Road & Rail Freight Services You Can Trust

You need transport that’s reliable, fast, and efficient. Gateway Cargo delivers road and rail freight services designed to keep your goods moving smoothly across the UK, Europe, and beyond. You choose how far we go — door-to-door, terminal-to-terminal, or part of a multimodal route.

We handle everything: route planning, customs, emissions reporting, and live tracking. You stay informed, your cargo stays on schedule.

Why Choose Road & Rail Freight?

Road and rail freight form the backbone of inland logistics. Together they connect ports, warehouses, and cities — keeping supply chains efficient and affordable.

In 2024, the road freight market reached USD 2.2 trillion globally, with projected annual growth of 5.2 % through 2034. (gminsights.com)
Rail freight, meanwhile, moved 45 billion tonne-kilometres in the UK and over 400 billion in the EU, cutting emissions by more than 70% compared to road on long-distance routes. (eurostat.ec.europa.eu)

Using both modes gives you flexibility, cost control, and a smaller carbon footprint. You can move heavy cargo efficiently without relying on a single transport option.

Our Road Freight Services

Full Truckload (FTL)

When your shipment fills a full truck, FTL is the best option. You get a dedicated vehicle, faster delivery, and minimal handling. Our team plans routes carefully to reduce transit time and risk.

Less Than Truckload (LTL)

For smaller consignments, we consolidate loads with other customers. You only pay for the space you use. You still get full tracking, accurate timing, and transparent pricing.

Intermodal (Road + Rail)

We combine road and rail freight to deliver lower costs and emissions. Road handles the first and last miles; rail takes care of the long-distance haul. This setup improves reliability and sustainability without compromising speed.

Door-to-Door or Terminal Delivery

You choose how we deliver. We can collect from your warehouse and deliver to your customer’s door, or you can drop off and collect at designated depots.

Our Rail Freight Solutions

Rail freight is ideal for heavy, bulk, or high-volume shipments that don’t require the urgency of air or the cost of road-only delivery. It’s one of the most energy-efficient modes of transport, producing up to 76% less CO₂ per tonne-kilometre than road freight.

At Gateway Cargo, we integrate rail freight into multimodal routes, giving you better options for both long and regional distances. You get predictable transit times, fewer congestion risks, and a cleaner supply chain.

We coordinate schedules, manage container transfers between road and rail, and provide the same track-and-trace visibility you’d expect from any of our services.

Rail is dependable, scalable, and environmentally smart — a key part of modern logistics.

Tracking, Visibility & Carbon Reporting

Every shipment you send comes with visibility. Our Track & Trace system shows you where your cargo is in real time — whether on the road, at a terminal, or on a train.

You also receive verified carbon emissions data for each shipment. We calculate both well-to-tank and tank-to-wheel emissions, so you can report or offset accurately.

This transparency helps you meet sustainability targets and make informed choices on cost, time, and environmental impact.

How It Works

  1. Get a Quote – Provide pickup and delivery details, weight, and timing. We return costed options for FTL, LTL, or rail.

  2. Book Your Shipment – Approve the route and transport type. We confirm space with our carriers.

  3. Pickup & Transit – We handle loading, customs, and monitoring. You track everything in real time.

  4. Delivery & Confirmation – Your shipment arrives on schedule. We send delivery proof and an emissions summary.

It’s straightforward, transparent, and efficient.

Why Gateway Cargo

  • End-to-end management: From pickup to delivery, you deal with one point of contact.

  • Trusted carriers: We work only with verified partners.

  • Accurate tracking: Real-time updates keep you informed.

  • Sustainability built in: You receive carbon data automatically.

  • Multimodal options: Combine road and rail for the most efficient outcome.

You save time, money, and emissions — without losing reliability.

Road & Rail Freight Trends (2024–2025)

  • Contract rates for European road freight rose slightly in Q4 2024, while fuel costs remained volatile. (iru.org)

  • Driver shortages reached 426,000 positions unfilled across Europe in 2024.

  • Rail operators expanded container capacity by 8.1%, driven by green-logistics demand. (statista.com)

  • Combined road-rail routes cut average delivery costs by up to 12% for distances over 800 km.

These trends show why flexibility matters. Using both modes reduces your exposure to cost swings and improves resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What’s the difference between FTL and LTL?
FTL gives you a dedicated truck for your cargo. LTL combines shipments from multiple customers in one truck, reducing cost but adding brief consolidation time.

Q2: How accurate are your carbon calculations?
We use verified distance data and emission factors from DEFRA and GHG Protocol. Accuracy stays within ± 5%.

Q3: Can I mix road and rail in one shipment?
Yes. That’s what our intermodal service does — road for local pickup and final delivery, rail for the main leg. It cuts emissions and often reduces costs.

Q4: How long does rail freight take compared to road?
Rail is slower on short routes but faster on long distances due to fewer congestion and rest-time limits. It’s ideal for planned, high-volume shipments.

Q5: Do you handle customs for cross-border rail shipments?
Yes. We manage documentation, permits, and customs at both rail terminals and road crossings.

Q6: What happens if there’s a delay on the rail network?
We monitor schedules continuously. If a delay occurs, we reroute via road or adjust the timeline and update you immediately.

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