Top 4 Intermodal Shipping Myths: Busted

There seem to be a lot of misconceptions about intermodal shipping, especially compared to other modes of transportation. Shipping over the rail is definitely worth your consideration, so we’re going to set the record straight on some of these intermodal myths. Have you discounted the idea of intermodal shipping because of one of these misunderstandings?

1.“Shipping via rail is slow.”

Because rail shipping has been around for a long time, it was, as you can imagine, quite a slow method of transport many decades ago. However, it’s a very different story now. The fact is: yes, moving freight via rail is usually slower than moving it over the road, but probably not as dramatically as you think.

Most lanes are only about one day behind truckload shipping. Sometimes, loads that must be interlined between railroads can take a bit longer. However, for most customers that utilize rail shipments, the extra day or two of transit time is a small price to pay for such large cost savings in comparison to other modes of transportation.

2.“Intermodal shipping is unreliable.”

Before technology and infrastructure developments, the rail was deemed too unreliable, with unpredictable transit times and delivery dates. These days, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, countless major retailers utilize the rail to move their shipments across the country, depending on its reliability. Most intermodal lanes are in the high-90th percentile for on-time delivery.

3.“There’s a much higher chance of damage and loss with intermodal.”

Some may claim that shipping intermodal increases the chances of damaged freight due to the combination of truck and rail services. The bottom line is that this isn’t true. As long as the freight is blocked and braced properly, the train is in for a smooth ride; in fact, in a study done by the Association of American Railroads, they found that the ride quality environment on the railroad is similar to the ride quality on the highway. There’s also a lower risk of damage due to accidents and weather.

Others seem to think that chances of loss are higher with intermodal shipping. Again, this is just an untruthful myth. In fact, chances of loss are significantly lowered, because once the container is loaded onto the train, it is locked up and on the move for almost the entirety of its trip. The freight is not vulnerable to be hijacked at a rest stop like it would be on a truck.

4.“Tracking intermodal freight is difficult.”

When you ship over the rail, there’s truly no need to wonder or stress about when your freight has been picked up and delivered or where it’s at in between. It doesn’t “vanish” once the train pulls away from the rail yard. Many intermodal containers are equipped with tracking devices that allow your logistics provider or rail carrier to provide you with real-time updates on the location of your freight. When you ship intermodal with Trinity, we are in constant contact with the rail provider to ensure we have up-to-date information on the location of your freight.

Just like swallowed chewing gum doesn’t take seven years to digest, intermodal shipping is not a mode of transportation you should avoid due to inaccurate myths. This mode of transportation can save you a significant amount of money and is worth your consideration. To get an intermodal quote, click here.