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September 29, 2020
Quiz: Can Your Product Ship by Rail?
Find out in just a few clicks…
Rail offers a safe, economical, green and efficient way to ship — but can you use it to ship your product? Take this quiz to find out.
Curious about shipping by rail?
Here are some facts you might want to know:
- You can ship almost anything by rail. From raw materials to component parts to finished goods – just not personal property, passengers, pets or other living things.
- You can ship almost anywhere. You can ship products by rail pretty much anywhere in North America. Between the major railroads in Canada, the United States and Mexico and smaller railroads in between, railroad tracks span the continent. Factor in ocean carriers and you can use rail to ship to virtually any destination worldwide. Rail is the most efficient way to ship long distances — but can also accommodate short-haul moves.
- You can ship large volumes with ease. One rail car can carry the same amount of cargo as 3-4 trucks. So when you ship with rail, you're managing fewer shipments and gaining supply chain efficiencies. Not shipping that much? Sometimes railroads can handle "less-than-truckload" shipments.
- It’s the greenest way to ship freight over land. On average, U.S freight railroads can move one ton of freight more than 470 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel, generating a carbon footprint that is 75 percent less than trucks.
- You don’t need tracks. Even if you or your customers don't have tracks, you can still take advantage of the safety, environmental and economic benefits of rail thanks to a process called transloading. If you need help connecting to rail, logistics companies like Loup Logistics can help. Loup can also provide logistics visibility to your rail shipments.
If you think your product could be a good fit for rail, get in touch to learn how to make it happen.
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