About Intermodal Container Shipping

The intermodal container shipping system is tailor made to serve the identity preserved grain industry for global export freight handling. Major intermodal Class one railroads, including Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Canadian Pacific, and Canadian National all serve the five state Midwest Shippers Association region. Most of the major ocean carrier steamship lines serve the region, and many have offices in the Midwest to provide close service to shippers and international buyers of Midwest sourced grain.

Intermodal container shipping is favored by many in the IP grain industry because containers can be loaded with bagged or bulk specialty grain near or at the farm source, sealed for identity preservation, and shipped throughout the system by truck, rail, and ocean going ships to the end destination – all in the same container.

For efficiency and service in handling bulk grains, others will ship via truck and rail to port or intermediary destinations and transload the grain into containers for shipment to the final destination. Transloading facilities and operations provide an important role in the IP grain handling system. A number of Midwest Shippers Association member companies provide transloading services at Pacific Northwest ports and at other locations.
To learn more about the basics of the international intermodal shipping system, go to the World Shipping Council's home page.

• World Shipping Council

• Information for Exporting U.S. Grain in Containers

 

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