In a global marketplace, deciding which type of freight transport to use to ship goods around the world can be a mind boggling affair. With huge networks of sea, road and air freight at your fingertips, you can create bespoke freight journeys whatever the destination of your cargo. However, there is one freight option for international cargo that is sometimes overlooked, and that’s rail freight.
Now, before we go any further, we know what you’re thinking. If you’re importing goods to the UK from abroad then there is the small matter of this being an island. And yes, at some point your International rail freight may need to leave the rails and cross a body of water (although there is also the Eurotunnel which offers rail freight links to the continent). But apart from small channel crossings, cargo will often have to cross large areas of land and one of the best options for achieving this is by rail. And if you’re still not convinced, then keep reading below to discover some of the key advantages of global freight solutions using rail freight forwarding.
Efficiency Over Long Distances
Freight often has to travel very long distances, crossing multiple international borders which can be a long and complicated process. This can make using road freight a very long and drawn out process. Sea freight can sidestep some of these inefficiencies but then it can also be very slow. Air freight is fast and bypasses most border crossings but is very expensive. While rail freight will cross borders, it can also cover large distances quickly and thanks to more regimented timetables, border crossings tend to be more efficient.
Accessibility
One major complication for sea freight is that not all countries in the world have access to a sea port. And even countries with coastlines often don’t have deep water ports big enough to deal with large container ships. As such, rail freight can be more convenient for areas and countries that cannot be accessed via sea ports. Of course, thanks to its multimodal requirements road freight is still the most accessible of all. However, road freight may be subject to factors outside of your control, such as traffic, accidents, breakdowns and more. With most major trading countries having an extensive rail network, rail freight transport allows you to get your goods from A to B conveniently and generally without incident.
Competitive Rates
The bottom line of freight choices is very often the bottom line in a financial sense. Rail freight is a less expensive way to move cargo and products in comparison to other methods, being significantly cheaper than air freight and more cost efficient than both road and sea transport. There are also much fewer associated costs like fuel and manual labour.
Better For The Environment
Another major consideration for modern businesses is the environmental impact of freight forwarding. Moving goods around the world can add significantly to your carbon footprint so it’s important to try and find ways to reduce this. Researchers claim that sending freight by rail can cut carbon emissions by 76%, as trains use significantly less fuel than other forms of transport. This is one of the key benefits of rail freight and a great way to reduce your business’ environmental impact.
Explore how rail freight can simplify your global logistics – contact Jordon Freight today.
Image source: Canva