep your freight moving.

Think you could benefit from the arrangement of drayage services? Give us a call today!

For some people, shipping freight via intermodal (rail) can be an unknown entity, filled with pitfalls and frightful uncertainty. Truth is, intermodal really isn’t that complicated, however there are more variables and moving parts than a straight Over-The-Road (OTR) movement.

When planning an intermodal shipment, it all starts with determining capacity.  Several factors can affect capacity, the first being the lane itself. Is this a lane that is serviced by an intermodal carrier?  Just because there may be a rail ramp in a specific area, it may not be an intermodal terminal resourced with the equipment to load containers.  Along these same lines, if the shipper or receiver are located an excessive distance from the origin or destination rail ramp, it may not be prudent or fiscally beneficial for a carrier to offer a rate for the requested lane.  As an example, if the shipper is 227 miles from the nearest intermodal rail terminal, it will probably not be prudent for a carrier to offer rates or capacity for that specific lane, as the time, mileage, and fuel costs to make this pick-up will not prove financially beneficial for the carrier.

For basic capacity consideration, find out if the carrier has enough dray carriers available for the date and time that you want to move a shipment. Most of the door-to-door carriers use a combination of company carriers and contracted partner carriers.  Regardless, a carrier will only have a finite number or drivers and trucks.

The next factor to consider is the availability of equipment, namely serviceable containers.  If a carrier does not have or anticipate having enough containers to meet customer demands, they will most likely not offer capacity for that specific area or region. Until container resources reach a specific quantity, they will not be able to meet customers’ demands.

Another lesser factor to consider is the ultimate destination for your shipment.  If you are shipping a load from California to New Jersey during peak season, rates will typically be higher and capacity will be reduced because most customers want to ship from West to East, which ends up stock piling their equipment assets on the East coast.  If you are shipping a load to a destination that is less lucrative for the carrier, you will also most likely see higher rates and a more limited capacity.

On the other hand, if you wish to ship from East to West during peak season, equipment will most likely be plentiful, with the critical factor being drivers and trucks.  Keep in mind that these same drivers will also be loaded up with deliveries from all of the inbound freight coming from the West, which will affect capacity.  During this same peak season time frame, most carriers will be anxious to get their equipment re-positioned back on the West coast in order to get more shipments, so they will typically offer much cheaper rates moving East to West.

During this past peak season, we experienced minimal capacity issues compared to years past, as many carriers have expanded their pool of drivers in order to meet increased customer demands.

If you can work around the factors above, and have several extra days to move the freight, utilizing intermodal/rail can be a very cost-effective solution to your needs.

If you have any further questions about the issues that affect intermodal capacity or associated intermodal topics, or if you want a quote, please reach out to our Trinity Logistics Intermodal Team at 866-811-4312 or via email at [email protected]. We will be happy to field your questions or assist in any way possible.