Abstract: A method of preparing goods for transport is disclosed. A covering for the goods is provided that includes a wrap portion removably carried by a storage rack and a cap portion removably attached to the wrap portion, wherein the cap portion includes an attachment member. A force transmission member is secured to the attachment member of the cap portion and the cap portion is removed from the wrap portion. The force transmission member is moved to position the cap portion atop the goods. The wrap portion is removed from the storage rack, wrapped about the goods, and secured to the cap portion.

Abstract: An outer box connector (OBC) (100) and methods (200 and 250) are shown and described. The OBC (100) can include: a body (102) having an outer surface (104) and an inner surface (106); a first anchor (108) and a second anchor (110) extending inwardly from the inner surface (104); a lever (112) extending substantially outwardly from the outer surface (104), the lever (112) being connected to a distal portion (114) of the first anchor (108); and the first anchor (108) including an unlocked condition (116) adapted for allowing insertion in and removal from a corner fitting (120) and a locked condition (118) for locking the first anchor 108 with a corner fitting (12). Advantageously, the OBC (100) and methods allow simplified container handling and connection and disconnection, in transportation applications.

Abstract: A distribution system (100) is disclosed. The system includes the steps of: providing (105) a multi-level pathfinder with a containment cavity having a ground level cell and an elevated level cell; configuring (110) the containment cavity to receive containers; and loading (115) the containment cavity with a first container and moving the first container vertically to allow a second loading of a second container. This system provides a simple, robust and efficient automatable buffer to load and unload, a container between a chassis and rail or port terminal and/or at distribution hub.

Abstract: A method for tracking a shipping container in a freight yard that includes the steps of: (a) assigning a specific temporary storage position to the container; (b) confirming, upon arrival of the container at a temporary storage position, that the position is the assigned specific temporary storage position; (c) recording a container serial number and an identification number for the specific temporary storage position once the container is placed in the specific temporary storage position; and (d) recording a date and a time that the container was placed in the specific temporary storage position.

Abstract: An inline terminal system (300), which includes the steps of: (i) transporting (302) a first container with a cargo via an inbound railroad car to a terminal having a plurality of train rails; (ii) picking and placing (304) the first container from the railroad car to a track side location having at least one buffer in proximity to the plurality of train rails, including: (a) rotating the first container at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (b) positioning the at least one buffer substantially adjacent to the train rails, at the track side location, at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (iii) moving (306) the first container via a tractor truck to a desired location for unloading. This system provides a simple, robust and efficient method to load, and in the reverse unload, a container on a chassis or rail car, respectively.

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: A method for preparing an inbound container for transfer from an inbound train to a final destination is disclosed. The method involves providing a crane operator in a railroad terminal with a pre-assigned buffer amongst a plurality of buffers along side a train track in which to place the inbound container; recording the time the crane operator places the inbound container in the pre-assigned buffer where the pre-assigned buffer is comprised of a plurality of vertical supports, independent of an overhead lifting device and defining a containment cavity; sensing that the inbound container has been placed in its pre-assigned buffer; securing the inbound container in a containment cavity of the pre-assigned buffer; confirming with a customer service information management system that the inbound container is delivered to its pre-assigned buffer; and transmitting via the customer service information management system, a message that the inbound container is available for further transfer.

Abstract: A transfer method (600) is disclosed. It includes: delivering (602) a container via a rail car on train rails to a terminal; assigning (604) a corridor as to where to deliver the container, the corridor including a plurality of pathways in proximity to a track side location, each pathway including a containment cavity configured to receive a first handoff of the container from a crane to a first pathway and provide a second handoff of the container from the first pathway to a hauler, the plurality of pathways being substantially adjacent, aligned and in parallel and being configured at an angle of about 15 degrees or more to the train rails; picking (606) with a crane the container from a rail car and placing the container in the containment cavity comprising the first handoff in the corridor; and handing-off the container in the containment cavity of a pathway to a hauler comprising the second handoff, for facilitating transporting the container from the terminal to a desired remote destination via a hauler.

Abstract: A method of preparing goods for transport is disclosed. A covering for the goods is provided that includes a wrap portion removably carried by a storage rack and a cap portion removably attached to the wrap portion, wherein the cap portion includes an attachment member. A force transmission member is secured to the attachment member of the cap portion and the cap portion is removed from the wrap portion. The force transmission member is moved to position the cap portion atop the goods. The wrap portion is removed from the storage rack, wrapped about the goods, and secured to the cap portion.

Abstract: A transfer method (100) is disclosed. It includes: transporting (102) with a motorized vehicle a container on a chassis and aligning the container with a buffer; raising (104) the container with a support structure comprising an elevator connected to the chassis, from a resting position to a lifted position a predetermined height above the chassis; entering (106) a containment cavity of the buffer while in the lifted position, the buffer including a container stand including shelves located on sides on the containment cavity, to allow travel in and out of the containment cavity, the shelves include movable support pads with a retracted position configured to allow unobstructed travel in and out of the containment cavity and an extended position configured to support a container with the movable support pads on the sides on the containment cavity.

Abstract: A mosaic panel kit (10) and method (200) is described. The method (200) can include: installing (202) wall panels (12) to an interior surface (14) of an enclosure (16) nose (18) and walls (20); interconnecting (204) each wall panel (12) with an adjacent wall panel; and providing (206) a ceiling panel (40) over cargo (42) to be protected. The kit (10) and method (200) provide a simple and effective way to protect temperature sensitive products and/or cargos, from ambient temperature fluctuations.

Abstract: An outer box connector (OBC) (100) and methods (200 and 250) are shown and described. The OBC (100) can include: a body (102) having an outer surface (104) and an inner surface (106); a first anchor (108) and a second anchor (110) extending inwardly from the inner surface (104); a lever (112) extending substantially outwardly from the outer surface (104), the lever (112) being connected to a distal portion (114) of the first anchor (108); and the first anchor (108) including an unlocked condition (116) adapted for allowing insertion in and removal from a corner fitting (120) and a locked condition (118) for locking the first anchor 108 with a corner fitting (12). Advantageously, the OBC (100) and methods allow simplified container handling and connection and disconnection, in transportation applications.

Abstract: A distribution system (100) is disclosed. The system includes the steps of: providing (105) a multi-level pathfinder with a containment cavity having a ground level cell and an elevated level cell; configuring (110) the containment cavity to receive containers; and loading (115) the containment cavity with a first container and moving the first container vertically to allow a second loading of a second container. This system provides a simple, robust and efficient automatable buffer to load and unload, a container between a chassis and rail or port terminal and/or at distribution hub.

Abstract: A hub and distribution system (600) is disclosed. It comprises the steps of: delivering (602) a container via rail to a terminal; assigning (604) a corridor as to where to deliver the container, the corridor including a block of pathways in proximity to a track side location; picking (606) the container from a rail car and placing (608) it in one of the pathways in the corridor; and transporting (610) the container to a desired remote destination. The system provides an efficient, effective and semi-automated post-blocking method, such that each post-blocked group of containers has a similar desired remote destination, so that the containers can be easily located, loaded, handed-off and transported to a desired location.

Abstract: A distribution system (100), which includes the steps of: transporting (102) a container (110) on a chassis (112) of a tractor trailer (114) to and aligning it with a buffer (116); raising (104) the container (110) with a support structure (118) a predetermined height; entering (106) a containment cavity (122) of the buffer (116); and lowering (108) the container (110) on a container stand (124) of the buffer (116), to allow the chassis (112) to exit while allowing the container (110) to remain. The system is simple in construction, robust and provides for efficiencies in the transportation and logistics industry, by allowing drivers and distribution personnel to work independently, and allowing drivers to drop off containers at off peak hours to frees them up to go to their next 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.

Abstract: An inline terminal system (300), which includes the steps of: (i) transporting (302) a first container with a cargo via an inbound railroad car to a terminal having a plurality of train rails; (ii) picking and placing (304) the first container from the railroad car to a track side location having at least one buffer in proximity to the plurality of train rails, including: (a) rotating the first container at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (b) positioning the at least one buffer substantially adjacent to the train rails, at the track side location, at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (iii) moving (306) the first container via a tractor truck to a desired location for unloading. This system provides a simple, robust and efficient method to load, and in the reverse unload, a container on a chassis or rail car, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inline terminal, hub and distribution system (200). It comprises the steps of; transporting (202) a first container with a cargo via an inbound railroad car to a terminal having a plurality of train rails; carrying (204) the first container from the railroad car to a track side location in proximity to the plurality of train rails; moving (206) the first container via a tractor truck to an inbound dock of a distribution warehouse; emptying (208) at least some of the cargo in proximity to the inbound dock in the distribution warehouse for sorting; loading (210) a second container located at an outbound dock of the distribution warehouse; trucking (212) the second container from the outbound dock via the first or a second tractor trailer to a desired location.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inline terminal, hub and distribution system. It comprises the steps of: transporting (102) a container to an inbound dock of a distribution center; emptying (104) the contents of the container in proximity to the inbound dock; sorting (106) the contents of the container; loading (108) an outbound container at an outbound dock of the distribution center; transporting (110) the outbound container to a track side location; loading (112) the outbound container onto a railroad car for transportation to a desired location.

Abstract: A cargo blanket suspension system for a container comprises: a generally flat, horizontal framework of connected bars positioned within a cargo compartment of the cargo container. A cable system is connected to the framework to suspend the framework from or adjacent to the ceiling of the cargo compartment, to support a cargo blanket carried on the framework, and to permit raising and lowering of the framework and cargo blanket.