What is piggyback transportation in railways?

Piggyback transportation in railways involves carrying road vehicles, such as semi-trailers or trucks, on specialized railway wagons. It combines the long-haul efficiency of trains with the local delivery flexibility of trucks.

What is the difference between TOFC and COFC?

TOFC stands for Trailer on Flatcar (moving the trailer with its wheels), while COFC stands for Container on Flatcar (moving only the shipping container without wheels/chassis).

What is a Rolling Highway?

A Rolling Highway (RoLa) is a specific type of piggyback transport where the entire truck, including the tractor unit and trailer, is driven onto a low-floor train, and the drivers travel in a passenger coach.

Road on Rail: The Efficiency of Piggyback Transportation

Combine the flexibility of trucking with the efficiency of rail. Explore Piggyback Transportation, TOFC mechanics, and how moving trailers on trains reduces highway congestion.

December 11, 2025 5:56 am

What is Piggyback Transportation?

Piggyback transportation refers to the logistics practice of carrying one form of transportation on the back of another. In the railway context, it specifically describes the movement of road vehicles—such as semi-trailers or entire trucks—on top of specialized railway wagons. This method, technically known as TOFC (Trailer on Flatcar), allows freight to cover long distances via rail while retaining the “last-mile” flexibility of road transport.

How It Works

Unlike standard container transport where only the box is moved, piggyback involves driving or lifting the road chassis onto the train.

TOFC (Trailer on Flatcar): Only the semi-trailer is lifted onto a “pocket wagon” by a crane or reach stacker. The truck cab stays behind.
Rolling Highway (RoLa): The entire truck (cab and trailer) drives onto a low-floor train. The drivers travel in a separate passenger carriage on the same train.

The Strategic Advantages

Piggyback transportation is a cornerstone of sustainable logistics. It significantly reduces highway congestion and lowers CO2 emissions by shifting heavy freight from road to rail. For logistics companies, it offers a solution to driver shortages and strict regulations on driving hours, as the time spent on the train counts as a rest period for drivers in RoLa systems.

Comparison: Piggyback (TOFC) vs. Container Transport (COFC)

While both are intermodal, they serve different logistical needs.

Feature	Piggyback (TOFC)	Container (COFC)
Cargo Unit	Semi-trailer (with wheels)	ISO Container (no wheels)
Deadweight	Higher (includes chassis/tires)	Lower (max cargo efficiency)
Equipment Needed	Pocket Wagons / Ramps	Standard Flatcars / Pin locks
Flexibility	High (Ready for road immediately)	Medium (Needs chassis at destination)

Infrastructure Challenges

Implementing piggyback services requires attention to the Loading Gauge (the maximum height and width allowed through tunnels and under bridges). Because a trailer sits on top of a wagon, the combined height is significant. Railways often use “Pocket Wagons,” where the trailer wheels sit low between the bogies, to ensure the train fits within standard tunnel clearances (such as the P400 gauge in Europe).