Meiken Kogyo, a Wood Construction Material Manufacturer, Fully Introduces Railway Transport Utilizing JR Freight for Stable Supply of Laminated Timber to Kanto

In the supply of materials that support home building, changes in the logistics environment such as soaring fuel prices and truck driver shortages have become significant challenges. Addressing these, Meiken Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 1209 Katsuyama, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture) has fully introduced railway transportation utilizing JR Freight, in addition to conventional truck and trailer transport, to build a transportation system that balances stable supply with environmental consideration. Full operation began in May 2026.

**An Era to "Re-select" Transportation Methods — Modal Shift with Truck × Rail**

Truck transport remains the primary method for material logistics, playing a crucial role in detailed coordination with sites and flexible responses. However, in recent years, structural changes such as truck driver shortages and rising fuel costs have made it difficult to continue material transportation under the same conventional methods.

On the other hand, for long-distance and mass transportation, utilizing railway transport can be effective in terms of both stability and environmental load reduction. The concept of modal shift, which involves combining multiple transportation methods rather than simply replacing one, is becoming a realistic option for reviewing the ideal state of material supply in the housing and construction sectors.

**What is Modal Shift?**

It is a concept that aims to optimize overall logistics by combining multiple transportation methods such as railways and domestic shipping, in addition to conventional truck transport.

In recent years, it has been promoted through public-private partnerships as a measure to not only reduce environmental impact but also address transport capacity shortages and ensure stable logistics networks.

*Reference: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website (https://www.mlit.go.jp/seisakutokatsu/freight/modalshift.html)*

Given this background, Meiken Kogyo has now begun efforts in railway transportation utilizing JR Freight.

In this initiative, targeting materials for precut factories in the Kanto area, a trial shipment was conducted in March 2026 to verify transport quality and scheduling. Following this, full-scale operation transitioned in May. Through modal shift by dividing roles between truck and railway transport, the company aims to achieve both stable supply of building materials and reduction of environmental load associated with transportation.

**Supply Responsibility as a Building Material Manufacturer and Value Provision Including Logistics**

The modal shift to railway transportation is characterized by its ability to reduce CO2 emissions compared to truck transportation. This initiative is expected to reduce the environmental load associated with product transportation.

According to estimates by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, for long-distance transport, the CO2 emissions per ton of freight transported 1 km are 195g for commercial freight trucks, whereas for railways, it is 19g, approximately one-tenth. Due to these characteristics, modal shift is positioned not only as a measure against global warming but also as a policy to enhance the sustainability of logistics.

*Reference: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website (https://www.mlit.go.jp/seisakutokatsu/freight/modalshift.html)*

Furthermore, in recent years, interest in modal shift has grown from the perspective of how to maintain transport capacity, against the backdrop of issues such as truck driver shortages and prolonged working hours. By having railways handle the main lines of long-distance transport, trucks can concentrate on roles such as collection and delivery and on-site response, making it easier to ensure overall transport stability.

This initiative also contributes to round transportation (reducing empty return trips) for JR Freight, leading to the creation of social value through overall logistics efficiency. It is an effort conscious of optimizing the entire supply chain, not just the company's own convenience.

*Image of trailer transport utilizing JR Freight containers* *Image of railway transport utilizing JR Freight (provided by JR Freight)*

The background to this thinking is Meiken Kogyo's philosophy of "using everything available" and "proposing new value." The company has developed businesses conscious of resource circulation, such as biomass power generation utilizing wood waste generated during the manufacturing process, in addition to manufacturing laminated timber and CLT.

The launch of railway transport is considered a crucial step to ensure sustainability and stability. The company will continue to promote modal shift by dividing roles between truck and railway transport. Meiken Kogyo will continue to examine and implement policies in a practical manner to simultaneously achieve logistics stability, its supply responsibility to support home-building sites, and the reduction of environmental load.

**Company Information**

Meiken Kogyo Head Office

Company Name: Meiken Kogyo Co., Ltd. Headquarters: 1209 Katsuyama, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture Established: July 1966 (Founded 1923) Capital: 37.8 million JPY Business Activities: ・Manufacture of structural wood construction materials (laminated timber, CLT) ・Wood structure business (design and construction of wood structures) ・Biomass