Intermodal Solutions
All 7 Class 1 Railroads
Flexible, end-to-end solutions for your long-haul freight needs. Coast-to-coast and cross-border container movement with 100,000+ container capacity.
100K+
Container Capacity
7
Class 1 Railroads
250+
Mile Drayage Radius
43.5K
lbs Capacity Weight
3
Countries Served
End-to-End Intermodal
Rail for the long haul,
truck for the last mile.
ESCS manages the entire intermodal move as a single provider — origin drayage, rail booking across any Class 1 network, and destination delivery. One point of contact, one invoice, complete accountability across every leg.
For lanes over 500 miles, intermodal is typically 15–25% cheaper than over-the-road. Drop + Hook and Live Load options across 20′, 40′, and 53′ containers with a 250+ mile drayage radius covering all major ports and ramps.
Intermodal vs. OTR
Lanes 500+ miles
Rail wins
High-volume, consistent lanes
Rail wins
Sustainability goals (−75% CO₂)
Rail wins
Next-day time-critical
OTR
Under 300 miles
OTR
Rail Network
Every Class 1 Railroad in North America
Active relationships with all seven Class 1 railroads — giving you access to virtually every intermodal lane on the continent from a single provider.
BNSF
BNSF Railway
UP
Union Pacific
CSX
CSX Transportation
NS
Norfolk Southern
CN
Canadian National
CP
Canadian Pacific Kansas City
KCS
Kansas City Southern (CPKC)
Key Corridors
Major intermodal lanes we serve
LA/LB → Chicago
BNSF / UP — Transcon, 2–3 day transit
Domestic
Houston → Southeast
UP / KCS — Gulf to Atlanta, Charlotte, Savannah
Domestic
Chicago → East Coast
CSX / NS — Midwest to NY/NJ, Baltimore, Boston
Domestic
West Coast → Texas
BNSF / UP — Port to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio
Domestic
US → Canada
CN / CP — Cross-border to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver
Cross-Border
US → Mexico
CPKC / KCS — Monterrey, Mexico City, Guadalajara
Cross-Border
How does intermodal differ from standard drayage?
Intermodal moves a container across multiple transportation modes — typically drayage truck to a rail ramp, long-haul rail across the country, then drayage from the destination ramp to final delivery. ESCS handles both drayage legs and the rail booking, so one provider manages the entire move end-to-end with no handoffs.
What container sizes can move intermodally?
We handle 20′, 40′, and 53′ containers. Drop + Hook and Live Load options available. Capacity weight is 43,500 lbs. Reefer intermodal is available on select lanes with reefer-capable ramps.
Can you move cross-border into Canada and Mexico?
Yes. Via CN and CP into Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary), and via CPKC into Mexico (Monterrey, Mexico City, Guadalajara). Cross-border moves require additional customs documentation — we advise on requirements or coordinate customs brokerage as needed.
How much cheaper is intermodal vs. OTR?
On lanes over 500 miles, intermodal is typically 15–25% cheaper than OTR dry van. You typically add 1–2 days transit. Rail also produces roughly 75% less CO₂ per ton-mile — a meaningful sustainability advantage for shippers tracking Scope 3 emissions.