Intermodal Service Options & Details | BNSF

Service Options & References

BNSF offers a full range of service options that include expedited container and trailer, standard container services and temperature-controlled capabilities.

We also offer flexible shipping strategies so customers can customize their speed, cost and frequency per shipment.

Shipping to or from Mexico?

Services

BNSF's superior intermodal network offers speeds faster than the next leading intermodal provider, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Cross-border shipping to and from Mexico

Pacific Northwest to Texas

Los Angeles and the Ohio Valley Region

BNSF's intermodal network is made up of some of the largest and most modern intermodal hub facilities in the industry — facilities that are designed to move your shipments across the BNSF system faster than ever before.

Facilities Details

Intermodal Facilities Listings

Intermodal Map - High Level

Intermodal Map – Overview

Facility Resources

Regions Domestic and International
Represents BNSF intermodal hubs and groupings in contractual agreements.

Facilities Information and Resource Management (FIRM) codes

BNSF intermodal facilities FIRM codes
Alliance, TX - 1111 Intermodal Pkwy T926
Atlanta (Fairburn), GA - 6700 McLarin Rd. O083
Barstow, CA - 2825 W. Main St.
Cicero, IL - 26th St. J791
Corwith, IL - 3526 W. 43rd St. I145
Denver, CO - 585 W. 53rd Place H096
El Paso, TX - 805 S. Santa Fe St. S390
Houston, TX - 214 Brisbane Rd. S639
Logistics Park Kansas City, KS - 32880 W. 191 St. J177
Los Angeles, CA - 4000 E. Sheila St., Bldg 39 Y386
Logistics Park Chicago, IL - 26664 S. Baseline Rd. H572
Memphis, TN - 4814 Lamar Ave. P486
Omaha, NE - 4370 Gibson Rd. H397
Oakland International Gateway, CA - 333 Maritime St. Z944
Phoenix, AZ - 5281 Tom Murray Rd. Y386
Portland, OR - 3930 NW Yeon X086
Seattle (International Gateway - SIG), WA - 44 S. Hanford Y498
S. Seattle, WA - 12400 51st Pl. S. Y371
Spokane, WA - 1800 N. Dickey Y799
St. Louis, MO - 3500 Wellington Ave. J300
St. Paul, MN - 1701 Pierce Butler Rt. J828
Stockton, CA - 6540 Austin Rd. W675

Containers

Container

A container is a weatherproof box designed for bulk shipment of freight. Domestic containers come in 45 feet, 48 feet and 53 feet-long options. Ocean containers come in 20 feet and 40 feet-long options. They are designed for all modes of intermodal transport.

Trailers

Trailer

A trailer is a weatherproof box with permanent wheels designed for bulk shipment of freight on rail, highway or combination of both. Trailers come in 45 feet, 48 feet and 53 feet-long options.

Temperature-Controlled Trailers

A temperature-controlled trailer is a weatherproof box with permanent wheels designed for perishable shipment of freight on rail, highway or combination of both. Trailers come in 45 feet, 48 feet and 53 feet-long options.

Temperature Controlled Trailer

Intermodal Railcar

The most common intermodal container railcars that BNSF uses in intermodal transportation are shown below.

Intermodal 3 Well Double Stack

3 Well Double-Stack Car (There are also one and five well railcars)

Conventional Intermodal Car

Conventional Intermodal Car

Oversize and Non-Standard Intermodal Equipment

Dimensional, Nonstandard Equipment

An intermodal shipment greater than 8’6 wide and 13’6 high is considered Dimensional or Non-Standard Equipment. In general, with proper information and approvals (defined below), BNSF can handle shipments up to 11’ wide and 15’ high.

Any shipment greater than 11’ wide and 15’ high (17’ above top of rail) must follow the Carload Dimensional Process and move in manifest service (not to/from an Intermodal Hub).

Shipment Information

Complete the form on your Dimensional or Non-Standard Equipment shipment.

Obtain Special Price Authority

Once approvals are received, your marketing representative will provide an Intermodal Special Price Authority.

Shipping Instructions

When submitting the Shipping Instructions, state the shipment is Dimensional or Non-Standard Equipment, special price authority, actual commodity description (along with all the required elements as stated in the BNSF Intermodal Rules and Policies Guide, Item 7: Shipping Instructions).

Tendering Shipment

When tendering an Oversized shipment, it will be placed on Hold (LSHold) for Mechanical and Clearance Inspections. Inspections may take up to 2-3 business days.

Contacts

Area Name Contact
Mechanical - Tie Down Tel: 913-551-4614
Intermodal Hubs Ops Tel: 817-867-6388
Load and Ride Solutions (LARS) LARS Contacts
Intermodal Loading Guide
 
AAR Publications AAR Open Top Rules
Other AAR Updates
Tel: 877-999-8824
Carload High/Wide Clearance Carload High Wide Contacts  

Don't own your own equipment?

BNSF has partners with intermodal carriers to provide containers or trailers if you do not own your own equipment. In addition to providing equipment, these carriers can assist with moving individual or multiple shipments, including interline traffic and complete door-to-door movement by arranging equipment, waybilling (shipping instructions), draying, tracing, etc. For more information, contact a BNSF sales representative.

If you do own your own equipment, please review the information below:

Loading and Shipment Safety
Loading assistance and information.

Intermodal Loading Guide
Guidelines to properly load contents into equipment for intermodal transportation.

Demurrage and Storage
Intermodal storage.

Prohibited Hazardous Commodities
Prohibited commodities in some equipment.

Neutral Chassis Pools

At various intermodal facilities, Neutral Chassis Pools are available for your use. See the table below for BNSF locations and pool operator contact information. To utilize Neutral Pool Chassis, a Chassis Use Agreement with the pool operator is required. Equipment rental charges are the responsibility of the user. Twenty (20'), forty (40'), and forty-five (45') foot chassis are available.

BNSF Intermodal Facility Pool Vendor Leasing Co Equipment Initials Pick up and return chassis to the same facility unless noted Vendor Name Vendor Contact
Alliance, TX GCCP CCM     Monty Falls Tel: 713-675-0600
Birmingham, AL SACP CCM     Ken Tock Tel: 813-746-5337
Chicago, IL COCP CCM     Chris Davis Tel: 847-346-0975
Cicero, IL COCP CCM     Chris Davis Tel: 847-346-0975
Denver, CO DCCP CCM     Allen Youngs Tel: 303-293-0103
El Paso, TX GCCP CCM     Monty Falls Tel: 713-675-0600
Houston, TX GCCP CCM     Monty Falls Tel: 713-675-0600
Logistics Park Kansas City MWCP CCM     Robert Kline Tel: 816-472-2264
Logistics Park, IL COCP CCM     Chris Davis Tel: 847-346-0975
Los Angeles, CA Neutral Flexi-van FWAZ BNSF Christine Korsak Tel: 908-276-8000
New Orleans, LA* GCCP CCM     Monty Falls Tel: 713-675-0600
Oakland, CA Neutral Flexi-van FORZ BNSF Christine Korsak Tel: 908-276-8000
Omaha, NE MWCP CCM     Robert Kline Tel: 816-472-2264
Portland, CA Neutral TRAC TSSZ BNSF (South Seattle) Pam Di Meglio Tel: 609-986-0268
S Seattle, WA Neutral TRAC TSSZ BNSF (Portland) Pam Di Meglio Tel: 609-986-0268
St. Louis, MO* MWCP CCM     Robert Kline Tel: 816-472-2264
St. Paul, MN Neutral TRAC TSPZ BNSF Pam DiMeglio Tel: 609-986-0268

At some locations, the chassis may be returned to another city or to another railroad's intermodal facility within the same city.

* Private chassis may not be staged at these locations.

Advanced Lift and Ride Technology

BNSF has invested in the latest technology to minimize equipment damage. This advanced lift technology features:

  • Wider and longer shoes
  • Ultra sensors to detect roof damage

The benefits of this technology include:

  • Virtually eliminated roof damage
  • Faster lift on/lift off with error-free lifting

BNSF uses a manufacturer-approved, patented wedge device that prevents the airbag from stretching during lift operations.

General Information

Your Guide To Going Intermodal
Learn which intermodal service option is best for your supply chain.

Intermodal Rules and Policies Guide

Intermodal Advisor
Find out how to lower your transportation costs.

Intermodal Customer Reference Guide
Describes how to ship an intermodal shipment.

Loading and Restricted Commodities
Outlines some Restricted Commodities and aspects of the Intermodal Rules and Policies Guide.

Customs Fees
Surcharges for Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) inspects.

Port Fees

The following surcharges are applied on intermodal shipments traversing the Alameda Corridor or originating or terminating at the Port of Portland and Port of Tacoma.

BNSF may impose surcharges as stated in the BNSF Intermodal Rules and Policies Guide. All applicable intermodal shipments are subject to these charges, regardless of price authority (including contracts and agreements). Surcharges are applied to the freight bill based on the BNSF shipping instructions (waybill) date.

ACTA (Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority)

Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority Current Use Fees and Container Charges are applicable for shipments traversing the Alameda Corridor.

Port of Portland

Port of Portland Rail Carrier Intermodal Yard Facility Fee is stated in the Port of Portland Marine Terminal Item 8.

Port of Tacoma

Port of Tacoma Intermodal Facility Charges is stated in the Containers Section of the Port of Tacoma Tariff 300, Section 6.

Commodity Information

Prohibited Hazardous Commodities
Prohibited commodities in some equipment.

Bulk Agricultural Products
Procedures to ship bulk products via intermodal.

Coiled Metal Shipment Policies and Procedures
Procedures to ship coiled metal via intermodal.

BNSF customers can stay up-to-date on the latest news covering BNSF services, tools, prices and facilities by subscribing to BNSF Customer Notifications.

  • Network Update: Network Update notifications inform BNSF customers on a biweekly basis of the overall state of our network.
  • Service Advisories: Service Advisory notifications inform BNSF customers of temporary changes or interruptions to transportation service.
  • Marketing News: Marketing News notifications inform BNSF customers of new service or product offerings, or of permanent changes to existing service.
  • Pricing Updates : Pricing Update notifications inform BNSF customers of changes to existing rates or price structures.
  • Facility Updates: Facility Update notifications inform BNSF customers of changes related to specific facilities.
  • BNSF.com Updates: bnsf.com Update notifications inform BNSF customers of new Web tools at www.bnsf.com, or changes to existing tools.
  • Customer Letters: Customer Letters inform BNSF customers on a variety of marketing and service-related topics.

This is who we are.

Safety & Security

BNSF is committed to the safe operation of every mile of our 32,500-route-mile network.

LEARN MORE

Environment

BNSF believes it is good business and good citizenship to minimize our impact on the planet.

LEARN MORE

History

BNSF is the result of more than 390 railroad lines that merged or were acquired during our 175-year history.

LEARN MORE

Community Support

BNSF strives to maintain strong relationships with the communities where our employees live.

LEARN MORE

New to Rail or BNSF?

Our consistent and cost-effective service takes products of any size to customers when and where they need them.

GET STARTED