Intermodal railway operators are part of a larger shipping network that blankets North America. Intermodal rail cars allow businesses to ship goods from one place to another without ever having that freight handled directly by anyone. This drastically cuts down on unintended wear or damage to the shipped product. Companies load shipping containers then send them across the country by rail. At any interchange the entire container is moved, not just the contents.
Intermodal transport is a multi-faceted system. While the intermodal railroad system is a large part of it, other transport methods are common as well. Shipping by truck is common when the pickup location is too far away from rail network. Shipment by air or water is common with perishable goods or overseas transport. Consider the following when using the intermodal railway:
1. Many intermodal railway operators specialize in North American shipping.
2. Specialized intermodal companies are useful for overseas or remote locations.
3. Companies can lease shipping containers to further cut their shipping costs.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Use a local intermodal rail yard for long distance domestic shipping
Many intermodal railway systems stay within the heavily populated areas of North America. Finding domestic shipping is easy and inexpensive, especially if you live near one of the main domestic shipping hubs.
I recommend: RSI Logistics ships all over the middle part of North America. They have a website that features many of their services, as well as case studies and terminal information.
Bridge Terminal Transport has all of the standard intermodal rail facilities but also uses a fleet of over-the-road transport vehicles for out of the way places.
Find an intermodal rail service that ships to far away locations
Shipping to Europe or the more remote parts of North America are beyond the scope of most domestic intermodal railways. Specialized shippers will take your cargo to these more distant locations without the hassle of switching shippers midshipment.
I recommend: Use
GE Equipment for shipments to Canada or Mexico. For Alaska or Puerto Rico, try
JB Hunt. Their website features many helpful applications for keeping track of your shipments. If you need cargo sent to Europe, go to
CH Robinson. They're part of a larger organization and can ship your cargo many places under a single company.
Cut the cost of intermodal rail freight by using your own equipment
Using your own transport containers can lower the cost of shipment. By buying or leasing containers, you'll be certain of the conditions of your cargo. Check with you shipper before making a large investment, as some intermodal train companies only use their own containers.
I recommend: One Way Lease has a wide selection of standard shipping containers to buy or lease, and they operate nationwide. The
RCS Group has a smaller selection, but they specialize in intermodal transport and will help you customize your containers to suit your cargo.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- When looking for an intermodal rail service, check out their pick-up options. Some companies offer site-to-site delivery through an over-the-road system, while others don't. If you find a shipping company that outsources their over-the-road shipping, research who'll actually be picking up your cargo, as well as the main shipper.
The official source of Intermodal Railway Operators is
the Intermodal Railway Operators page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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