Intermodal Rail Shipping
for Retail & CPG

Because you're not just shipping - you're stocking Canada's shelves.

You’re moving fast-moving consumer goods, seasonal merchandise, electronics, or non-perishable groceries – and every load needs to arrive intact, on time, and ready for sale.

One late container, damaged pallet, or missed delivery appointment doesn’t just impact logistics – it leads to out-of-stocks, triggers retailer penalties, and means lost sales at checkout.

RailGateway delivers specialized intermodal rail shipping for Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods, trusted by CPG manufacturers, distributors, and major retailers who demand consistency, scale, and on-the-shelf availability – coast to coast.

Cut Costs

Intermodal

Up to 40% cheaper than 

Over-The-Road shipping

Save Time

Intermodal

Book Shipments in minutes.

Get freight moving with minimal lead time.

Ship Smarter

Intermodal

Expert Support, Every Step: Real people — no call centers or bots, just Great Canadian Service

Full Container Load (FCL) Intermodal Rail Shipping

Full Container Load (FCL) intermodal rail shipping offers a dedicated and cost-effective solution for businesses moving large volumes of goods. With FCL, your cargo occupies an entire shipping container, ensuring secure and direct transport from origin to destination without consolidation with other shipments. This minimizes handling, reduces the risk of damage, and often translates to faster transit times compared to less-than-container-load (LCL) options.

At RailGateway, we specialize in providing comprehensive FCL rail shipping services. We leverage our extensive network and expertise to manage every aspect of your shipment, from container booking and drayage to final delivery. Whether you’re shipping across Canada or bringing product inbound from Mexico and along the Mississippi Corridor, we streamline the process, offering reliable scheduling, competitive rates, and real-time tracking to give you peace of mind. Choose FCL rail with RailGateway for a robust, efficient, and environmentally friendly way to transport your valuable cargo.

Intermodal Rail Shipping

Trusted by Canada’s Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods Industry for Intermodal Rail Shipping 

How it Works

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Why Retail & CPG Professionals Choose RailGateway

Intermodal Rail Shipping

Reliable Coverage Where It Counts

 

From major distribution centers to coastal ports, RailGateway delivers seamless intermodal service across Canada and deep into key U.S. consumer markets. We get your products where they need to be, without detours or delays.

Lower Shipping Costs, Higher Margins

Reduce transportation costs by up to 40% compared to full truckload – without sacrificing on-time-in-full (OTIF) performance or product integrity. More efficiency, better margins.

 

Retail-Focused Freight Expertise

With over 30 years in rail and logistics, we understand the tight delivery windows, seasonal demand spikes, and retailer compliance mandates of the CPG and retail supply chain. We don’t just move freight – we move it right.

 

Streamlined, Stress-Free Shipping

 

From booking to delivery, we simplify intermodal logistics so your team can stay focused on manufacturing, marketing, and stocking – not chasing down carriers or managing complex paperwork.

 

Fast, Predictable Transit Times

 

Door-to-door service that competes with truckload speeds, backed by proactive updates and real-time tracking. Fewer out-of-stocks. Fewer retailer penalties. Fewer headaches.

 

Built for Sustainability and Scale

 

Intermodal shipping lowers your carbon footprint and scales with your operation – whether you’re moving electronics, apparel, palletized goods, or non-perishable items across provinces or borders.

Preferred Partners of CN Railway & CPKC Railway

As official partners of Canadian National Railway (CN Intermodal) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC Itermodal), RailGateway unlocks volume-based discounts and nationwide coverage for your business.

These long-standing partnerships allow us to offer:

  • Best-in-Class Coverage & Rates
  • Priority rail access across Canada and into the U.S.
  • Unmatched reliability and scheduling
  • Lower rates passed directly to you

Whether you’re shipping from Toronto to Vancouver or Calgary to Chicago, we’ve got you covered.

Let our trusted rail partners go to work for your bottom line.

5 Star Reviews

Intermodal

Our five star reviews speak for themselves. Check out what other businesses are saying about their experience with RailGateway.

Jordan M.
Logistics Manager, National Retailer
We switched to RailGateway to cut costs, but we stayed for the simplicity. They made intermodal shipping feel effortless, and we’ve saved thousands each month compared to traditional freight
Danielle R.
Director of Operations, Food Distributor
Every time I call, I get someone who actually knows our business. RailGateway’s team is hands-on, responsive, and genuinely cares about getting it right — that’s rare in freight.
Alex T.
Supply Chain Lead, Manufacturing Company
We’ve trusted RailGateway for three years now, and they’ve never let us down. On-time pickups, clear updates, and coverage when we need it. They just make shipping easier.
Marie S.
Supply Chain Manager, Pharmaceutical Company
Our products are sensitive to temperature swings, and RailGateway gets it. They coordinated every detail with care, and we’ve had zero spoilage since switching. Total peace of mind.
Kevin L.
Operations Director, Canadian Manufacturer
Cross-border shipping used to be a headache — now it's a breeze. RailGateway handles the paperwork, routing, and customs coordination so we can focus on growing our U.S. market.
Sophie K.
Founder, DTC Home Goods Brand
As our order volume grew, so did our freight needs — fast. RailGateway helped us scale without the overwhelm. They’re a key part of how we deliver on time, every time.
Greg B.
VP of Logistics, National Food Distributor
We move hundreds of loads monthly, and consistency is everything. RailGateway delivers — literally and figuratively. Their team scales with us, communicates clearly, and keeps our supply chain on track.
Laura J.
Owner, Canadian Specialty Foods
I didn’t think intermodal was an option for a business our size, but RailGateway proved me wrong. They walked us through everything, found the right lanes, and helped us grow without breaking the bank.
Mike D.
Purchasing Manager, Industrial Equipment Supplier
The quotes are fast, the team is friendly, and the freight shows up when they say it will. What more can you ask for?

Save on Retail & CPG Shipping with Intermodal Rail

Have Questions?

Check out our Intermodal Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact one of our intermodal experts to learn more about our services.

FAQs

We design our intermodal services to support and enhance your OTIF performance. By using scheduled rail for the long-haul portion of the journey, we avoid the highway congestion and driver delays common in trucking. This creates predictable, consistent transit times. Combined with flexible, final-mile truck delivery precisely scheduled to meet your delivery appointments, our service helps you avoid retailer chargebacks and strengthen your supplier scorecard.

Yes. Scalability is a core advantage of intermodal shipping. The rail network is built for high-volume capacity, allowing us to secure large blocks of space in advance for your seasonal surges, new product launches, or promotional pushes. This provides a reliable relief valve when trucking capacity tightens and spot market rates spike, ensuring your products get to market without fail.

Intermodal is ideal for a wide range of palletized and floor-loaded CPG products, including non-perishable foods, beverages, cleaning supplies, health and beauty items, apparel, and electronics. Because your goods are sealed in a single, durable container for the entire journey, handling is minimized, significantly reducing the risk of in-transit damage, shifting, and loss compared to traditional LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shipping.

For shipments moving over 700 kilometers, intermodal is significantly more fuel-efficient than trucks, generating substantial cost savings on the most expensive leg of the journey. This helps you lower your overall cost-per-case and protect thin product margins. By shifting volume from road to rail, you can reduce transportation spend on high-density lanes between your distribution centers and major retail hubs.

It’s fast and straightforward. Just fill out our quote form with your origin, destination, freight type, and volume. Our team will follow up with pricing and transit details – no guesswork, no delays.

Intermodal shipping is the movement of freight using two or more modes of transportation—typically rail and truck—without handling the actual cargo when changing modes. Your goods are loaded into a standardized container that moves efficiently between truck and train, reducing handling, delays, and risk of damage.

Intermodal shipping offers several benefits, including:
  • Cost savings over long distances
  • Reduced carbon footprint (rail is 3–4x more fuel-efficient than trucking)
  • Improved security and reduced handling
  • Reliable transit times through scheduled rail networks

Intermodal is ideal for dry goodsnon-perishable packaged productsbuilding materials, and other full truckload freight that doesn’t require special handling. Temperature-controlled or time-sensitive shipments can also be accommodated with planning.

Not necessarily. For longer distances, especially across provinces or cross-border, intermodal can be as fast—or faster—than trucking, thanks to efficient rail routes and lower chances of delays. Plus, it’s more cost-effective and eco-friendly.

Intermodal Rail Shipping Resources

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