What Triple Crown does

Triple Crown Services, Inc. (TCS) is a privately held, wholly-owned subsidiary of Norfolk Southern Corporation that provides door-to-door intermodal transportation services across North America. Founded in 1986 originally to operate RoadRailer technology between auto plants in Detroit and Kansas City, the company retired the RoadRailer fleet in August 2024 and subsequently unified TCS with the former Thoroughbred Direct Intermodal Services (TDIS) under the Triple Crown brand. Today the company operates through two sub-brands — Triple Crown Motor Carrier Services (drayage and linehaul via contracted owner-operators) and Triple Crown Brokerage Services (third-party brokerage) — and serves the eastern 32 states plus dedicated cross-border service between Toledo, OH and Mexico.

The company's offering is organized around four core products: F.I.R.M. (Fixed Intermodal Rate Management) for long-term contracted intermodal pricing, Modal-X for dynamic self-serve spot pricing and booking on select lanes, Nor'Easter for rail pricing on privately-owned trucking trailers, and Rail Integrated Solutions for bulk transload and bundled ancillary services. Underlying technology consists of the C-Web customer portal (separate logins for motor carrier and brokerage customers), the Modal-X online booking platform hosted on NS infrastructure, EDI/API data exchange, and Omnitracs wireless communications across the contracted tractor fleet. The company accesses over 40,000 domestic 53-foot containers through the EMP (EMHU) program and operates terminals in Toledo, OH, Kansas City, MO, and Greer, SC, leveraging Norfolk Southern's Class I rail network to reach 350+ rail lanes.

Triple Crown generates revenue through per-load transaction fees, long-term FIRM contracts, dynamic Modal-X spot pricing, equipment and accessorial charges (detention, Hazmat, transload, after-hours), and brokerage arrangements. GTM combines enterprise field sales with dedicated pricing and customer service teams, a self-serve PLG motion through Modal-X, and channel distribution through Norfolk Southern and partners such as CMA CGM. Customer segments include 3PLs/intermodal marketing companies, beneficial cargo owners, steamship lines, bulk/industrial shippers, and owner-operators. Headcount is reported at 101-250 employees and the company is headquartered in Blue Bell, PA.

Name

Triple Crown

Legal name

Triple Crown Services, Inc.

Website

https://triplecrownsvc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Triple Crown Services is a wholly-owned Norfolk Southern subsidiary providing door-to-door intermodal transportation across the eastern U.S. and Mexico via four products — F.I.R.M., Modal-X, Nor'Easter, and Rail Integrated Solutions — serving 3PLs, BCOs, steamship lines, bulk shippers, and owner-operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intermodal Transportation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (48821), Rail Transportation (4821)

SIC

Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013), Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Intermodal Rail-Truck (COFC/TOFC) (TLADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intermodal Rail Forwarding (Rail-Truck / Rail-Port Drayage) (TLACADAC), Cross-Border/International Rail Freight Forwarding (TLACADAB), Intermodal Terminal Value-Added Services (Cross-Dock, Transload, Stuffing/Stripping) (TLAJAFAL)

Keywords

• Intermodal transportation services
• Rail-truck logistics
• Drayage services
• Freight brokerage
• Intermodal rail services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Intermodal Transportation Services: Triple Crown generates revenue by providing door-to-door intermodal transportation services, combining rail transport via Norfolk Southern with drayage operations. Revenue is earned through a combination of contracted long-term rates (FIRM program), dynamically priced spot transactions (Modal-X), and per-load brokerage fees. Services include FIRM (fixed intermodal rate management), Modal-X (transactional spot pricing), Nor'Easter (private trailer rail pricing), and Rail Integrated Solutions (bulk transload with bundled invoicing).
2. Drayage and Brokerage Services: Revenue from providing drayage (pickup and delivery) services for intermodal containers and acting as a freight broker connecting shippers with carriers. Revenue is earned through transaction fees and negotiated brokerage arrangements with IMCs, freight brokers, 3PLs, and trucking companies.
3. Equipment and Accessorial Fees: Revenue from equipment-related charges including detention fees, after-hours surcharges, Hazmat fees, transloading fees, and accessorial charges. Customer detention is charged after the first hour, with rates increasing based on detention duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Triple Crown Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Norfolk Southern that provides door-to-door intermodal transportation services combining rail transport with drayage operations. The company offers four core products: F.I.R.M. (Fixed Intermodal Rate Management) for long-term firm pricing, Modal-X for dynamic spot-rate pricing, Nor'Easter for private trailer rail programs, and Rail Integrated Solutions for bulk transload services. It operates across 350+ rail lanes in the eastern 32 states plus Mexico, providing logistics solutions to 3PLs, freight brokers, steamship lines, and shippers.

Product overview

Triple Crown Services is a logistics and transportation company operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Norfolk Southern, unified under the Triple Crown name following the merger of Triple Crown Services (TCS) and Thoroughbred Direct Intermodal Services (TDIS). The company offers a suite of intermodal and brokerage solutions consisting of four core products: F.I.R.M. (Fixed Intermodal Rate Management) for long-term firm pricing, Modal-X for dynamic spot-rate door-to-door intermodal, Nor'Easter for private trailer rail pricing, and Rail Integrated Solutions for bulk transload services. Two sub-brands—Triple Crown Motor Carrier Services and Triple Crown Brokerage Services (TDIS)—deliver these products through drayage operations and third-party brokerage networks. The company operates primarily in the eastern 32 states with terminals in Toledo, OH, Kansas City, MO, and Greer, SC, utilizing Norfolk Southern's rail infrastructure and a fleet of 53' domestic intermodal containers (EMP, TMX, and TCZ programs).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• F.I.R.M. Fixed Intermodal Rate Management - Firm pricing for repetitive business requiring long-term rate stability and consistent capacity in exchange for volume commitment.
• Modal-X
• Nor'Easter
• Rail Integrated Solutions

Products and services

• F.I.R.M. (Fixed Intermodal Rate Management) Long-term firm pricing product for repetitive intermodal business, offering rate stability and consistent capacity in exchange for volume commitment. Targets customers needing stable pricing across specific lanes. Customers provide beneficial cargo owner, specific origins/destinations, special requirements, volume and frequency to receive competitive intermodal package pricing.
• Modal-X Dynamically priced, door-to-door intermodal product targeting transactional spot freight opportunities. Provides real-time online pricing and booking for select lanes across North America, allowing transportation companies to enter origin/destination zip codes and pickup dates for instant rate calculation.
• Nor'Easter Roundtrip ramp-to-door pricing program for trucking companies with privately-owned trailers. Provides delivery and return of empty trailers to original terminal, enabling companies to add load capacity through better driver/tractor utilization.
• Rail Integrated Solutions Bulk transload and rail access service through Norfolk Southern facilities, bundling rail and ancillary costs into a single invoice. Includes visibility, warehousing, and network distribution capabilities for bulk and finished products.
• Triple Crown Motor Carrier Services Motor carrier drayage and linehaul services for owner-operators and trucking companies, operating within approximately 150 miles of TCS terminals in the eastern 32 states. Owner-operators provide linehaul, drayage, and related services between TCS terminals and customer locations.
• Triple Crown Brokerage Services (TDIS) Door-to-door intermodal brokerage solutions serving third-party logistics companies, steamship lines, and trucking firms with flexible, customer-driven services. Originally operated as Thoroughbred Direct Intermodal Services (TDIS), now unified under the Triple Crown brand.
• TCZU Cross-Border Mexico Intermodal Service Dedicated door-to-door cross-border intermodal service between Toledo, Ohio and Mexico utilizing a private TCZU fleet of 53' containers. Provides seamless, secure, and efficient border logistics for shippers moving freight between the U.S. and Mexico.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ rail lanes served
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Moores Lab AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2026Moores Lab AI and Triple Crown announced a strategic partnership to integrate Moores Lab's VerifAgent™ AI technology into Triple Crown's Verification-as-a-Service (VaaS) offering. The collaboration aims to accelerate silicon verification testing cycles, enabling customers to bring complex chip products to market faster while improving quality through automated verification workflows. The partnership positions both companies at the forefront of AI-enabled engineering services in semiconductor development.
• CMA CGMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 February 2026Norfolk Southern and CMA CGM launched an intermodal service using Norfolk Southern's Triple Crown Services unit to manage 40-foot ocean containers for door-to-door execution. The partnership streamlines modal shifts from highway to rail, currently available on lanes including Cleveland and Detroit to Los Angeles, and Columbus, Ohio to Seattle. Capacity is posted on Norfolk Southern's Modal-X platform.
• Norfolk SouthernflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTriple Crown Services, Inc. (TCS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norfolk Southern Corporation. Triple Crown leverages NS's intermodal rail network, terminals, and infrastructure to provide comprehensive door-to-door intermodal solutions. TCS operates in coordination with Norfolk Southern's rail network and is headquartered in Blue Bell, PA while NS is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Triple Crown also references Norfolk Southern's Loading Securement Solutions and uses NS intermodal rules circulars and private equipment billing guidelines.
• EMP (Equipment Management Program)coreTechnology or IntegrationTriple Crown utilizes the EMP (EMHU) program providing access to over 40,000 domestic 53' containers with service across all major U.S. and Canada markets. The EMP equipment prefix is EMHU, and Triple Crown manages equipment reservations and billing for customers under this program.
• COFC LogisticsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCOFC Logistics is referenced as a third-party equipment provider used by Triple Crown to offer door2door solutions. Triple Crown is always exploring new ways to extend its intermodal service network through partnerships with third-party providers.
• Norfolk Southern (Modal-X Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationModal-X utilizes the strength of the Norfolk Southern Intermodal network and the operating efficiency of Triple Crown Services in select lanes across North America. Modal-X platform is hosted at modalx-tdis.ns-direct.com and leverages NS rail infrastructure for dynamic pricing and capacity optimization.
• Zurich American Insurance CompanyminorOthersZurich American Insurance Company provides occupational accident insurance coverage facilitated by Triple Crown for owner-operators who need to meet TCS's insurance requirements. TCS also offers workers' compensation insurance through Zurich for multi-unit owner operators.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CSX Transportation: CSX is a Class I railroad operating in the eastern US with its own intermodal franchise serving the same geography as Norfolk Southern. While not a direct competitor as a marketing entity, CSX competes with TCS's parent NS for intermodal share in overlapping eastern corridors.
• BNSF Logistics: BNSF Logistics is the non-rail third-party logistics arm of BNSF Railway (a Berkshire Hathaway-owned Class I railroad), providing intermodal, truckload, LTL, and global forwarding services. It is comparable to Triple Crown as a rail-anchored logistics subsidiary, but with a western rail base and broader service portfolio.
• XPO: XPO is a major North American LTL and asset-light logistics provider with intermodal and brokerage capabilities. It is comparable to Triple Crown as a broad transportation services competitor across multiple modes, though its core LTL focus differs from TCS's intermodal-led approach.

Direct peers

• Landstar System: Landstar is an asset-light transportation services company providing truckload, intermodal, and brokerage through a network of independent agents and owner-operators. Its use of contracted capacity parallels Triple Crown's owner-operator drayage model.
• Echo Global Logistics: Echo is a non-asset-based 3PL providing truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal brokerage across North America, including rail drayage. It is comparable to Triple Crown's brokerage sub-brand (TDIS) in serving 3PLs and BCOs with multi-modal door-to-door execution.
• Hub Group: Hub Group is one of the largest North American intermodal marketing companies, offering door-to-door intermodal, drayage, brokerage, and dedicated trucking. It is a direct peer competing for the same 3PL, BCO, and steamship line customers that Triple Crown targets, with a broader national footprint including western US lanes.
• Schneider National: Schneider's Intermodal division operates a large intermodal and drayage network across North America with both company drivers and contracted capacity. It is a direct peer of Triple Crown in intermodal and brokerage services for enterprise and 3PL customers.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt's Intermodal segment is one of the largest US intermodal operations, partnering with Class I railroads (including BNSF and Norfolk Southern) to provide containerized drayage and rail service. It competes directly with TCS for shipper freight and rail-truck capacity.

Emerging players

• DrayNow: DrayNow is a digital marketplace for intermodal drayage connecting shippers, brokers, and dray carriers, focused on container tracking and electronic BOL workflows. It is comparable to Triple Crown's Modal-X platform as a digital entrant seeking to modernize intermodal booking and execution.

Regional players

• Watco Transportation Services: Watco operates short-line railroads and industrial switching/terminal services across multiple US regions, with growing intermodal and transload capabilities. It is comparable to Triple Crown as a rail-anchored terminal and intermodal operator, though with a short-line rather than Class I base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Triple Crown