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CSX Transportation
Norfolk Southern
Union Pacific
CN Rail
CP Rail
Direct IMC — Not a Broker
East Coast Repositioning Program
US & Canada Coverage
53’ Domestic Containers
Door-to-Door Service
One Point of Contact
25,000+ Shipments Managed
Shipper Guide
What Is Intermodal Freight?
LaserNet Jax · July 2026 · 5 min read
The simple definition
Intermodal freight is cargo that moves in a container transferred between truck and rail — without the freight itself being touched or re-handled between pickup and delivery. The container goes on a truck for the short haul to a rail ramp, rides the train for the long haul, and transfers to another truck at the destination ramp for final delivery.
For shippers, this means one rate, one booking, and one point of contact — even though the freight moves on both truck and rail.
The key advantage: Rail is dramatically cheaper than truck on long hauls. Intermodal captures that savings while still providing door-to-door truck service at each end.
When intermodal makes sense
- The lane is 750 miles or longer. Economics improve significantly with distance — the rail haul is where the savings happen.
- The freight is dry van. Intermodal uses 53’ domestic containers that load exactly like a standard trailer.
- Transit time has a day or two of flexibility. Intermodal typically adds 1–2 days vs. OTR on the same lane.
- Volume is consistent. Intermodal rewards shippers who can plan ahead.
When intermodal doesn’t make sense
- Short hauls under 500 miles — truck is usually cheaper
- Time-critical freight with zero flex in the delivery window
- Refrigerated or temperature-controlled freight (unless you have reefer containers)
- Oversized or flatbed freight
How a door-to-door intermodal move works
- Drayage pickup: A dray truck picks up at your facility and delivers the container to the origin rail ramp.
- Rail haul: The container is lifted onto a railcar and moves the long-haul portion by train.
- Destination ramp: The container is lifted off at the destination ramp.
- Drayage delivery: A local dray truck picks up and delivers to the consignee.
A full-service IMC like LaserNet Jax handles all four steps — one rate, one booking, one contact.
What savings look like on real lanes
| Lane | Typical OTR Spot | Intermodal All-In | Savings |
|---|
| Newark, NJ → Los Angeles, CA | ~$4,800–$5,500 | ~$2,175 | 50%+ |
| Jacksonville → Chicago | ~$3,200–$3,800 | ~$2,400–$2,900 | 20–25% |
| Atlanta → Los Angeles | ~$6,500–$8,000 | ~$4,200–$5,500 | 30–40% |
The difference between a direct IMC and a broker
Not all intermodal providers are the same. A direct IMC holds contracts with the railroads — one margin between you and the railroad rate. A freight broker buys from an IMC and adds a second margin on top.
LaserNet Jax holds direct contracts with CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CN Rail, and CP Rail.
Ready to move freight smarter?
Tell us your lane — railroad-direct rate back within minutes. No broker markup, no middleman.
