For many businesses, the 18-wheel truck is the symbol of shipping goods on land. These vehicles have traversed the highways of North America, Europe, and Asia and are considered a mainstay. But even today, there is another alternative that, in some ways, offers better value, even for shipping temperature-sensitive products: using trains to ship cargo by rail. It still has a few advantages, although there are still some considerations to keep in mind.
Temperature-Sensitive Products Are Fine
Like cargo container ships, cargo rail lines have their own dedicated “reefer unit” train cars. These units provide active temperature maintenance to maintain optimal levels when shipping temperature-sensitive products. Of course, this can—and should—be supplemented with other types of insulation protection in case of mechanical breakdowns of the reefer unit or simply to protect products when they are not in the reefer unit and awaiting transfer to the next vehicle in cold chain logistics.
Shipping Times Are Comparable
Some people make the mistake of assuming that because a truck can travel highways, it must be a faster vehicle for shipping. This is not, however, always the case. One of the biggest limitations of trucks is the human driver, as they must stop regularly for meals, sleep, and refueling the vehicle. Trains, however, have a crew and, therefore, can continue on their journey all through the night. In some cases, the routes that trains take are straighter and more direct than the circuitous roads a truck must follow, particularly when it comes to crossing mountain ranges.
Shipping Is Safer
One feature that shipping by rail shares in common with shipping by sea is that there tends to be more security and safety for products. Hauling freight by truck tends to mean that the vehicle will make more frequent stops, whether that’s for a meal or to get sleep. Trains, however, not only have fewer stops, but the stops they do make are at secure rail yards that not just anyone can access. This tends to mean the products are safer.
One thing to keep in mind is that the cost-effectiveness of shipping temperature-sensitive products tends to apply to larger volumes, as, like with ships, rail shipping excels at vast amounts of freight. If you are dealing in smaller numbers of products, this may not necessarily provide you with the savings you are looking for if that’s a major consideration.
If you’re shipping temperature-sensitive products and want to know the best way to get those products to their destination safely, we can help. Contact us to explain your shipping needs and obtain a quote.
