Intermodal Rail Freight Services
Stryke Logistics arranges intermodal freight that moves by rail in 53-foot domestic containers with truck drayage at each end, across Canada, the United States and Mexico. We quote rail and road side by side, so each shipment moves the way that makes sense for its timing and budget.
At a glance
- Equipment
- 53-foot domestic containers on double-stack rail, with drayage to and from the ramp
- Payload
- About 42,500–43,500 lb of cargo per container, a little less than a dry van
- Best fit
- Longer lanes, steady weekly volume, freight that can take a day or more of extra transit
- Networks
- Canadian Class I rail coast to coast, direct to the U.S., with single-railway service to Mexico
- Coverage
- Canada, the United States and Mexico
- Quote response
- Within 12 hours, with a truck rate alongside for comparison
What we arrange
Road and rail quoted side by side
Every intermodal quote comes with a truck rate on the same lane, so you see the trade-off in cost and transit before choosing.
Drayage at both ends
Pickup from your dock to the origin ramp and delivery from the destination ramp are booked as part of the move, timed to rail cut-offs.
Loaded for the rail
Freight on rail has to be blocked and braced against slack action. We confirm loading and bracing requirements with you before the first container.
Cross-border by rail
Rail freight entering the United States or Canada clears customs electronically before the train reaches the border, so the paperwork is set up before the container is loaded.
Capacity through Class I railroads
Capacity is coordinated through independent carriers, Class I railroads and their intermodal programs, with air options for urgent freight.
Choosing the right mode
Intermodal suits longer lanes where a day or more of extra transit is acceptable in exchange for a lower rate. Shorter or tighter lanes usually belong on a truck.
Heavy freight near the weight limit
A dry van carries a little more weight than a domestic container.
TruckloadTemperature control
Refrigerated truck service handles fresh and frozen freight.
Refrigerated & HeatedContainers that need storage or de-stuffing
Warehousing partners handle transload and storage near the ramp.
WarehousingCoverage and lanes
Intermodal runs on rail corridors across Canada and into the United States, with single-railway service to Mexico. Drayage covers the first and last miles to the ramps.
Canada domestic
Within Ontario, Ontario–Quebec, and east–west across Canada to the Prairies, British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces.
U.S. domestic
Between U.S. markets, from the Northeast and Midwest to the Southeast, Texas and the West Coast.
Canada–U.S. cross-border
Northbound and southbound through the main crossings, including Windsor–Detroit, Sarnia–Port Huron, Fort Erie–Buffalo and Lacolle–Champlain.
Mexico cross-border
Freight to and from Mexico, coordinated through U.S.–Mexico gateways such as Laredo.
Examples of lanes we arrange
- Toronto to Calgary and Vancouver by rail
- Toronto and Montreal to Chicago
- Ontario to Texas, with service into Mexico
- Montreal to Western Canada
Examples only. We arrange lanes across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
How it works
- Send the lane and volume. Origin, destination, commodity, weight and how many loads a week or month.
- Compare road and rail. We quote intermodal and truckload side by side with transit for each.
- Book the container and drayage. Container, pickup and the rail cut-off are scheduled together.
- Rail, then delivery. Tracked from the origin ramp to the destination ramp and out for delivery.
- POD and review. Proof of delivery, then a lane review on repeat freight.
What to send for a quote
- Origin and destination, and whether each has a dock
- Commodity, weight per load and pallet or piece count
- Weekly or monthly volume on the lane
- Required delivery date, or how much flexibility there is
- Cross-border details if the lane crosses a border
Related guides and tools
Frequently asked questions
What is intermodal freight?
Freight that moves in one container by more than one mode, usually truck to a rail ramp, rail for the long haul, and truck again to the destination, without the freight being handled in between.
Is intermodal cheaper than truckload?
On longer lanes it often is, in exchange for about a day or more of extra transit. On short lanes trucking is usually cheaper once drayage at both ends is counted. We quote both so you can compare.
How much weight fits in a 53-foot domestic container?
Typically about 42,500 to 43,500 pounds of cargo, a little less than a 53-foot dry van.
Does freight need to be braced for rail?
Yes. Rail cars take slack action, so freight has to be blocked and braced to stop it shifting. We confirm the requirements before the first load.
Can intermodal cross the Canada–U.S. border?
Yes. Canadian rail runs directly into the United States, and cross-border rail freight clears customs electronically before the train reaches the border.
Do you arrange the trucking to and from the rail ramp?
Yes. Drayage at both ends is booked as part of the move and timed to rail cut-offs and container free time.
Get a Quote
Tell us about your lanes, volumes and timelines. You can expect a response within 12 hours.
Stryke Logistics
Vaughan, Ontario L4H 0S5