Is there an economic incentive to move my goods on rail?

YES! 

The further the distance and the heavier the goods, the greater the economic incentive!

Our warehousing and manufacturing facilities don’t have rail siding, can we still ship on rail?

Yes. There are two simple methods that you can utilize to ship your goods on rail. One is called intermodal rail and the other is carload or boxcar rail transportation. You can ship both ways without a rail spur with us.

Our company has been interested in using rail for a while now but it seems complicated. Can it be a simple process?

Yes.  It can be as simple as ordering by the truck load.

When we ship over the road the fuel costs change every week. If we chose to ship on rail can we expect more price stability?

Yes.  Expect price stability, this is something we know is critical to our clients and we at Garner Enterprises offer our clients.

Our warehouses used to have rail lines running right up to our loading docks but these were all torn out years ago, is it possible to bring these back to life?

Yes. In most cases this is a possibility. Garner Enterprises Consulting Services can manage this process for your company.

Is my business too small to benefit from rail?

Our goal is to assist analyzing where the rail benefits are on a case by case basis.  If you move truckloads of product your business can benefit, but not every lane is a perfect fit.  We will find the integrated solution for cost and when road works best we will advise to go that route.

Is there a carbon emissions advantage if we shift our business to rail from long-haul trucks?

Yes, your organization will automatically start accruing goodwill in CO2 reductions. And, if you’re interested, we offer a service that will provide you with a carbon-emissions savings report either quarterly or annually.

What are the advantages to my company for shipping goods on rail?

Cost Savings & Environmental Stewardship.

Can all types of products be shipped on rail?

Please contact us to discuss your specific needs and we will tailor a program that is suitable.

What if my goods are damaged in transit?

Goods are insured in transit and claims are managed on a case-by-case basis. Garner is also member of the Dispute Resolution Council (visit site) and in certain cases of produce integrity cases are handled through this partnership.

What is the difference between moving goods in boxcars versus intermodal on rail or over the road in a truck?

The volumes, cubic capacity, loading positions all change depending on the type of equipment being used.  Boxcars can carry up to 200,000 lbs. Intermodal containers can carry up to 60,000lbs each but often do not because of DOT road regulations so cubic capacity is often lost over the road. 

Heavy commodity shippers know this intimately – call us we may have alternate solutions.

My company ships perishable goods how does air flow work in refrigerated containers over the rail?

Air flow is an extremely important component that maintains the temperature of your goods in transit. Various aspect like how the goods are loaded, blocked, and positioned all contribute to maintaining the integrity of the product loaded. (please see link for more detailed information)