Rail & Intermodal Freight Across Canada
Rail intermodal moves your freight in a container that travels by truck to the terminal, by rail over the long haul, and by truck again for final delivery. For non-urgent, high-volume freight crossing the country, it is usually the most cost-effective mode available — and Shipmate handles every leg so you only deal with one point of contact.
What is intermodal shipping?
Intermodal shipping combines two or more modes of transport in a single move without your freight ever being re-handled. Goods are loaded once into a container, drayed to the origin rail ramp, railed across the country, then drayed from the destination ramp to your consignee.
Because the long-haul portion runs on rail rather than highway, intermodal typically costs less per mile than over-the-road truckload on transcontinental lanes, and it produces meaningfully lower emissions per tonne-kilometre.
When intermodal is the right call
Intermodal works best when your freight is moving a long distance, your delivery window is measured in days rather than hours, and your volume is steady enough to plan around. Transcontinental corridors such as Toronto to Vancouver, Montreal to Calgary and Halifax to the Prairies are natural fits.
It is less suited to short hauls, tight appointment windows, or freight that needs to move today. If your shipment is urgent, our expedited service or a straight full truckload will serve you better — and we will tell you so rather than push you into the wrong mode.
Drayage and final delivery handled end to end
The part that trips up most shippers is not the rail leg — it is the trucking on either end, the terminal appointments, and the container availability. Shipmate arranges the drayage at both ends, books the ramp, and tracks the container through to delivery, so the handoffs are our problem rather than yours.
Frequently asked questions
Is intermodal cheaper than truckload?
On long transcontinental lanes it usually is, because the rail portion costs less per mile than highway linehaul. On shorter regional lanes the drayage and terminal handling at both ends can erase the savings, so we price both options and show you the honest comparison.
How much longer does intermodal take?
Expect a longer transit than a straight truckload on the same lane — the freight has to be drayed, ramped, railed and drayed again. We will quote a realistic transit window for your specific lane before you commit, rather than a best-case number.
Can any commodity move intermodal?
Most dry, palletized freight is a good candidate. Temperature-sensitive, oversized, or dangerous goods have additional requirements and are sometimes better served by truckload. Tell us what you are shipping and we will confirm what is workable.
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Get a free Rail / Intermodal quote today.
Tell us what you’re shipping and where. A Shipmate specialist reviews availability and comes back with real pricing during business hours (Mon–Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST) — usually the same day.
- Live carrier pricing — you pay the current market rate
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- One dedicated account manager, start to finish
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