Analysis · Logistics · Infrastructure
Freight transport in Chile: the challenge of a system highly dependent on roads
Chile has built much of its logistics system on road transport.
That model has been functional for decades, but today it is beginning to show structural limitations
in congestion, road safety, costs, and resilience. The challenge is not to replace the truck,
but rather move towards a more balanced system, where the railway plays a complementary role.
in the corridors with the highest demand.
A system focused on a single mode
In Chile, a large part of land freight transport is carried out by road, which
This creates increasing pressure on road infrastructure. This situation is partly due to...
due to the historically low participation of the railway and the absence of competitive alternatives
to move large volumes over long distances.
When a logistics network relies heavily on a single mode of transport, it loses capacity
of adaptation. The road begins to absorb flows and functions for which it was not always intended.
designed in terms of intensity, frequency, and structural load.
Congestion in strategic corridors
The sustained growth of road freight transport has intensified congestion in
key routes, especially in port access areas, industrial zones and metropolitan environments.
The interaction between private vehicles, buses, and heavy cargo complicates road operations and
It reduces the efficiency of the system.
In high-demand contexts, small disruptions can trigger cumulative effects.
regarding travel times, logistical compliance, and operational continuity. This affects both the
supply chain as well as the general functioning of territorial mobility.
Road safety under a required system
As roads operate close to their capacity, safety margins are reduced.
Intensive coexistence between different types of vehicles increases the complexity of the network.
particularly in high-traffic, long-distance corridors.
The central point is not to assign responsibility to a specific mode, but to recognize that a system
Highly stressed roads create more demanding conditions for road safety. Diversify modes of transport
transport helps to reduce that structural pressure.
The limitations of the current model
Road transport offers flexibility and territorial coverage, but it has limitations
when it must sustainably absorb large volumes of cargo over long distances. Expand
Capacity exclusively through road infrastructure implies high costs, greater occupation of
soil and increased externalities.
Therefore, the most robust logistics systems operate under multimodal logics, where each mode
It fulfills a specific function according to distance, volume, efficiency and type of operation.
The railway as a structural complement
Rail can handle a significant portion of freight demand in high-volume corridors,
especially for medium and long distances. Its main value is not in replacing the truck,
but rather to complement the system and allow for a more efficient distribution of loads.
In an integrated scheme, the train can act as a hub for large logistical flows, while
Road transport retains its essential role in capillary distribution and local connections
and the last mile.
Decongest roads and improve efficiency
Incorporating the railway into the national logistics matrix allows for a reduction of pressure on
saturated routes, better organize the operation of strategic corridors and improve the performance of
the existing infrastructure. It can also contribute to reducing logistics costs and optimizing times
and strengthen the system's resilience to contingencies.
More than a one-off improvement, it is a reconfiguration of the transport system towards a model
more balanced, where road and rail operate in a complementary manner.
Towards a more balanced logistics system in Chile
Economic growth, the expansion of trade, and the increased mobility of goods demand
a transport network capable of responding with greater efficiency and less vulnerability. Maintaining a
Excessive reliance on road transport limits that capacity.
Moving towards multimodal logistics does not imply weakening a sector, but rather strengthening the system.
complete. In this context, railway development appears as a strategic element for decongesting.
roads, improve road safety conditions and build a better transport infrastructure
robust for the long term.
