When it comes to finding sustainable solutions in logistics, the focus is on implementing activities that have little impact on environmental resources. In this respect, reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains a pillar of the ecological cause. With this in mind, many companies are now turning to a combined mode of transport : piggyback transportation.
A mixture of road and rail transport, piggyback transportation is also known as combined road-rail transport. This mode combines the flexibility of road with the advantages of rail, whether for national or international transport. The principle is based on the first and last kilometers of freight transported by trucks on trains designed for this type of traffic. It is winning over more and more companies who want to commit to sustainable, clean logistics. We explain what this environmentally-friendly mode of transport is all about.
- What are the advantages of piggyback transport?
- piggyback transportation: its challenges and limitations
- How does a TMS facilitate the integration of piggyback transport?
What are the benefits of piggyback transport?
Cost savings
One of the advantages of combined road-rail transport is that it keeps transport costs under control. Fuel costs are limited to pre- and post-carriage to rail hubs. piggyback transportation is used over long distances, even nationally. Combining road and rail enables us to mutualize expenses, saving a large part of the road's operating costs, since most of the journey is made by train.
If we compare combined road-rail transport with traditional road transport alone, we can expect savings on fuel, tolls, labor (no driving hours during the rail journey), or vehicle wear and tear. And that's not counting the estimated gains in terms of lead times, reaching distant destinations, customer satisfaction and improved profitability and competitiveness.
A virtuous gesture for the environment
Piggyback transport has a positive impact on the environment, as it emits fewer greenhouse gases than total road transport. It helps reduce CO2 emissions by around 80% compared with road transport over the same distance. Rail traction has an impact depending on whether it is electric or diesel-powered, but generally remains much less polluting than road transport alone. The SNCF uses around 90% electric locomotives, with the direct effect of 8 times less air pollution and 14 times less CO2 emissions than road transport.
Using combined road-rail transport reduces carbon footprints and helps companies align their activities with sustainable development objectives. This method fits perfectly into the framework of green logistics, in particular by meeting the United Nations' objective 13 on combating climate change.
Greater efficiency and reliability
If a truck can carry around 25 tonnes of goods, just imagine what a train with dozens of trailers can carry. This high payload capacity is even more appreciated over long distances, as it is combined with fast turnaround to shorten delivery times. What's more, operations can manage these times more easily, as train routes are timed to strict schedules and remain reliable, with very few contingencies.
Moving truck trailers with trains also relieves congestion on the road network, by reducing the number of vehicles on the road. The benefits are less pollution, less track damage, less congestion, smoother traffic flow and lower accident risks.
Piggyback transportation: its challenges and limitations
The need for specific infrastructures
The use of combined road-rail transport requires specific infrastructures, such as rail terminals and lines adapted to this type of traffic. These infrastructures entail heavy costs, not only when they are built, but also during their maintenance. The SNCF bears the cost of modernizing the rail network, but the State's low level of investment to support network maintenance, coupled with rising energy costs, means that the French system is falling behind its European neighbors.
Faced with this situation, some local authorities and private companies are assuming part of the costs. This is particularly the case when these companies own a railway branch line, i.e. a track that gives them access to the national network. They must therefore manage part of the track connecting to the national rail network, the other part being managed by SNCF Réseau. Aid and subsidies provided by local authorities depend on the regions' ability to finance this type of investment.
Less flexible solution
piggyback transportation can suffer from a lack of flexibility due to the geographical location of loading and unloading terminals. France has some 100 rail terminals, with over 8,000 kilometers of track, dedicated to freight goods. Despite being located in the country's major industrial and logistics zones, it can be complicated to opt for piggyback transport, for reasons of accessibility. However, it remains a strategic choice, particularly over long distances. Rail freeways exist in France, but also serve neighboring countries such as Italy and Spain. These lines don't stop at France or Europe alone. There are also connections outside the continent. For example, the so-called New Silk Road, which links China and Europe, is growing in importance thanks to rail. This route was developed in the wake of the health crisis, in response to port restrictions and sea freight congestion. Rail freight can carry large quantities of goods, albeit smaller than sea freight, and is greatly appreciated for its speed.
piggyback transportation is also fully compatible with other modes of transport, such as combined road-river or road-sea. The new terminals take this into account, offering increased tri-modality for greater flexibility and versatility. With new equipment, these latest-generation terminals meet specific transport needs, such as hazardous materials or refrigerated crates. Tri-modal operators are adapting their offers and their equipment to these new challenges: gantries, sidings, road access lanes, cranes, etc. All these resources have been put in place to meet these new challenges. All these resources have been put in place to develop the rail solution, for the benefit of cleaner, more efficient goods movements.
How does a TMS facilitate the integration of piggyback transport?
Computer software such as TMS (Transport Management System) is dedicated to companies' transport activities. They manage every aspect of the customer/carrier relationship, from choosing a service provider to issuing the final invoice. The TMS we have developed at Shiptify is capable of managing all modes of transport simultaneously, and of combining them. Like a control tower, our TMS is able to manage the flow of goods, regardless of the mode of transport chosen. This function simplifies the integration of multimodal aspects into the logistics chain, and enables coordination of all transport stages. We're talking here about precise management of each journey, including orders to be placed, documents to be issued and real-time tracking of shipments.
There are other advantages to launching a TMS project for piggyback transport, just to mention a few.
Better planning optimization
Our TMS centralizes information on each shipment. From the data provided for the quotation, to the border crossing points, everything is calculated, archived and then compiled to invoice the transport correctly. Constantly gathering all the information helps decision-making, and gives customers the ability to keep track of their shipments. It's also a way of controlling each mode of transport, by coordinating all the players involved. Data centralization also includes train schedules, terminal capacities, the notion of weight or volume, and so on.
Each route is optimized to ensure smooth, reliable deliveries. The system handles all administrative tasks. Transport orders are transmitted directly to the service provider, with exchange of appropriate documents (e.g. customs).
Improved traceability and communication
As we have seen, TMS systems centralize information such as volume or weight. This capability offers the dual advantage of communicating with both customers and carriers. TMSs canreceive and transmit transport orders via EDI. Our TMS operates in SaaS (Software as a Service) mode, making weight, volume and transit information accessible from any connected screen. This improvement in shipment traceability and order communication boosts supply chain efficiency. With real-time tracking of shipments and increased visibility of the status and condition of goods at every stage of transport, companies are able to respond rapidly to unforeseen circumstances. The TMS facilitates communication between all the players involved in the transport process, ensuring good coordination between them, as well as a reduction in errors.
As you can see, piggyback transport not only meets today's environmental and economic challenges, but also offers many other advantages. These include a reduction in transport costs ( ), a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollution, and the decongestion of roads to improve road safety. The rail-road combination project is particularly appreciated for its ability to load heavy loads and for its speed of execution. It does, however, require major investment in terminals and infrastructure.
Finally, thanks to appropriate digital tools, multimodal integration in the logistics chain is facilitated, with better transmission of information between carriers, terminal managers and customers.
