10 Tips for Shipping by Rail

 

Shipping by rail is a cost-effective and carbon-friendly way to move large volumes over long distances. However, managing rail shipments requires careful planning, coordination, and attention to detail. Here's how to manage rail shipments effectively.

 

1. Develop a comprehensive rail shipping plan.

 

2. Use a transportation management system. A TMS with strong rail management features automates manual processes and standardizes daily workflows and procedures. A good rail management system can notify you of common issues such as bill of lading transmission failures, in-transit exceptions, and potential accrual or invoice related issues.

 

3. Cultivate and invest in relationships.

 

4. Understand your rail expertise gaps. Rail knowledge is a limited commodity in the industry, but you don't necessarily have to search for the rail unicorn to hire. Bring in an outside perspective to do an assessment of rail knowledge needed. Training, software, third-party services, and consulting are all available to help bridge the gaps to set rail shippers up for success.

 

5. Develop bench strength.

 

6. Build flexibility into the plan.

 

7. Maximize product shipped per car.

 

8. Use technology to optimize rail. By analyzing large pools of data, technology helps companies predict potential delays and costly scenarios before they even happen. Predictive risk identification helps shippers keep track of ever-changing conditions and understand potential future shipment issues, giving more time to communicate with customers and execute contingency plans.

 

9. Mitigate yard capacity risks.

 

10. Measure, monitor, and adjust your shipping plans.