Intermodal shipping, with its road and rail combination, has the reputation of being slower than pure over-the-road options. While in its traditional form transit does take an extra day or two, expedited rail options can turn that idea on its head. Expedited trains transport time-sensitive intermodal freight at speeds rivaling truck - offering an alternative, less expensive solution for those looking for a fast, reliable truckload alternative.
What are Z trains?
Z trains are essentially expedited trains (west of the Mississippi) that travel at consistently higher speed than average trains and can be counted on to deliver fast and on schedule. They are given highest priority on railroads and operate on regular schedules - allowing them to compete well with truck transit.
Speed trains (another name often used) like these can cross long distances rolling at up to 70 mph (another reason they compete with over-the-road). They're especially prevalent for origin-destination pairs like California and the Midwest, California and Texas, and Texas and the Northwest. Both Union Pacific and BNSF designate their expedited trains with the Z moniker.
Are there expedited trains in the eastern US?
While there is less wide open space in the eastern half of the U.S. for a train to hit top speeds, expedited trains do still exist there as well. The key is the priority element shared with Z trains. CSX doesn't acknowledge a specific expedited service, but some of its trains - particularly those carrying packages for companies like UPS, do have priority.
Norfolk Southern also handles parcels, but additionally has marketed multiple expedited offerings in recent years, including a less-than-carload option hitting Chicago, Atlanta and Miami, and a partnership to offer expedited service coast-to-coast.
What do expedited trains carry?
Expedited trains carry goods that require more transit certainty - in essence, time-sensitive freight. Among those items would be consumer purchases shipped via parcel services like UPS and FedEx, as well as U.S. Postal Service mail and packages.
Beyond that, any containerized cargo (in other words, freight of all kinds) can travel via expedited intermodal, so it's largely up to the shipper's level of urgency. Expedited rail is also used for perishable goods like produce, with a well-known coast-to-coast train (that is sadly no more) nicknamed the "salad shooter."
How much does expedited rail cost?
Transporting freight via intermodal generally saves between 10 and 15% versus over-the-road. Using expedited rail instead of expedited trucking (or other expedited methods) at the very least translates that savings. Earmarking freight for expedited intermodal will typically come with a higher cost than regular intermodal due to its priority placement and transit guarantees, but it remains the most affordable expedited option.
How fast is expedited intermodal?
The goal of expedited intermodal is to provide "truck-competitive" (or better) transit. When looking at the typical speed of freight shipping versus expedited, it's important to set a baseline. Standard intermodal is generally truck, plus a day or two depending on the lane. Expedited intermodal can often take out that "plus" altogether - providing more transit certainty than regular intermodal offerings due to its priority.
BNSF provides the example of the Inland Empire in California to Chicago taking just over three days from drop-off to pick up (and in some cases as fast as 48 hours). UP offers a similar three-day transit on that lane as well, which it says is 20% faster than other offerings. As a basis for comparison, truck carriers indicate a shipping time of roughly three to seven days for that route.
If you're ready to explore expedited intermodal - or other shipping strategies, hit up our request a quote form, and we'll expedite our follow-up to discuss the best solutions for your business. For more information about InTek Intermodal, or the logistics and supply chain space in general, check out our Freight Guides.
