Shipping cargo in containers by rail: Russia, CIS, China. 20 and 40 feet

Container shipping by rail - what cargo owners need to know to send goods profitably

Rail container shipping is an economical and safe way to deliver a wide variety of products over long distances, from fertilizers to personal belongings. The packaging reliably protects against damage, precipitation, and thanks to sealing, theft is excluded. Weather conditions cannot negatively affect delivery times, the delivery schedule is strictly adhered to, so shipping goods by rail is not only convenient but also profitable. The only important condition for delivery in this way is the availability of railway tracks.

Planning to send, receive goods in containers and don’t know where to look and how to choose a transport company? A responsible approach equals a good result. Learn in the article how to find requests with transport, create your ads, where to place them, what to pay attention to when choosing a shipping organizer, and how a transport and logistics exchange can be useful for you.

Advantages and features of rail container delivery

Transporting goods by rail is particularly advantageous for large shipments, when transporting products between cities and countries. The cargo is placed in packaging, securely fastened to avoid damage during loading, unloading, and vibration during delivery. The product itself must be packaged considering individual characteristics, for example, liquids are transported in airtight containers. It is necessary to ensure that the rail container is clean, undamaged, and that the fastening elements are intact. Sealing must be done to ensure protection against theft, and labeling must be applied.

On the day of loading, containers are placed on flatcars or in hopper cars, considering the dimensional sizes, and are secured to them. Often, transportation is carried out as multimodal delivery involving two or three types of transport under one contract. In this case, there is no need to independently take care of moving the cargo to the loading station or destination.

Container shipping by rail has the following advantages:

• economy - when transporting over long distances, this method is cheaper than road and air delivery;
• safety - the likelihood of accidents and theft is lower than with other transportation methods;
• efficiency - due to high carrying capacity, large shipments can be sent over long distances at once without involving several units of road transport;
• versatility - delivery of a variety of products is available, from food to bulk raw materials and more.

Standard sizes of containers allow them to be moved from road transport to rail without unloading the cargo from one container to another, which reduces time costs and minimizes the risk of damage or loss of goods.

How to choose a transport company you can trust with container delivery

Each shipper has their own expectations from the delivery process. Some prioritize deadlines, others low prices, while some focus solely on experience. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what is more important for you in order to start searching, compile a list of companies you would trust with the delivery of goods, and ultimately decide on a candidate.

TOP criteria for choosing a transport and logistics company:

• work experience, reputation, and reviews;
• provision of guarantees, insurance policy arrangement;
• availability of a own fleet, which allows not to depend on contractors;
• pricing policy;
• availability of a license;
• quality of service, level of flexibility, and ability to adapt to client needs.

Get a consultation from the shipping organizer to discuss the route and loading procedure of rail containers. Find out what documents are needed. It is important to discuss organizational matters in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises that may arise during the process or minimize them.

Types of containers for rail delivery

The method of transporting goods depends on the characteristics of the products. Suitable packaging not only facilitates the loading, unloading, and delivery process but also allows for the safe delivery of goods. By the type of transported goods, the following types of rail containers are distinguished:

• Universal - used for dry packaged goods, such as furniture, spare parts, electronics, construction materials.
• Platforms - suitable for delivering heavy and oversized products: equipment, special machinery, lathes, and others. The end and side walls of such containers can be folded or removed.
• Open-top - structural features exclude the presence of a rigid roof on top, instead, a tarpaulin is used. Such packaging is used for metal structures, coal, and some construction materials.
• Refrigerated - allow maintaining a specified temperature due to the built-in heating and cooling system. Used for food, pharmaceutical products, cut flowers, fresh plants, cosmetics, chemicals, and other products.
• Tank containers - suitable for gaseous, liquid substances, and some bulk cargo.
• Isothermal - maintain a stable temperature due to insulated walls, not equipped with a refrigeration unit. Used for medical products, food, and others.

According to carrying capacity, rail containers can be low-tonnage, medium-tonnage, and high-tonnage, accommodating up to 3, 10, and over ten tons, respectively.

Finding carriers, logisticians, and freight forwarders on com-stil.com

The transport exchange is a place where shippers can negotiate directly with carriers, logisticians, and freight forwarders for cargo delivery. Container shipping is no exception. There are two ways to find transport:

• Search among the offers on the site. By accessing the contacts of the performers, you just need to write or call them to negotiate.
• Publish your requests. This way, performers can contact you directly.

Choose the method of search that suits you or use both methods to increase your chances of achieving the desired result in a short time.

Railway, logistics, and freight forwarding companies can organize rail container shipping. The range of services includes providing wagons, containers; preparing documentation, insurance, tracking delivery, cargo escort, and customs clearance.

When looking for a performer you are ready to trust with your cargo, make sure to consider as many offers as possible to make the right choice. An updated list of requests with transport is available on the site com-stil.com. Use the functionality of the logistics exchange to quickly and freely find transport in any direction.

Container shipping by rail is an efficient and reliable way to transport goods, allowing for reduced delivery times and lower logistics costs. Containers filled with cargo can be transported throughout the country and beyond, making rail transport particularly attractive for large companies and enterprises. By using containers, cargo can be transported safely and protected from external influences and damage during transportation. Container shipping by rail also reduces the number of necessary transshipments and minimizes the risks of cargo loss.