Analysis of the Connotation and Three Operation Modes of Drop-and-Pull Transport

Truck and trailer transport is a modern logistics operation method that enhances transportation efficiency and flexibility by separating the tractor from the trailer. The core of this transportation model lies in the dropping and hooking, meaning that during the cargo loading and unloading process, vehicles can quickly replace trailers without waiting for the entire tractor-trailer operation to be completed. This approach significantly reduces the time vehicles spend docked at ports, docks, or warehouses, thereby improving overall transportation efficiency.

Firstly, the one-line-two-point drop-and-pull transport is the first mode of drop-and-pull transport. In this mode, after a tractor departs from the starting point, it drops a trailer at a certain location along the way and continues to the endpoint. The dropped trailer is then picked up by another tractor to complete subsequent transportation tasks. This mode is particularly suitable for situations where long-distance transportation requires segmental relays. For instance, according to data released by a certain logistics company, after adopting this mode, the turnover time per transport decreased by approximately 30%, greatly increasing the frequency and efficiency of transportation.

Secondly, cyclic drop-and-pull transport is the second common mode of drop-and-pull transport. In this mode, multiple trailers conduct cyclic drop-and-pull operations around a fixed route. For example, a batch of trailers may load goods at point A, sequentially pass through points B, C, etc., dropping off some cargo and loading new cargo at each station, and finally return to point A to complete the entire cycle. This mode is highly suitable for enterprises with stable cargo flow needs, such as large e-commerce companies or manufacturing enterprises. According to industry statistics, after adopting the cyclic drop-and-pull mode, the transportation costs of enterprises decreased by about 25%, and resource utilization became more efficient.

The third mode is called piggyback transport, which combines road and rail transportation. Specifically, it involves placing dedicated trailer racks inside train cars and directly placing trailers on these racks for transportation. When the train arrives at its destination, the trailers are unloaded and continue the last leg of the journey via road. The advantage of this mode is that it fully utilizes the large capacity advantage of railways while avoiding the trouble of dismantling and reassembling cargo in traditional railway transportation. In recent years, with the increased support of national policies for multimodal transport, more and more enterprises have begun to try this mode. For example, a large logistics enterprise reported that after adopting piggyback transport, the time for cross-regional logistics was shortened by nearly half.

As an efficient and convenient logistics solution, drop-and-pull transport has been widely applied in various industries in our country. Whether it's one-line-two-point, cyclic drop-and-pull, or piggyback transport, they all effectively address many problems existing in traditional transportation models, such as long waiting times, inefficient turnover, and high costs. In the future, with technological advancements and changes in market demand, drop-and-pull transport will continue to innovate and develop, injecting more vitality into China's modern logistics industry.