Canal Cartage

What Canal Cartage does

Canal Cartage was a Houston-based intermodal drayage and trucking company that was acquired by Gulf Winds International in March 2024 and fully merged into the Gulf Winds brand in 2025. The combined entity operates an asset-based logistics platform spanning nine major U.S. port and inland markets — Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Mobile, Memphis, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, and Baltimore — with more than 730 dedicated professional drivers, over 700 trucks, more than 3,600 company-owned chassis, and 825,000 square feet of public warehousing anchored at the Barbour's Cut and Bayport port-side facilities near Port Houston. Its core products are container drayage, port-side transloading and warehousing, domestic truckload (dry van, flatbed, reefer, hazmat, bonded, pneumatic, tanker), owned-chassis leasing, and integrated supply chain visibility.

Underlying the operation is a proprietary technology stack developed over more than 20 years: a drayage management system, the gwiTrack customer visibility portal, the gwiMove driver mobile app, EDI/API integration (ASC X12), and the Smart Dispatching AI platform launched in May 2026 as the first product in the Gulf Winds Intelligent Logistics initiative. The technology stack supports real-time tracking, exception-based monitoring, automated documentation, and dispatch optimization that aims to increase street turns and reduce empty miles across the network.

The business model is asset-based and transaction-priced. Revenue is generated per container move for drayage, per unload/load for transloading, per square foot/day or per diem for warehousing and chassis, and per truckload for domestic moves, with quote-based custom pricing for enterprise accounts. The go-to-market motion is consultative and sales-led, with dedicated logistics coordinators and Business Development Managers serving enterprise and mid-market importers, exporters, beneficial cargo owners, and freight forwarders. Service lines are bundled around a "single point of contact from port to door" value proposition, with certifications (DOT, PHMSA, SmartWay High Performer, OSHA Safe & Sound) supporting hazmat, bonded, and oversized cargo handling.

Name

Canal Cartage

Legal name

Canal Cartage

Website

https://canalcartage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Canal Cartage, now merged into Gulf Winds International, is an asset-based intermodal drayage and logistics provider serving importers and exporters across nine U.S. port and inland markets with owned trucks, chassis, and port-side transloading infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intermodal Drayage & Logistics Services

NAICS

Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Intermodal Drayage Coordination & Port/Rail Ramp Transfers (TLACAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Intermodal Ocean-Rail (Port Rail Drayage) (TLADAFAB), Intermodal Drayage & Cartage (First/Last Mile) (TLADAFAC)

Keywords

• Intermodal drayage services
• Container trucking logistics
• Port transloading warehousing
• Domestic freight transportation
• Chassis equipment leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Container Drayage Services: Core revenue stream from transporting shipping containers between ports, rail terminals, and final destinations. Revenue is transaction-based, billed per container move. Covers Port Houston and eight other major port and inland markets.
2. Transloading & Warehousing: Revenue from port-side transloading (unloading and reshipping cargo from ocean containers to domestic trucks/railcars) and 825K sq ft of public warehousing. Includes services such as cross-docking, consolidation, storage, lift on/off, reefer plug-ins, and rail-siding.
3. Domestic Truckload Transportation: Over-the-road truckload services using a carrier network covering dry van, flatbed, pneumatic, reefer, bonded, haz-mat, and tanker. Provides single point of contact from port to door for importers and exporters.
4. Chassis & Equipment Solutions: Revenue from providing owned chassis (company-owned fleet of 3,600+ pieces) to customers. Includes daily rentals and short/long-term leases, custom chassis solutions, and chassis tracking/monitoring dashboards.
5. Integrated Logistics & Visibility: Revenue from integrated logistics services including visibility platforms (gwiTrack), dedicated logistics coordination, and 24/7 dispatch services bundled with core drayage and transportation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Canal Cartage, now operating as Gulf Winds International following its March 2024 acquisition and 2025 merger, provides asset-based intermodal container drayage between U.S. ports, rail terminals, and final destinations, complemented by port-side transloading, public warehousing (825K sq ft), domestic truckload transportation, owned chassis leasing, and a proprietary real-time supply chain visibility platform (gwiTrack). Services target international importers and exporters requiring port-to-door logistics at nine major U.S. port and inland markets.

Product overview

Gulf Winds International (formerly Canal Cartage after March 2024 merger) operates as an integrated logistics provider offering container drayage, transloading, truckload, and visibility solutions. The core product portfolio centers on container drayage services supported by proprietary visibility platform gwiTrack, transloading and warehouse solutions, truckload transportation, and chassis solutions. The company maintains an asset-based network with company-owned trucks and over 2,900 chassis across eight port markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Drayage Asset-based container drayage services providing capacity between U.S. ports, rail terminals, and final destinations for importers and exporters. Includes local, OTR, and dedicated drayage options, port and rail intermodal service, overweight and heavy haul capabilities, and automated tracking.
• Transloading Port-side transloading services that move heavy containers within port jurisdiction and reship cargo to domestic trucks or railcars, enabling shippers to leverage one-way van rates and reduce inland transportation costs. Backed by 825K sq ft of warehouse space at strategic port locations.
• Truckload (Domestic) Domestic truckload services providing a single point of contact from port to door for importers and exporters. Offers dry van, flatbed, pneumatic, reefer, bonded, haz-mat, and tanker solutions with nationwide coverage via the company's carrier network.
• gwiTrack Visibility Platform Proprietary web-based supply chain visibility dashboard providing automated tracking and tracing, real-time status updates, automatic notifications, custom reporting, EDI/API updates, and exception-based monitoring for drayage and logistics customers.
• Chassis Solutions Company-owned chassis fleet (20', 40', and triaxle options) available through daily rentals and short/long-term leases. Equipment includes radial tires, tire inflation systems, LED lights, and in-house maintenance for decreased customer liability.
• Warehouse Solutions Public warehousing with 825K sq ft of space adjacent to Barbour's Cut and Bayport terminals, including cross-dock services, reefer plug-ins, rail-siding, USDA/FDA registered food warehouse, and industrial solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transloading can reduce inland transportation costs by up to one-third compared to round-trip container moves once reaching 250+ miles from origin
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• UIIA (Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGulf Winds is a member of UIIA, the industry-standard agreement governing interchange of intermodal equipment between motor carriers and equipment providers. UIIA membership enables Gulf Winds to legally and efficiently operate intermodal equipment at facilities nationwide.
• Major Steamship Lines (Port Houston)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGulf Winds holds interchange agreements with all steamship lines calling on Port Houston, enabling the company to pick up and deliver containers using carrier-provided chassis. This partnership is essential to drayage operations at the port.
• BNSF Railway and Union Pacific RailroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGulf Winds holds interchange agreements with both Class I railroads (BNSF and UP), enabling drayage operations at inland rail ramps across Dallas-Fort Worth, Memphis, and other intermodal hubs. Rail intermodal is a core part of the service offering.
• EPA SmartWay Transport PartnershipminorOthersGulf Winds is a SMARTWAY registered carrier and has been designated a 'High Performer' by the EPA SmartWay program, which helps freight companies measure and improve environmental performance.
• JOC.com (Journal of Commerce)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic content partnership with JOC.com (Informa/James Information Group) to co-produce the Drayage Insider section on the Gulf Winds website. JOC.com provides curated industry content, and Gulf Winds contributes thought leadership articles. The partnership provides Gulf Winds with earned media credibility and industry reach.
• TRAC (Trailer Rental Company) and DCLI (Dependable Highway Express)minorOthersChassis provider partnerships referenced in industry context. Gulf Winds primarily uses its own 3,600+ owned chassis but also maintains interchange relationships with third-party chassis providers.
• More Than The Move (Non-profit)minorOthersMore Than The Move is a non-profit created by Gulf Winds that exists to restore HOPE in lives locally and globally through financial and volunteer support of life-changing non-profits. Reflects company culture and values-based workplace approach.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hub Group: Hub Group is one of the largest U.S. intermodal and logistics providers, operating an asset-based drayage and truckload network across major ports — directly comparable to Gulf Winds/Canal Cartage's asset-based intermodal model at a larger national scale.
• Schneider National: Schneider operates one of the largest U.S. intermodal and truckload networks with port drayage exposure; comparable to Gulf Winds in the intermodal segment but at materially greater scale and as part of a broader portfolio.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt's Intermodal segment provides container drayage and rail-truck intermodal services across the U.S., overlapping with Gulf Winds' port-to-door offering though as part of a much larger, diversified carrier.
• Pacer/XPO Drayage (XPO): XPO operates an asset-based drayage and brokerage network across U.S. ports; comparable to Gulf Winds in port drayage and intermodal services as part of XPO's broader logistics portfolio.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Knight-Swift has expanded into intermodal and drayage through acquisitions; comparable to Gulf Winds in intermodal and port drayage exposure, though as part of one of the largest U.S. trucking fleets.

Direct peers

• IMC Companies: IMC is an asset-based intermodal drayage and logistics provider operating at multiple U.S. ports; it is a direct competitor to Gulf Winds/Canal Cartage in port-to-rail and port-to-door container movements.
• NFI Industries: NFI is an asset-based 3PL with dedicated drayage, warehousing, and truckload services; directly comparable to Gulf Winds' combination of owned chassis, transloading warehousing, and domestic transportation.
• RoadOne IntermodalLogistics: RoadOne is an asset-based intermodal and drayage specialist with terminals across U.S. ports; directly comparable to Gulf Winds/Canal Cartage as a port-centric drayage and container-handling competitor.

Emerging players

• DCLI (Direct ChassisLink): DCLI is one of the largest U.S. chassis pool providers and an interchange partner of Gulf Winds; comparable as a chassis-centric player in the same intermodal ecosystem, though focused on equipment leasing rather than full-service drayage.

Others

• TRAC Intermodal: TRAC is a major chassis leasing and pool manager; while not a direct drayage competitor, it operates in the same intermodal equipment ecosystem and shapes chassis availability economics that affect Gulf Winds.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CanalCartage

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canal Cartage