What Is Transloading?
Multi-modal cargo transfer for maximum efficiency
Transloading is the process of transferring freight from one mode of transportation to another—such as moving goods from a railcar to a truck, from an ocean container to a domestic trailer, or from a flatbed to a van. It is a critical link in multi-modal supply chains, enabling businesses to take advantage of the cost benefits of rail or ocean shipping while still reaching final destinations that only trucks can access.
Transloading is especially valuable for importers who receive goods in ocean containers at East Coast ports but need to distribute them regionally by truck. Rather than paying high container drayage rates over long distances, businesses can transload at a facility near the port and distribute via more cost-effective domestic trucking.
Continental TDS operates transloading services from our Fredericksburg, VA facility with connections to Mid-Atlantic rail terminals and port facilities in Norfolk and Baltimore. Our SDVOSB-certified team handles cargo of all types with the care and precision your supply chain demands.
Benefits of Transloading
Optimize costs and expand your distribution reach
Multi-Modal Flexibility
Combine the cost advantages of rail and ocean with the door-to-door reach of trucking. Move freight the most economical way for each leg of the journey.
Expanded Reach
Deliver to locations that rail and ocean cannot reach directly. Transloading bridges the gap between long-haul modes and final-mile delivery.
Lower Transportation Costs
Rail shipping can cost 40-60% less per ton-mile than trucking. Transloading lets you capture those savings for the long-haul portion of the trip.
Specialized Equipment
Our facility is equipped with forklifts, dock levelers, and material handling equipment to transfer all cargo types safely between vehicles.
How Transloading Works
A coordinated three-step process
Inbound Arrival
Cargo arrives via rail, ocean container, or other mode. We inspect and document the shipment, verifying quantities and condition against the bill of lading.
Transfer & Repackaging
Freight is carefully unloaded and transferred to domestic trailers. If needed, we repalletize, relabel, or repackage goods to meet outbound requirements.
Outbound Dispatch
Loaded trucks depart for final destinations. We coordinate carrier scheduling so outbound trucks are ready when unloading is complete, minimizing dwell time.
Transloading FAQs
We transload palletized goods, loose freight, bagged materials, boxed products, and oversized items. Our equipment handles standard 20-foot and 40-foot ocean containers, domestic 53-foot trailers, flatbeds, and rail boxcars. Contact us with your specific cargo requirements for a customized plan.
Rail transport costs significantly less per mile than trucking for long distances. By shipping the bulk of the distance by rail and only using trucks for the last segment, you can cut overall freight costs by 20-40%. Additionally, transloading from ocean containers to domestic 53-foot trailers lets you fit more product per load, reducing the number of trucks needed.
Yes. If outbound trucks are not immediately available, we provide short-term warehousing at our facility. Your goods are stored securely in our climate-controlled warehouse until the next leg of transportation is ready. This flexibility means you never have to rush or pay detention charges on inbound equipment.
Ready to Get Started?
Let our transloading experts design an efficient multi-modal solution for your freight.