Exporting commodities to the U.S. for manufacturing involves a complex set of logistics. The goods must be properly loaded and secured in a container for the entire journey. But what about the many instances where the receiver (i.e., U.S.-based manufacturer), due to physical limitations or site restrictions, cannot accept container loads?
This is where transloading services come into play. It involves the transfer of freight from one transportation mode to another at a transload facility, typically at a port, a rail yard or a warehouse hub. Loads are broken down and physically transferred by forklift, crane and muscle to a waiting truck and trailer for the next leg of the journey.
Transloading can prove particularly valuable when it comes to shipment of heavyweight goods. Shippers can save on ocean freight, reducing the number of containers required by taking advantage of heavyweight container loads, which are then broken down into two truck trips. We’ll break it all down to give you a good overview of how it works and the benefits to you.
Many U.S. warehouses and production facilities find receiving freight in a standard dry van or flatbed is much easier. They are more compatible with domestic dock systems and unloading processes. Transloading services also integrate well with broader distribution systems, enabling smoother deliveries into regional DCs or customer facilities.
When overseas suppliers export parts to U.S. manufacturers, especially heavy industrial goods, optimizing the final leg of the journey is critical to cost control and efficiency. Transloading is a strategic tool that offers tremendous value across a wide range of use cases.
For companies bringing heavyweight freight into the U.S., transloading services can be a game changer. It allows them to maximize ocean container payload and simplify delivery to inland customers. By enabling smoother cargo handoffs and more flexible delivery options, transloading makes your entire supply chain more resilient and responsive.
While transloading is often used reactively — for instance, a container that exceeds weight limits on U.S. roads — it offers even greater benefits when used strategically. One highly effective approach is to intentionally load heavier containers for ocean transit, knowing that a transloading step will happen upon arrival in the U.S.
Here's how it works:
This method saves exporters from having to book two ocean containers upfront while still staying compliant with domestic trucking laws. Even with two inland deliveries, the shipper sees a net cost reduction through more efficient container utilization and the reduction in ocean freight. As a bonus, containers are returned more quickly, helping avoid detention fees. This method can easily result in a 20% reduction in freight costs due to fewer containers being utilized to carry the same gross cargo weight.
Shippers may be under the assumption that they must abide by a container gross weight limit of 44,000 lbs. on U.S. highways. But with transloading services, that max can bump up to 57,000 or 58,000 lbs. for the ocean leg – over 30% more cargo by weight – then be split up at the on-dock warehouse for the inland portion.
It is possible to avoid a transloading facility and still utilize a heavy freight shipping strategy. At destination, you simply need to partner with a specialized trucking company with the equipment and special permits to haul heavy containers direct from the port to the final customer.
I.C.E. Transport, an NVOCC with decades of experience in global shipping and logistics, has applied this strategy of heavyweight and transloading successfully across multiple industries and commodities:
Beyond cost savings, transloading offers significant advantages in terms of logistics agility. It acts like a makeshift distribution center at or near the port, giving shippers the ability to store and stage the freight before final delivery. This allows exporters to scale operations or stagger shipments to align with U.S. production schedules.
From a supply chain perspective, transloading also enables better triangulation of delivery assets. Unlike containers, which must return to a port depot, creating costly round trips, vans and flatbeds can continue onto other jobs. This not only reduces costs but also improves asset utilization.
“Quite often a van or a flatbed move will be cheaper overall than a container, because it's not always calculated on a round-trip basis, but more on a triangulated basis,” said Mark Ling, Director of Global Sales for I.C.E. Transport.
While transloading is most often associated with heavyweight freight due to the value it delivers, it does sometimes make sense for more standard payloads in cases where the receiver lacks specific equipment or docks to unload. “There is a benefit, but it’s not seen as frequently,” said Andrew Rozek, President of I.C.E.
Transloading also supports Out-of-Gauge (OOG) cargo that exceeds standard container dimensions. In these cases, cargo may arrive via ocean line on flat racks or open top containers. By transloading to specialized equipment such as low boys, companies can enable inland delivery even when rail or containerized options are impractical due to height or size restrictions.
For example, I.C.E. Transport helps a European company export large crusher parts that arrive at East Coast ports. They are then transloaded onto flatbeds and delivered to manufacturers in the Midwest. This makes it possible to deliver marginal OOG freight without relying on more expensive or restrictive options.
Transloading supports strategies to reduce tariff impact by maximizing cargo per container and minimizing total container count. Fewer ocean shipments mean lower freight costs that help to offset the higher tariff cost.
From a sustainability angle, heavier loads mean fewer total shipments, which in turn means less fuel use and lower carbon emissions. Transloading enables consolidation that reduces the overall transportation footprint, especially when paired with extensive rail and road optimization capabilities.
Transloading is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The best results come from tailoring the transloading strategy to the shipper’s freight type, end destination, and delivery timeline. This is an area where your freight forwarder or NVOCC can add tremendous value.
For example, some ports offer better access to certain inland states and specific modes (flatbed, van, specialized trailer) and are better suited to specific commodities or customer facilities. An experienced logistics partner like I.C.E. Transport can help you evaluate these variables and recommend the most effective plan.
Much more than a practical workaround, transloading provides shippers with a competitive advantage. Whether you’re exporting steel, machinery, packaging, or OOG components, it gives your business the flexibility to optimize payload, streamline delivery, and reduce costs.
By working with a logistics partner that has proven experience in heavyweight, containerized, and specialized cargo, shippers can convert complexity into efficiency and unlock serious value in their U.S.-bound supply chains. I.C.E. Transport, with offices in New Jersey, Poland, Lithuania, and the UK, has the industry knowledge, experience, and broad carrier network to handle every aspect of your transload shipments.
Ready to ship smarter? Talk to the experts at I.C.E. Transport about how transloading can deliver for your business.