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.
A full-service IMC like LaserNet Jax handles all four steps — one rate, one booking, one contact.
| 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% |
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 CPKC.
Send us the origin, destination and service requirements and we’ll evaluate how intermodal fits the lane.
