How to Ship LCL Cargo by Rail

How to Use Rail Transport for Less-Than-Truckload Goods

In the modern logistics system, rail transport stands out among many enterprises as an important mode of transportation due to its advantages such as large capacity, low cost, and high safety. Especially for less-than-truckload LTL goods, rail transport provides an efficient and convenient solution. But how can we effectively use rail transport to deliver LTL goods? This article will provide a detailed analysis from the aspects of the characteristics, process, and precautions of LTL rail transport.

First, we need to understand the core advantages of LTL rail transport. Compared with road transport, rail transport has stronger carrying capacity and lower unit costs. Especially for bulk and long-distance cargo transport, the advantages of rail transport are more obvious. For example, a news report in 2025 mentioned that a large logistics company successfully reduced cross-provincial logistics costs by about 30% through LTL rail transport. This not only improved the company's economic benefits but also reduced the impact on the environment. Rail transport also has high safety, which can effectively avoid delays or losses caused by weather or other force majeure factors.

However, to fully utilize the advantages of LTL rail transport, one must be familiar with its operational process. Usually, LTL rail transport can be divided into the following steps first is the collection of goods. In this stage, the shipper needs to concentrate scattered small-batch goods to designated railway freight stations. This process must strictly follow relevant regulations of the railway department to ensure the intact packaging of goods and label them according to requirements. For instance, according to the regulations of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., all LTL goods must pass security checks before entering the transportation process.

Next is the shipment stage. During this process, the shipper needs to fill out detailed waybills and sign transportation contracts with railway carriers. The waybill should clearly record basic information such as the name, quantity, weight, and volume of the goods so that the railway department can reasonably arrange the transportation plan. At the same time, the shipper also needs to pay corresponding freight and miscellaneous fees, which usually include loading and unloading fees and warehousing fees. It is worth mentioning that in recent years, with the development of digital technology, many railway freight stations have already achieved electronic operations, greatly improving work efficiency.

Then comes the transfer and arrival stages. During this phase, the railway department will allocate the goods to suitable train cars based on their destination and transfer them through the national railway network. During this period, shippers can track the location and status of their goods in real-time via the railway freight platform to keep abreast of the transportation progress. Once the goods arrive at the destination station, the consignee needs to present the delivery voucher to handle the receiving procedures and take responsibility for subsequent unloading and distribution.

Of course, there are still some issues to consider in actual operations. First, shippers should plan the transportation route in advance, choosing direct or minimal transit routes whenever possible to shorten transportation time and reduce costs. Second, for special types of goods such as hazardous materials and perishable items, they must be packaged and transported strictly according to the requirements of the railway department; otherwise, it may lead to transportation failure or even accidents. Finally, shippers should also closely monitor the dynamics of the railway transportation market and adjust their transportation strategies in a timely manner to cope with challenges brought by market changes.

In summary, LTL rail transport is an efficient and economical logistics method, but to fully leverage its advantages, shippers need certain professional knowledge and operational experience. Only by thoroughly understanding the characteristics and processes of rail transport can they better meet their own logistics needs and achieve optimal resource allocation. In the future, with the continuous improvement of the railway freight system and technological advancements, it is believed that LTL rail transport will demonstrate greater potential in more fields.