FAQs
Carload Services FAQs
Q: What is a carload rail service? A: Carload rail service is freight transportation where TNW serves as either the origin (where freight begins its rail journey) or destination (where freight ends its rail journey), even if your facility doesn't have direct rail access. Through transloading and strategic switching, we enable businesses to ship and receive carloads efficiently.
Q: Do I need rail access at my facility to use carload services? A: No. TNW's transloading services allow you to originate or receive carloads through rail-to-truck or truck-to-rail transfer. Your freight can travel by rail while your facility remains truck-served.
Q: What is special switching? A: Special switching is responsive, customer-driven rail operations that accommodate urgent needs, non-standard timing, or unique requirements. Examples include weekend switching, expedited movements, or custom solutions that don't fit standard schedules.
Q: How fast can TNW interchange with Class I railroads? A: TNW provides under 20-hour interchange with BNSF (at TXNW and TXR locations) and Union Pacific (at TXGN locations), ensuring rapid freight movement.
Industrial Development FAQs
Q: What is rail-served industrial development? A: Rail-served industrial development provides businesses with facilities that have direct rail access, enabling cost-effective freight movement, reduced logistics expenses, and efficient supply chain operations.
Q: Does TNW offer build-to-suit facilities? A: Yes. TNW works with businesses to develop customized rail-served facilities on TNW property or your chosen site, including site selection support and access to available grant funding.
Q: What are the benefits of a rail-served site? A: Rail-served sites reduce per-unit transportation costs, enable bulk shipments, provide supply chain redundancy, and offer long-term logistics cost stability compared to truck-only operations.
Q: Where does TNW have industrial development properties? A: TNW has rail-served industrial sites available in Sunray (Texas Panhandle), Gonzales (Central Texas), Brownwood (West Texas), and Dumas (Texas Panhandle).
Transloading FAQs
Q: What is transloading? A: Transloading is the process of transferring freight between rail and truck. It allows businesses without direct rail access to benefit from rail economics by moving freight via truck for the first or last mile.
Q: What commodities can be transloaded? A: TNW handles liquid bulk (fuels, chemicals, oils), dry bulk (grain, aggregates, feed), and various industrial commodities across manufacturing, energy, agriculture, construction, and distribution sectors.
Q: Where are TNW's transloading facilities? A: TNW Logistics operates transloading facilities in Etter (BNSF Premier Transload Site), Gonzales, and Brownwood, with strategic access to the Texas Triangle.
Storage FAQs
Q: What is storage-in-transit (SIT)? A: Storage-in-transit allows railcars to be staged temporarily during their journey, optimizing supply chain timing, managing inventory flow, and reducing demurrage costs.
Q: How much railcar storage capacity does TNW have? A: TNW operates the largest private railcar storage capacity in North America, with 12,000+ spaces at TXNW and 4,500+ spaces at TXGN.
Q: Can TNW store both loaded and empty cars? A: Yes. TNW provides secure storage for loaded cars (hazmat and non-hazmat) and empty cars, with flexible short-term and long-term options.