Intermodal Rail Shipping
for Construction

Because you're not just shipping - You're building Canada's infrastructure.

You’re moving lumber, steel, concrete, or finished building components – and every load needs to arrive on-site, intact, and on schedule.

One late delivery, damaged shipment, or missing component doesn’t just impact logistics – it halts project timelines, creates costly work stoppages, and erodes client confidence.

RailGateway delivers specialized intermodal rail shipping for Construction & Building Materials, trusted by manufacturers, distributors, and contractors who demand reliability, project-site precision, and real supply chain efficiency – 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 Construction Industry for Intermodal Rail Shipping 

How it Works

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Why Cosntruction Professionals Choose RailGateway

Intermodal Rail Shipping
Reliable Coverage Where It Counts

From manufacturing hubs to remote job sites, RailGateway delivers seamless intermodal rail shipping service across Canada and deep into major U.S. construction markets. We get your materials where they need to be, without detours or project delays.

 

Lower Shipping Costs, Higher Margins

 

Reduce transportation costs by up to 40% compared to full truckload – without sacrificing delivery windows, cargo care, or reliability. More efficiency, less overhead.

Construction Focused Freight Expertise

With over 30 years in rail and logistics, we understand the tight project deadlines, job site delivery requirements, and oversized load demands of the construction and building materials 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 growing, processing, and distributing – not chasing down carriers or juggling paperwork.

 
Fast, Predictable Transit Times

Door-to-door service that competes with truckload speeds, backed by proactive updates and real-time tracking. Fewer unknowns. Fewer phone calls. Fewer project delays.

 

Built for Sustainability and Scale

 

Intermodal rail shipping lowers your carbon footprint and scales with your project – whether you’re moving lumber, steel, drywall, or oversized components 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 Construction 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

Intermodal rail transport combines the best of both worlds. By using scheduled rail for the long-haul, we bypass highway congestion, driver shortages, and weather delays that commonly impact trucking. This creates highly reliable and predictable transit times. We then coordinate with dedicated trucks for the final-mile delivery, ensuring your materials arrive at the job site precisely when you need them, keeping your project on schedule.

Yes. This is a key strength of intermodal rail. We use a variety of specialized equipment, including flatcars, and gondolas, specifically designed for heavy and oversized freight. Because your materials are loaded once at the origin and secured for the entire journey, it minimizes handling and dramatically reduces the risk of damage compared to other shipping methods.

Our service is a complete door-to-site solution. We manage the entire process, including the short-haul trucking (drayage) that picks up the container from the rail terminal and delivers it directly to your construction site. We coordinate the logistics to ensure the final delivery is timed perfectly with your crew’s availability and site access.

Absolutely. For shipments of heavy materials moving over 700 kilometers, intermodal rail offers significant cost savings. A single rail car can carry the equivalent of 3-4 truckloads, and trains are far more fuel-efficient. This reduces your cost-per-ton and helps protect your project margins against volatile fuel prices and trucking rates.

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

A good fit for intermodal typically involves consistent, high-volume shipments traveling a long distance (700+ km) between a manufacturing/supply point and a major project market. The best way to start is with a complimentary lane analysis. Contact our team, and we can evaluate your shipping needs to identify where intermodal can deliver the most significant savings and efficiency for your project.

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

Stop overpaying for freight—get your free rail quote now.