Logistics terms when it comes to shipping can be difficult to pin down sometimes. You might have heard a little bit about drayage services as well as transloading services. These are two incredibly important parts of the overall shipping process. However, some people might use these terms interchangeably. These terms are linked but not interchangeable. In the modern era of logistics, you will likely need to utilize both drayage and transloading services. This is because most goods will see multiple forms of transportation before they ever come into contact with the end customer. Such is the state of the international supply chain. Read along to learn the answer to “What is transloading?”, “What are drayage services?”, and the overall distinction of drayage vs transloading, so you can enjoy greater clarity on which services you need for shipping products.
What Is Transloading?
Now, you might be wondering the answer to “What is transloading?” and what the difference between drayage and transloading is. Logistics terms can be a little confusing, but we’ve got you covered. Drayage has to do with the actual service of delivering goods. Transloading is the specific technique used to transport cargo from one container to another. It also applies to moving freight from one container to warehouse facilities. Both drayage and transloading are incredibly important to get your goods delivered to the right place efficiently. Often, transloading will take the form of taking the unit from one mode of transportation to another. For instance, a shipping container brought to the Port of Long Beach might be loaded onto a rail or truck.
As the supply chain has become more complex and international trade has increased, so has the need for transloading services. Transloading is now considered a standard method in the process of shipping goods. Most freight in recent years has been shipped in big steel containers that are typically 20 or 40 feet long. These containers can be transferred from rail cars to trucks to ships without having to take any freight out. Say your business is looking for a company to handle the logistics of shipping goods. Transloading will certainly be one of the many processes this company oversees for you.
What are Transloading Rates?
You might be wondering how much transloading is going to cost your business in the shipping process. You might also be wondering about how this cost is calculated. Since the shipping industry is so in-demand, it might seem like prices are going up constantly. Transparency is the biggest characteristic you want to look for in a company that’s taking care of your drayage and transloading services. It’s important to trust the people who are hauling your products and collecting a check from you at the end of the day. The number of times your freight needs to be loaded will be a big factor in determining transloading rates. In addition to that, the distance traveled and the specifics of your commodity also help determine the transloading rates. Other factors that affect transloading costs include:
- Fuel prices
- Supply and demand for shipping containers
- The type of goods you are shipping
- The quantity of goods you are shipping
- Whether you will need to use warehouse space
- Other services required (ex. cross docking)
What are Drayage Services?
As aforementioned, the answer to “What are drayage services?” is services involved in transporting goods short distances. Drayage refers to hauling goods and containers from ports and terminals. This shipping process began way back in the early 20th Century. In fact, the word “drayage” comes from the word for horse-drawn wagons that carried products. These wagons were known as “dray” when it came to moving cargo. Of course, a lot has changed since we had to rely on wagons and horses to deliver goods. Now, drayage is a lot more complicated and technologically advanced. Like transloading, drayage is an essential part of the supply chain and its processes. So, when we talk about drayage vs transloading, it’s possible you will need both during the shipment process.
To help you better understand exactly what drayage is, here’s a better look at the different types of drayage services:
- Inter-carrier drayage – Hauling units between different carriers (ex. railroad and truck stations)
- Intra-carrier drayage – Hauling units from rail hubs to intermodal hubs through the same carrier
- Pier drayage – Taking units from a hub to a pier or dock
- Expedited drayage – Hauling products that need to be transported more quickly than usual, often including temperature-controlled products like food
- Door-to-door drayage – Delivering goods right to the customer
These are just a few examples of drayage services. As you can see, there are plenty of different ways to get goods from one place to another. Each of these interactions is part of drayage services and the overall supply chain. Almost all of the products you buy and use on a day-to-day basis have seen the inside of a drayage container. Additionally, almost all of these same products have also been transloaded from one mode of transport to another. While drayage and transloading are different actions, they work together to create the same outcome. The final goal is for the product to arrive in the customer’s hands as quickly and efficiently as possible without damage. Drayage and transloading allow this to happen on a daily basis.
Heavy Weight Transport Inc.
For all of your drayage and transloading needs, check us out at Heavy Weight Transport. We specialize in hauling overweight loads. This means we have all the paperwork necessary to legally transport heavy-weight loads as well as other containers. Our team is dedicated to getting the job done quickly and efficiently to the highest ethical standards. We try to be as transparent and communicative as possible with our clients. We know we’re carrying your livelihood, and we don’t take that lightly. Check out the rest of our website for a full overview of our different services. We offer drayage, transloading, warehousing, and more.
