Railroad Transportation
Marketing Logistics
Rail Characteristics
• Good fuel economy.
• Mainly bulk, low-value commodities (coal, stone,
lumber), except for finished automobiles.
• Poor at public relations – critical need for new
managers.
• Becoming more competitive with scheduled
intermodal service.
--J. B. Hunt, UPS.
--Steamship land bridges.
Rail Characteristics -2
• Average Length of Haul 720 miles (1995)
• Average train speed 22 miles per hour (35
miles per hour for priority trains).
• Mainly deals in carload freight. Prefer
batch processing of cars.
Challenges
• Railroads prefer unit trains, because
switching costs are reduced.
• Bulk commodities are diminishing due to
reduced manufacturing base.
• Railroads are beginning to expand
intermodal.
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Hopper Car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Coal,
Stone
Hopper Car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Coal,
Stone
Hopper Car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Boxcar
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Freight similar
to truck vans
--manufactured
goods
--auto parts.
Boxcar
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Gondola car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Steel,
Scrap metal
Gondola car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Auto racks
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Automobiles
Auto racks
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Tank Car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Chemicals
Tank Car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Chemicals
Tank Car
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Trailer-onFlatcar (TOFC)
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Trailer-onFlatcar (TOFC)
Intermodal
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Covered hopper.
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Agricultural products,
Plastic pellets
Covered hopper.
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Log car.
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Refrigerator car (reefer)
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Perishable foodstuffs
Refrigerator car (reefer)
RailroadForums.com
Railroad Photo Gallery
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Flatcar
Railroad Picture Archives
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx
Railroad Rolling Stock.
Heavy equipment, large loads.
Flatcar
Railroad Picture Archives
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx
Intermodal Transportation
• Use of two or more modes in transportation.
• Mainly dependent upon containerized
shipments.
Railroad Intermodal
• Initially, railroad shippers were located in
urban areas and were served by railroads
who had been in the city for years.
Railroad Intermodal
• Initially, railroad shippers were located in
urban areas and were served by railroads
who had been in the city for years.
• When industry in urban areas closed,
railroads often could not gain access to new
markets in suburban areas.
Suburban
Suburban
Company
Company
Suburban
Suburban
Company
Company
Suburban
Suburban
Company
Company
Suburban
Suburban
Company
Company
Suburban
Suburban
Company
Company
From: http://freight.railfan.ca/wc/wc36332.jpg
Trailer on Flatcar (TOFC)
From: http://freight.railfan.ca/wc/wc36332.jpg
From: http://freight.railfan.ca/wc/wc36170.jpg
Container on Flatcar (COFC)
From: http://freight.railfan.ca/wc/wc36170.jpg
Double-stack intermodal train.
From: http://www.finnmoller.dk/rail-usa/up-ne/up4360-4394-9740-9503-chapell-01.htm
From Triple Crown Services web site http://www.triplecrownsvc.com/Bimodal.html
From Triple Crown Services web site http://www.triplecrownsvc.com/Bimodal.html
From Triple Crown Services web site http://www.triplecrownsvc.com/Bimodal.html
From Triple Crown Services web site http://www.triplecrownsvc.com/Bimodal.html
Malcolm McLean
• “…arguably one of the greatest contributors to the
growth of the world economy in the 20th century.
In an editorial on his death, the Baltimore Sun
stated that "he ranks next to Robert Fulton as the
greatest revolutionary in the history of maritime
trade." Forbes Magazine called him "one of the
few men who changed the world.”
--United States Commissioner of Customs,
Robert C. Bonner before the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, Washington, D.C., January 17,
2002.
From: International Organization for Standardization website
http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/commcentre/news/malcolmmclean.html
Most International Shipping
Involves Use of Containers
Most International Shipping
Involves Use of Containers
Most International Shipping
Involves Use of Containers
Most International Shipping
Involves Use of Containers
Most International Shipping
Involves Use of Containers
• Standard container sizes:
–
–
–
–
8 x 8 x 10 feet.
20 feet.
30 feet.
40 feet.
Most International Shipping
Involves Use of Containers
• Advantages
– Protection reduces
loss, damage.
– Standardization helps
automation reduce
labor costs.
– Easily stored,
transported
– Can serve as temporary
storage facilities
• Disadvantages
– Suitable ports not
always available.
– Capitalization for
containers, handling
and transport
equipment.
Rail Land Bridge
Containers transloaded and transported by rail.
Placed again on
Container ship
Container ship
Arrives on coast