The European equivalent of carload freight, where individual freight cars are loaded by different shippers and assembled into mixed trains at marshalling yards. North American railroads refer to this operational model exclusively as loose car or carload traffic, distinguishing it from bulk unit trains.
Heard on the job
We handle mostly unit trains now, but the shortline still relies heavily on individual carload traffic, or what the overseas guys call wagonload.
Do not mix it up with
- Carload: Carload is the North American term; wagonload is the European equivalent.