#future
Which goods and how much merchandise can travel via train? Let’s have a look at it.
Contrary to common belief, shipping goods on railways does not necessarily mean delivering large product volumes all put together, and their route does not have to stick to the same rail line from departure to arrival every single time.
Given the number of existing misconceptions over this process, it is important to show manufacturers and logistics companies that qualified professionals can transfer small batches of merchandise without it being an issue. For instance, when talking “small” we refer to crates and pallets holding industrial spare parts and components.
There are several options available when shipping via train today, and the firms which can provide this kind of service normally encourage their customers to send small quantities alone. These little batches are then mixed with large loads by the companies’ logisticians in order to have their freight train fully loaded upon departure.
After we tested it at our firm, we all agreed it was a winning solution. As a consequence, our Terminal started delivering small cargo – commonly known as “groupage” – to Scandinavia and more specifically Norway and Sweden, where our enterprise has other terminals available. Not everyone in our line of work is fully aware of this solution’s potential and the economical benefits that can come with it.
How do we “spread the word”?
First of all, our railway system should not be seen as an old infrastructure but an effective means of transportation, and second, we need more awareness around the so-called “groupage”, where small loads are grouped and then sent at a very competitive price.
In a nutshell, smaller quantities equal cheaper rates. There is also a further advantage: lower carbon emissions, a relevant matter given the ecological transition that people and businesses are going through nowadays. Railway lines are undoubtedly a viable option to achieve a lower carbon footprint, especially when planned by logistics firms with the know-how to optimize load volumes and product types alongside cost and time management.
We at Lanzi Terminal meet all requirements to deliver machine tools and their spare parts, steel components, chemical products, paper and cellulose on pallets and crates, excluding only fresh foods due to temperature-controlled storage we do not provide yet.
Overall, we believe railways will become more and more of a valuable logistics choice to a variety of companies in our field, and a clever business opportunity to increase revenues while better preserving the planet.