Rail Transportation Consulting

We solve rail transportation challenges. We specialize in rail transportation solutions by providing the level of expertise, data, analytics, working knowledge and collaboration required to drive positive results in your transportation and logistics network.

Our Consulting Services

We specialize in rail transportation solutions by providing the level of expertise, data, analytics, working knowledge and collaboration required to drive positive results in your transportation and logistics network. Our consulting efforts are led by an extremely experienced team and supplemented by industry experts as we need them. This approach creates an accretive knowledge base to solving complex issues.

Tealinc offers strategic consulting to assist clients build robust, economical transportation solutions. Our clients rely on our expertise to develop market studies, risk analysis, operational efficiency audits, rail build outs, rail car mechanical inspections, compliance and general administrative management.

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Samples of our work

New To Rail

Many times a company will truck product significant distances at high transportation costs simply because the barriers to entry on rail are challenging. Let’s face it trucks are easy to use. We work thru the complexities of converting to rail and model all the costs so you can make an informed decision and understand the generally positive impact rail can make in your transportation cost structure. We also don’t leave you hanging. We work thru all the required agreements be they track leases, sighting yards, rate agreements, providing railcars for lease, etc.

Rail Operations Track Buildouts

We’ve led many rail operations track buildouts from design of the internal operational and logistics flow requirements to collaborating with engineering firms to working thru the railroad process to bring an acceptable design to fruition.

Understanding Cycle Times

Know how fast your railcars move in a particular lane? Not sure why you’re receiving a bunch of demurrage bills? Understanding cycle time components on railcars is important. We break out each component (load time, loaded time, unload time, empty return time, etc.) and understand where the delays are at, where there are railcars bunching up, where there are railcars setting over X days and what’s causing them and determine how to fix them. We then walk thru the implementation plan to drive down delays and reduce demurrage bills.

Rate Research

Sometimes all you need is a freight rate. We can do that and generally field new rate research requests at the rate of one a week.

Expanding Rail Operations

One of our areas of expertise is expansion of rail operations. We have clients that want to tap new markets and aren’t quite sure of how to go about putting all the pieces together. An example would be an aggregate operation in California wants to expand their reach to the growing housing, road and services markets. We understand this market and find rail served sites that work for the volumes, negotiate rail rates with the carriers, design the unload operations and led the completion of all contractual requirements. If required, we also put the management and operations in place to insure a smooth operation.

Rail Mechanical Inspections

We have inhouse mechanical expertise that is unrivaled. We use that expertise and a network of mechanical inspectors that have been vetted by us to conduct railcar mechanical inspections. We have a stringent in-depth process which we use to insure a complete inspection. We also extensively research railcars to determine Equipment Health Management System (EHMS) notifications, WILD detectors for wheels, THD for trucks, maintenance advisories and UMLER information (e.g. air brake test dates) before we ever look at a railcar so we have an idea of what we’re going to see before we even look.

Market Studies

Want to know what you’re up against in the competitive business world? We do many market studies where we research competitive alternatives to your business, benchmark their transportation rates and thru collaboration with our clients determine commodity or product spreads to help determine market positioning.

Multi Modal Rate Studies

Have an option in freight providers? We can compare rail, truck and water borne transportation options or a combination thereof to determine least cost transportation and handling options.

As someone who has not done this before this quickly became a significant learning curve.  Having the check issued to purchase the cars was the easy part of the process.  It was much appreciated and a relief having the Tealinc team support our Company in this process long after the check was in the bank. Thanks Again!

-Dave L.

Our company owns and operates a hazardous and radioactive waste facility. Due to our remote location and longer distances from our customers, rail transportation is the most economical transportation method we have. We have worked with Tealinc since 2004 and have continued to work with them since then. Tealinc advised us on rail improvements and upgrades that resulted in the award of a cleanup contract. Tealinc was a trusted advisor to our company from the initial proposal submitted in 2004  through the contract award in 2007 and they continue to assist us today as the rail improvements are being constructed. Tealinc’s knowledge of the industry and equipment is a great benefit to our company and allow us to provide robust, economical transportation solutions to our customers. There are a lot of consultant to choose from with a variety of experience, but our company is glad we selected Tealinc as our rail improvement advisor.

-Rodney B.

Freight logistics by railcar is a very complicated equation.  Unless you understand the “ins” and “outs” of this industry, you could end up at several roadblocks.  That is until we came across Tealinc’s consulting services that we were able to understand the necessary steps to accomplish using railcar for our freight needs. Tealinc made it easy to do business with them.  They spelled out the action items they would take and the deliverables for using their consulting services.  They were very professional and responsive when I have had questions about the project.  They did what they said they would do and completed within the time-frame they proposed.  I would highly recommend their services.  They are a great group to work with.

– Artie S.

Darell Luther, Tealinc’s Founder and CEO, has been our rail consultant for the past 3 years. His knowledge and experience with rail have been very beneficial to us as he has assisted us with locating railcars, creating scopes for railcar repairs, has reviewed and offered assistance with railyard layouts, track configuration and rail contracts. I highly recommend Darell and the team at Tealinc can be trusted to assist with your project needs.

– Dan K.

Our company is a research firm that found itself with the necessity to ship large tonnages of proprietary zeolite from Nevada to Texas for use in the company’s patented well cement technology. While good at technology development, our company had no knowledge or experience with rail transportation. Fortunately, an associate recommended Tealinc to help with our rail shipment requirements. Tealinc was instrumental in our economic planning for rail shipment and provided expert guidance in the complicated issues of rates and Rules. Tealinc went a step further and met with our client in our behalf and even designed an unloading system at the delivery industrial complex. We lease our railcars from Tealinc and found Tealinc to be receptive to our unique fleet constraints which has led to the positive impression that Tealinc cares about what we do.

– George A.