With the primary characteristic of domestic intermodal being the combination of road and rail transportation, intermodal centers play a vital role in facilitating freight movement through this mode. An intermodal center describes a location that connects class 1 railroads with highways - and in many cases bodies of water. These facilities are strategically spread throughout North America to allow shippers to reap the cost, capacity and carbon benefits of door-to-door intermodal transportation.
Features of intermodal centers
Intermodal centers join multiple transportation types, multiple thoroughfares and multiple carriers together to allow shipments to travel smoothly across the continent. Expect an intermodal transportation center to feature:
- Container transfer equipment
- Connections to Class 1 railroads
- Convenient highway access for dray trucks
- Nearby warehouses and distribution centers for storage
- Extensive security
Beyond those basics, many intermodal centers are located at international ports (or function as inland ports), meaning they may also include customs and tariff processing and Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) status. Those located on the coast may connect ocean carriers with railroads directly using on-dock rail - cutting out the intermodal truck portion - or at least near-dock rail. And larger intermodal transport centers often have areas for container storage.
Intermodal centers may also be referred to as intermodal terminals, intermodal container terminals, intermodal rail terminals, intermodal yards, and even rail ramps or rail yards - depending on one's appreciation for scale.
Intermodal center locations
Intermodal center locations are based on a strategic combination of geography, population density and connectivity between modes (trucking, ocean freight, rail) and carriers. Most intermodal centers are serviced by multiple class 1 railroads, though some are run by only one - depending on the region.
To make for good intermodal lanes, the largest of these facilities are either located near major maritime ports or inland areas with heavy freight volume. Some notable intermodal center locations include (in no particular order):
- Chicago
- New York/New Jersey
- Los Angeles
- Memphis
- Kansas City
- Dallas/Ft. Worth
- Seattle/Tacoma
- San Francisco/Oakland
- Charleston
- Jacksonville
- Atlanta
- Detroit
- St. Louis
- Houston
- Denver
As you'll see on the North American intermodal network map, these intermodal centers are all connected via railroad and cover freight lanes throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
It is important to note, there are also a number of locations called intermodal centers that focus on a different version of intermodal transport - that of the passenger variety. Those may connect airports, rail and/or bus transit options in major cities. But here, we're focused on freight.
Looking to join the intermodal train? Simply request a quote via our brief form, and we'll discuss how an intermodal strategy can benefit your business. For more information about InTek Intermodal, or the logistics and supply chain space in general, check out our Freight Guides.
