Shipper | Case study
Bulk Express Intermodal improves efficiency for water polymer supplier
Key takeaways:
- By shifting long-haul freight to rail, the company freed up drivers for shorter over-the-road routes.
- Bulk intermodal reduced fuel usage, lowered cost per mile and per pound, and delivered a more energy-efficient solution.
- Positioning product near end locations allowed the manufacturer to meet tight, variable demand from water treatment plants and respond more quickly to short lead times.
Polymer manufacturer strives to increase capacity and reduce costs
The largest manufacturer of polyacrylamides in the world supplies water treatment facilities all over the U.S. with water-soluble polymers. The manufacturer sought to increase the number of loads per month it was able to deliver to customers through cost-effective capacity solutions.
Long distance shipments further tightened capacity crunch
Water treatment plants require polymers at a moment’s notice to quickly treat water and meet the ebb and flow of supply and demand. The polymer manufacturer was often stuck between a rock and a hard place, as its main plant is located thousands of miles from some destinations.
The company was using over-the-road transportation to get polymers from its headquarters in Riceboro, Ga., to cities around the U.S. This meant that drivers – a highly valuable resource – were spending days on the road traveling thousands of miles to get water treatment plants the polymers needed.
The polymer manufacturer hoped to find a way to respond quickly to its customers’ short lead times while reducing its own transportation costs.
Bulk Intermodal Express service provides staging, savings and solutions to the capacity strain
Schneider suggested Bulk Intermodal Express to complement its over-the-road service. Schneider Bulk, a combination of intermodal and over-the-road, offers the most long-haul capacity in the chemical market.
The process followed these steps:
- Schneider provides drayage of bulk intermodal containers from the company’s manufacturing headquarters in Georgia to the rail ramp.
- The polymer manufacturer’s products are moved via the railroad in Schneider’s bulk intermodal containers to rail ramps near the final destination.
- In some cases, the product was unloaded and staged within Schneider’s facilities.
Moving bulk intermodal containers over the rails means a driver is not tied up to move that long distance. In fact, it takes about a week for a driver to complete a long truckload move, whereas a driver using bulk intermodal can usually complete several loads within a day. By using Schneider’s Bulk Intermodal Express service, the company dramatically increased capacity while keeping the same number of drivers available for other over-the-road shipments.
The polymer manufacturer has also been able to save money, as less fuel is used with bulk intermodal.
- The better rate per mile and lower transportation costs per pound shipped via bulk intermodal makes it a more sustainable option.
- Intermodal transportation is twice as energy efficient as over-the-road transport – a benefit that not only lowers overall fuel costs but also enhances corporate sustainability initiatives.
Customer increases shipments eight-fold
Schneider’s unique but proven service solution generated outstanding results for the polymer manufacturer, including:
- Increased capacity to haul more over-the-road shipments.
- Started with one to five loads/month and increased to 40 loads/month.
- Saved money and reduced environmental impact with lower fuel usage.
- Staged product closer to customer, which allowed the company to meet the customers’ short lead time requirements.
- Maintained flawless safety record in bulk intermodal shipments since 2012.
With the switch to Schneider’s Bulk Intermodal Express service, the manufacturer was able to lower costs and improve capacity, ensuring its water polymers make it to treatment facilities safely, quickly and efficiently. Impressed by these results, the company has expanded its bulk intermodal coverage.
Read more to learn how Bulk Express Intermodal can drive down costs and increase capacity for your business
