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Accelerate port-to-shelf delivery with Kuehne+Nagel’s transload services.

Seamlessly integrate sea freight with landside execution, including drayage, transload and intermodal freight.


Accelerated cargo transitions that transform your supply chain, minimizing costly demurrage and bottlenecks.

Transloading is the critical link between ocean freight and inland distribution, ensuring your cargo moves seamlessly from port to shelf. Take advantage of seamless systems integration for accuracy and speed.

Whether you’re navigating seasonal demand spikes, mitigating port congestion, or revising your logistics strategy, our transload services help optimize flow and reduce delays.

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Transition quickly from port to shelf

Speed matters. Our transload solutions minimize dwell time and expedite cargo movement from vessel to inland transport. With proactive scheduling and asset-backed drayage, you avoid costly terminal delays and reduce demurrage and detention charges.

During peak periods, rapid cargo evacuation ensures your inventory reaches distribution centres and retail shelves without delay. With these integrated services, your goods arrive on time for promotions, replenishment, and customer commitments.

Transloading bridges ocean freight with inland transport through a single, coordinated operation. With optimized FCL-to-53' trailer conversions, you gain reliability, reduce handling risks, and eliminate fragmented handoffs.

With myKN, you get complete visibility into your cargo’s journey from port to final mile. Real-time alerts, performance dashboards, and TMS integration help you control speed, cost, and sustainability targets.

Benefit from multiple transloading service options

Each option describes a different method for managing your international inbound containers at the port.


DC bypass

Containers are broken down at the port and sent as individual shipments to their destination.


Postponement distribution

Containers are booked to the port. While the goods are in transit, an allocation is provided. The goods are then broken down from the inbound and delivered by allocation.


Swing loads

Containers are broken down and “swung” into domestic truckloads to the destination. This method reduces inland costs, bringing great cost savings.


Sort loads

Containers are broken down at port and loaded into multiple outbound truckloads with multiple destinations


Additional services

Port of Entry (POE), Palletization and Domestic consolidation

North America Kuehne+Nagel transload


Market footprint

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Frequently asked questions


Transload involves shifting cargo from ocean containers to domestic trailers, often at near-port facilities. Cross-dock typically refers to domestic trailer-to-trailer moves.

Kuehne+Nagel Transload provides and manages port drayage to ensure yard coordination and labor efficiency.

Typically, three containers consolidate into 2 x 53’ trailers. This reduces inland moves and cost. For comparison, a 40’ container has 65 cubic meters of utilization, whereas a 53’ trailer has 102 cubic metres because it’s wider and taller.

Long-term pricing is customized per customer. Spot pricing is available but may carry higher costs due to operational setup.

First, the vessel departs for the destination port. It arrives at port, then containers move on a port bill of lading. Next, the transloader facilitates drayage to the transload facility. Then, the cargo is repacked and loaded onto the 53’ trailers, ready for long-haul transport over the road or intermodal. Finally, the cargo is delivered to the distribution centre.

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