Modalis
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Modalis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Modalis
- Legal name
- SAS MODALIS
- Website
- https://modalis.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Modalis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intermodal Transport Equipment Services
- NAICS
- Truck, Utility Trailer, and RV (Recreational Vehicle) Rental and Leasing (53212), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423)
- SIC
- Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Truck Trailers (3715)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intermodal Equipment & Container/Chassis Pooling (Leasing/Management) (TLADAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intermodal Terminal Value-Added Services (Cross-Dock, Transload, Stuffing/Stripping) (TLAJAFAL), Power Generation & Grid Equipment Transport (Transformers, Turbines) (TLADAGAK)
Keywords
Where Modalis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
Modalis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Rental of intermodal equipment including swap bodies, containers, chassis, and rail wagons. Offers flexible fleet management with advantages including rapid response capability, fleet adaptability, performance optimization, and fleet renewal at contract end.
- Equipment Trading: Trading of new and second-hand intermodal equipment including swap bodies, containers, chassis, and rail wagons
- Consulting and Training: Customized intermodal logistics consulting and team training services for carriers, logistics providers, shippers, and operators
- Custom Equipment Creation: Bespoke equipment solutions including custom tank containers, securing devices, access systems, and mobile storage solutions
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Modalis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Modalis (SAS Modalis) is a French intermodal logistics company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Aix-en-Provence. The company rents, trades, and provides consulting for intermodal transport equipment — including swap bodies, containers, chassis, and rail wagons — to carriers, shippers, and logistics operators across Europe. It also designs proprietary rail wagon configurations (e.g., 80ft railcar, 45ft reefer-optimized, C+8 high-performance) and has expanded via acquisition of complementary logistics businesses.
Product overview
MODALIS is an intermodal logistics solution provider established in 2002, offering a comprehensive portfolio of rental, trading, and consulting services for intermodal transport equipment. The company operates a diverse fleet including curtainsided swap bodies (rideaux coulissants), box swap bodies (fourgons), refrigerated swap bodies (frigorifiques), dry bulk containers, gas tank containers, liquid bulk tank containers, skeletal and tipping chassis (20-45 ft), and specialized intermodal rail wagons (60 ft, 80 ft). MODALIS also provides custom-built specific materials and consulting services for intermodal logistics optimization. The group has expanded through acquisitions including CCFC (container manufacturer) and AIR FLOW (hydrogen and industrial gas logistics), and is developing new infrastructure including a rail terminal at Dunkerque port. The company's mission focuses on decarbonizing transport through modal shift solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Swap body rental and leasing
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% reduction in carbon footprint for urban logistics
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Modalis
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Modalis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Modalis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dunkerque PortcoreJoint development of rail-road terminal at Dunkerque port - 96,000 m² facility expected to handle 4 trains daily and avoid 70,000 tCO₂ per year
- AIR FLOWcoreStrategic acquisition of hydrogen and industrial gas logistics specialist in October 2024, enabling expansion into new energy logistics and modal shift projects
- CCFC (Centro Costruzioni Furgonature e Containers)coreAcquisition by MODALIS group in November 2023, adding Italian specialist in containers and vehicle body construction to the group
- TATRAVAGONKAcoreSigning at INNOTRANS Berlin 2022 with Slovak rail wagon manufacturer to develop the most modern wagon in Europe
- CFL multimodal SAminorPartnership in Noah's Train project - MODALIS provided 2 new 40ft wagons to support rail freight promotion and environmental objectives in Europe
- LAGcore20-year partnership with equipment supplier providing mobile silos, tipping chassis and other equipment - celebrated at SITL 2022
- RDT 13minorClient for waste transport equipment - 110 wagons and 400 containers delivered for EveRé incinerator waste transport
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Modalis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Railpool: European locomotive and passenger/freight rolling stock lessor, headquartered in Munich. Comparable to Modalis's wagon rental business, though Railpool focuses on locomotives alongside wagons and operates a broader European footprint.
- Akiem: European rolling stock leasing company providing locomotives, passenger trains, and freight wagons. Directly comparable to Modalis's rail wagon leasing and maintenance business, with similar target customers among European rail operators and freight carriers.
- Wascosa: Swiss-headquartered rail wagon leasing company focused on intermodal and freight wagons across Europe. Closely comparable to Modalis in offering intermodal wagon rental and management services to carriers and shippers, though with a larger wagon fleet.
- CFL multimodal: Luxembourg-based intermodal transport operator offering rail-road combined transport services across Europe. Comparable to Modalis as both operate in European intermodal logistics; Modalis has supplied equipment to CFL multimodal as a customer (Noah's Train partnership).
- TIP Trailer Services: European trailer leasing, rental, and maintenance provider offering a broad fleet including chassis and container chassis. Comparable to Modalis's trailer and chassis leasing business, with similar B2B rental model and pan-European depot network.
- Touax: French-listed leasing company specializing in modular containers, swap bodies, and freight wagons for intermodal transport in Europe. Closely comparable to Modalis in leasing swap bodies and intermodal equipment across geographies, with overlapping customer segments.
- Beacon Intermodal Leasing: Global container and chassis leasing company serving intermodal transport operators. Comparable to Modalis in the container and chassis pooling/rental business, particularly for intermodal logistics providers in European and global trade lanes.
Broad incumbents
- GATX Corporation: Global railcar leasing company headquartered in Chicago, with significant European operations. Comparable to Modalis in the rail wagon and equipment leasing model, though operating at vastly greater scale across multiple continents and asset classes.
- Ermewa: European rail freight wagon leasing subsidiary of SNCF, offering a broad portfolio of tank, covered, and intermodal wagons. Comparable to Modalis in the rail wagon rental market but with significantly larger fleet, broader geographic coverage, and state-backed ownership.
- Textainer: One of the world's largest intermodal container lessors, operating a global fleet of standard and specialized containers. Comparable to Modalis in the container leasing business, though at much larger scale and with deeper ocean carrier relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Modalis social profiles
Digital presenceModalis compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Modalis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Modalis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Modalis subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Modalis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Modalis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Modalis
What does Modalis do?
Modalis (SAS Modalis) is a French intermodal logistics company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Aix-en-Provence. The company rents, trades, and provides consulting for intermodal transport equipment — including swap bodies, containers, chassis, and rail wagons — to carriers, shippers, and logistics operators across Europe. It also designs proprietary rail wagon configurations (e.g., 80ft railcar, 45ft reefer-optimized, C+8 high-performance) and has expanded via acquisition of complementary logistics businesses.
Is Modalis a public or private company?
Modalis is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Modalis founded?
Modalis was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Modalis based?
Modalis is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Modalis make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are equipment Trading, consulting and Training and custom Equipment Creation.
Who are Modalis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Railpool, Akiem, Wascosa, CFL multimodal, TIP Trailer Services, Touax and Beacon Intermodal Leasing. Broad incumbents are GATX Corporation, Ermewa and Textainer.
Does Modalis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Modalis.
What industry is Modalis in?
Modalis's product category is Intermodal Transport Equipment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADAFAD, Intermodal Equipment & Container/Chassis Pooling (Leasing/Management), with a secondary code of TLAJAFAL, Intermodal Terminal Value-Added Services (Cross-Dock, Transload, Stuffing/Stripping). Its NAICS code is 53212 and its SIC code is 7359.