Transloading is the process of moving cargo out of an ocean container and into a domestic truck, trailer, or storage — usually near the port. For importers using the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, transloading turns expensive marine containers around fast and consolidates freight for cheaper inland shipping.
Why importers transload
Marine containers are costly to hold, and shipping lines charge per-diem when you keep them. Transloading near the ports lets you empty the box quickly, return it, and reload the goods into 53-foot domestic trailers that carry more freight per mile inland.
When it makes sense
- You're shipping cargo beyond Southern California
- You want to consolidate multiple containers into fewer trailers
- You need to avoid per-diem on marine equipment
- You're feeding inventory into a fulfillment operation
Doing it near the port
A Commerce, CA facility minutes from the terminals can devan a container, transload it, and either store or dispatch the freight the same day — keeping the cold chain or the delivery schedule intact.
