Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an outbound shipping container for transport on an outbound train. The method includes the steps of: 1) providing a driver with a pre-assigned buffer in which to place the outbound container; 2) confirming, with the driver at the pre-assigned buffer, that the outbound container is to be placed in that buffer; 3) securing the outbound container in a containment cavity of the pre-assigned buffer alongside a train track; and 4) elevating, within the buffer, the outbound container from a truck chassis, thereby freeing up the driver and the chassis to proceed to another destination.

Abstract: An inline terminal system (500) is disclosed. It includes the steps of: placing (502) container travel reservations to a desired remote destination with customer service; assigning (504) a corridor directing the customer as to where to deliver the container including a block of pathways; delivering (506) the container to one of the pathways in the corridor, at a track side location; and loading (508) the container on a support structure of the pathway in the corridor. The system provides an efficient, effective and semi-automated pre-blocking method, such that each pre-blocked group of containers has a similar desired remote destination, so that the containers can be easily loaded on a block of rail cars.