Intermodal Rail Shipping
for Forestry & Paper

Because you're not just shipping
You're supplying Canada's essential industries.

You’re moving raw timber, wood pulp, paper rolls, or finished lumber – and every load needs to arrive at the mill or production facility intact and on schedule.

One late delivery, contaminated load, or damaged shipment doesn’t just impact logistics – it shuts down paper mills, disrupts production lines, and breaks customer trust.

RailGateway delivers specialized intermodal rail shipping for Forestry and Paper Products, trusted by lumber mills, paper producers, and distributors who demand mill-to-market reliability, capacity, 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

Trusted by Canada’s Forestry & Paper Industry for Intermodal Rail Shipping 

Ideal for: Full Load Rail Freight, Dry Goods, Temperature-Controlled Food Shipments

How it Works

Get a Quick Quote

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Book With Ease

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Track in Real Time

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Why Forestry & Paper Professionals Choose RailGateway

Intermodal Rail Shipping
Reliable Coverage Where It Counts

From remote forests to processing mills and converters, RailGateway delivers seamless intermodal service across Canada and deep into key U.S. markets. We get your raw and finished goods where they need to be, without detours or production delays.

 

Lower Shipping Costs, Higher Margins

 

Reduce transportation costs significantly compared to full truckload – without sacrificing production schedules, product integrity, or reliability. More efficiency, less overhead.

 

Forestry Focused Freight Expertise

 

With over 30 years in rail and logistics, we understand the demands of just-in-time mill operations, specific equipment requirements for logs versus paper rolls, and the critical need to prevent moisture damage. 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 harvesting, milling, and production – 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 delays.

 

Built for Sustainability and Scale

 

Intermodal rail shipping dramatically lowers your carbon footprint and scales with your operation – whether you’re moving raw timber, wood pulp, finished lumber, or large paper rolls 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 Forestry & Paper 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

A wide array of products, covering nearly every stage of the production cycle, can be efficiently and safely shipped via intermodal rail. This method is ideal for moving heavy, high-volume goods over the long distances that often separate forests, mills, and consumer markets across Canada and into the United States.

 

The types of products suitable for intermodal transport can be broken down into several key categories, each utilizing specialized equipment and handling techniques:

 

Raw and Semi-Finished Materials:

  • Raw Timber & Logs: Transported on durable log cars or flatcars designed to handle heavy, uneven loads.

  • Wood Chips: Moved in high-capacity, open-top gondolas, allowing for easy loading and unloading of bulk materials destined for pulp mills or biomass facilities.

  • Wood Pulp: Shipped in pressed bales, pulp is sensitive to moisture and is therefore transported in enclosed, weather-proof boxcars or intermodal containers to protect its integrity.

     

Finished and Converted Products:

  • Lumber & Panels: Dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board (OSB) are typically bundled and shipped on centerbeam flatcars. These cars feature a central beam that allows for easy loading and unloading with forklifts while providing excellent load securement.

  • Paper Rolls: Newsprint, kraft paper, and other large paper rolls are highly susceptible to damage from moisture and impact. They are transported with great care in specialized newsprint boxcars which have smooth interior walls and cushioning devices, or in sealed 53-foot intermodal containers to protect them from the elements and handling damage.

  • Palletized Paper Products: Finished goods such as printing paper, packaged goods, and other boxed paper products are transported in standard, enclosed intermodal containers, providing a secure and cost-effective mode of transport.

By combining the long-haul efficiency of rail with the final-mile flexibility of trucking, intermodal shipping provides a robust and reliable solution for the diverse products of the forestry and paper industry.

Absolutely. Capacity and reliability are core strengths of intermodal rail. We can secure consistent, dedicated capacity to match your mill’s production schedule, ensuring a steady flow of raw materials in and finished products out. This helps you avoid costly production slowdowns caused by the driver shortages and capacity crunches common in the trucking market.

Intermodal delivers the most significant cost savings on long-haul lanes (typically over 700 kilometers). If you are moving heavy, high-volume products like logs, pulp, or paper rolls between your mill and major distribution hubs or export ports, rail is substantially more fuel-efficient than trucks. This translates directly into lower transportation costs and improved margins.

We use a variety of specialized rail cars to match the specific product. Raw timber and pulpwood are often transported in sturdy centerbeam flatcars or high-capacity gondolas. Finished rolls and palletized lumber are shipped in sealed, 53-foot intermodal containers or specialized boxcars that protect the product from the elements and damage.

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

Shipping by rail is the most environmentally friendly way to move freight over land. On average, trains are up to four times more fuel-efficient than trucks and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75% per ton-mile. By converting long-haul shipments to intermodal, you significantly lower your supply chain’s carbon footprint, providing a tangible and reportable boost to your sustainability initiatives.

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 Shipping Resources

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