CSX Transportation Intermodal

What CSX Transportation Intermodal does

CSX Transportation Intermodal (CSXT Intermodal) is a wholly-owned operating division of CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) and one of North America's largest intermodal rail service providers, serving markets east of the Mississippi River. The division was founded in 1837 and operates a network of more than 40 intermodal terminals, supported by more than 500 channel partners and connections with all Class I railroads. It moves over two million containers annually across approximately 2,000 routes and serves as a key infrastructure node for shippers, beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), intermodal marketing companies (IMCs), trucking carriers, third-party logistics providers, and international shippers.

The division's core service products include RailPlus (door-to-door rail-truck service for both international and domestic containers), UMAX (a joint intermodal service with Union Pacific providing access to western markets), and CSXU containers (used for domestic shipments routed via BNSF interchange). Underlying technology assets include the proprietary H2R Optimizer freight analysis tool, XGate automated gate systems at major terminals, and zero-emission electric rail-mounted gantry cranes deployed at the Carolina Connector (CCX) terminal. The division participates in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), enabling expedited customs clearance for international cargo.

Revenue is generated through four primary mechanisms: linehaul transportation charges on containers, per diem fees on leased containers and chassis, fuel surcharge programs tied to diesel price indices, and demurrage/storage charges on equipment held at terminals. Customer segments span large enterprise shippers, mid-market BCOs, asset-based truckers, and global ocean carriers seeking inland North American reach. Capital intensity is high, with multi-hundred-million-dollar investments in terminal automation, clearance projects (e.g., the National Gateway double-stack initiative), and the CCX greenfield terminal.

Name

CSX Transportation Intermodal

Legal name

CSX Transportation, Inc.

Website

https://intermodal.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1837

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

CSX Transportation Intermodal is a division of CSX Corporation operating one of North America's largest intermodal rail networks, moving more than two million containers annually across 2,000 routes via 40-plus terminals east of the Mississippi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intermodal Rail Transportation Services

NAICS

Rail Transportation (482), Line-Haul Railroads (482111), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011), Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTLADAFAF

Intermodal Network Operators & Marketing Companies (IMCs)

Transportation & Logistics/Freight Transportation (Air, Maritime, Rail, Trucking)/Intermodal Freight Transport (Rail-Truck/Ocean-Rail)

SECONDARYTLADAFAE

Intermodal Terminal Operations (Rail Ramps/Port Intermodal Yards)

Transportation & Logistics/Freight Transportation (Air, Maritime, Rail, Trucking)/Intermodal Freight Transport (Rail-Truck/Ocean-Rail)

SECONDARYTLADAFAD

Intermodal Equipment & Container/Chassis Pooling (Leasing/Management)

Transportation & Logistics/Freight Transportation (Air, Maritime, Rail, Trucking)/Intermodal Freight Transport (Rail-Truck/Ocean-Rail)

SECONDARYTLACAEAC

Rail Intermodal Forwarding (Container/Rail-Ramp)

Transportation & Logistics/Freight Forwarding & Customs Brokerage/Multimodal/Intermodal Freight Forwarding

SECONDARYTLADAFAC

Intermodal Drayage & Cartage (First/Last Mile)

Transportation & Logistics/Freight Transportation (Air, Maritime, Rail, Trucking)/Intermodal Freight Transport (Rail-Truck/Ocean-Rail)

SECONDARYTLAJAFAL

Intermodal Terminal Value-Added Services (Cross-Dock, Transload, Stuffing/Stripping)

Transportation & Logistics/Transportation Infrastructure & Operations (Roads, Rail Networks, Traffic Management)/Intermodal & Freight Rail Yards / Terminals Operations

Keywords

• Intermodal rail transportation
• Door-to-door freight
• Rail container programs
• Freight network optimization
• Cross-border rail shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Intermodal Rail Transportation Services: CSXT provides intermodal rail transportation services combining the superior economics of rail transportation with the short-haul flexibility of trucks. Revenue generated through transportation of containers and trailers over the CSX rail network serving markets east of the Mississippi River.
2. Rail Asset Programs (UMAX, CSXU): Joint interline container programs providing customers with access to CSXT's network and connectivity with Union Pacific (UMAX) and BNSF (CSXU). Revenue from container per diem charges, ramp-to-ramp and door-to-door service fees.
3. RailPlus Door-to-Door Service: Complete door-to-door intermodal service product offering MORE capacity, reliability, service, and markets. Includes drayage services at origin and destination.
4. Special Price Quotes (SPQ): Custom pricing for hazardous materials, restricted commodities, tanks, open top or flat rack containers. Market-based pricing under Simplified/Dynamic Pricing.
5. Equipment and Storage Charges: Revenue from private equipment storage charges, rail controlled equipment per diem and storage, and secondary lift charges.
6. Fuel Surcharge: Weekly fuel surcharge for rail-controlled equipment and monthly for all other traffic, based on DOE Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Prices Index.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CSX Transportation Intermodal provides Class I rail-based intermodal container transportation services across the eastern United States through 40+ terminals. Its offerings combine rail line-haul efficiency with truck drayage flexibility, including door-to-door RailPlus service, single-line-haul network container programs (UMAX with Union Pacific, CSXU with BNSF), cross-border Mexico transit (Passport), and integrated customer technology such as H2R Optimizer, ShipCSX, and the Carbon Calculator.

Product overview

CSX Transportation Intermodal operates as one of North America's largest intermodal rail service providers, combining the superior economics of rail transportation with the short-haul flexibility of trucks through a network of over 40 terminals serving all major markets east of the Mississippi River. The core product portfolio centers on RailPlus (door-to-door service), UMAX (joint domestic container program with Union Pacific), and CSXU containers (BNSF-connected domestic service), supplemented by the H2R Optimizer proprietary freight analysis tool that identifies highway-to-rail conversion opportunities. Supporting infrastructure includes major terminals like Carolina Connector (CCX) in North Carolina and Northwest Ohio Terminal adjacent to Logistics Park Ohio, while the ShipCSX customer portal provides end-to-end shipment management capabilities including tracking, billing, and freight claims processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RailPlus: Complete door-to-door intermodal service product offering capacity, reliability, service, and market access.
• UMAX
• Passport Services
• H2R Optimizer
• LEADS

Products and services

• RailPlus door-to-door intermodal service Door-to-door intermodal container service that combines rail line-haul with truck drayage, billed on a single invoice, offered to large shippers seeking simplified end-to-end freight moves.
• UMAX interline network container program Single-line-haul intermodal service jointly marketed by CSX Transportation and Union Pacific, providing 22 lanes across 17 metropolitan areas to deliver nationwide reach without interchange handoffs.
• CSXU interline network container program Single-line-haul intermodal service jointly marketed by CSX Transportation and BNSF Railway, offering 15 lanes across 9 metropolitan areas for seamless coast-to-coast container moves.
• Passport cross-border Mexico service Cross-border container service that coordinates customs paperwork, ACE/ACH processing, and rail-line haul between Mexico and U.S. destinations through interchange with connecting carriers.
• Private Asset customer service Specialized service for shippers who own or lease their own private intermodal containers, chassis, and refrigerated containers, providing rail transportation for self-supplied equipment.
• Carolina Connector (CCX) intermodal terminal State-of-the-art intermodal terminal in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, designed to consolidate freight and reduce drayage distances for shippers across the Carolinas and Southeast.
• Northwest Ohio intermodal terminal Anchor intermodal terminal in Northwest Ohio serving Midwest markets and freight consolidation, providing long-haul intermodal rail capacity for shippers in the region.
• H2R Optimizer freight analysis tool Proprietary interactive tool that analyzes highway-versus-rail freight efficiency for shippers' lanes, helping determine whether door-to-door rail is more cost-effective than truck transport.
• ShipCSX customer platform Self-serve digital platform that provides customers with shipment tracking, tracing, billing, rate quotes, and shipment management capabilities.
• Carbon Calculator emissions tool Tool that allows shippers to quantify the carbon emissions savings achieved by shifting freight from highway to rail intermodal transport, supporting sustainability reporting.
• LEADS Program Customer education and case-study program that documents shipper success stories and measurable emissions reductions achieved by converting freight from highway to rail intermodal.
• Build-a-Shipment Map Interactive map-based tool that lets shippers build and visualize intermodal lanes, service options, and routings across the CSXT network.

Quantifiable outcome

• At least 15% cost savings on freight moves over 500 miles
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Canadian National Railway (CN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 August 2020CSX-CN Interline Service provides improved interline product for international and private asset containers between the Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey markets and the Montreal and Toronto markets.
• Union PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMAX is a joint domestic interline intermodal container program offered by CSXT Intermodal and Union Pacific. Features over 600 service lanes and a fleet of more than 30,000 53' domestic containers, providing customers with expanded market reach across North America with faster, more frequent train schedules. UMAX provides ramp-to-ramp and door-to-door service.
• BNSF RailwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSXU containers provide 53-foot network-based containers with connections to BNSF for nationwide coverage. Door-to-door service offering through partnership enabling access to BNSF's Western network.
• Blume Global (formerly REZ-1)coreTechnology or IntegrationBlume Global is the platform for UMAX/CSXU equipment reservations. Empowering digital era in global supply chain ecosystem with focus on growth, innovation, efficiency and cost reductions. Customers use Blume for equipment reservations and storage charge management.
• Yusen LogisticsnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYusen Logistics worked with CSXT Intermodal to help food ingredient company (LFIC) convert from highway to intermodal rail. Provided customized loading solutions and demonstrated intermodal viability to overcome customer concerns about service levels.
• Channel Partners (Trucking Companies, IMCs, 3PLs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 500 transportation providers including trucking companies, intermodal marketing companies and 3PLs that work with CSXT to coordinate BCO moves. Together provide in-depth industry insight and comprehensive transportation solutions to help customers avoid supply chain disruption.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSX is C-TPAT member working with CBP to provide safe, secure transportation. Participants in C-TPAT receive benefits under U.S./Mexico FAST initiative and expedited processing.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Canadian National Railway (Intermodal): CN is CSXT's interline partner for the Philadelphia/New York/New Jersey-to-Montreal/Toronto service and operates its own intermodal network spanning the central transcontinental corridor. It overlaps on cross-border lanes and competes for international intermodal volumes moving through Eastern Canadian gateways.
• Hub Group: Hub Group is one of the largest intermodal marketing companies in North America, buying rail capacity from Class I carriers (including CSXT) and bundling it with drayage for BCOs. It competes with CSXT's direct sales motion and is a meaningful channel partner whose volumes can shift between Class I railroads.
• Norfolk Southern (Intermodal): Norfolk Southern operates a competing Class I intermodal rail network in the Eastern U.S., directly overlapping CSXT's geography across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. They compete head-to-head for the same BCO volumes on similar lane structures and offer comparable interline connections to Western Class I railroads.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services (Intermodal): J.B. Hunt operates the largest U.S. intermodal container fleet and is both a major customer of Class I rail (including CSXT) and a direct competitor through its own drayage and marketing capabilities. Its intermodal segment is publicly disclosed and benchmarked against rail-owned intermodal businesses like CSXT's.
• Union Pacific (Intermodal): Union Pacific operates the second Western U.S. Class I intermodal network and is CSXT's UMAX joint-program partner. UP's single-line Western service competes with CSXT's interline-dependent Western offerings, while UMAX leverages UP-CSXT integration as a combined market differentiator.
• BNSF Logistics / BNSF Railway Intermodal: BNSF operates the largest Western U.S. intermodal network and is both a CSXT joint-program partner (CSXU) and a competitor for transcontinental volumes. Its single-line Western reach contrasts with CSXT's east-of-Mississippi positioning, making it the natural counterpart in North American intermodal competition.
• Schneider National (Intermodal): Schneider operates a sizable intermodal container fleet and is both a customer of Class I rail capacity and a competitor in the truckload/intermodal conversion market. Its scale and dedicated intermodal capacity make it a benchmark comparable to CSXT's UMAX/CSXU offerings.

Regional players

• Kuehne+Nagel (North America Intermodal): Kuehne+Nagel operates a global forwarding and intermodal business with significant North American volumes through its Apex Logistics subsidiary. It competes for the same international container business that CSXT serves through Eastern U.S. ports and via its Passport Service to Mexico.

Emerging players

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: C.H. Robinson is the largest U.S. freight broker and arranges intermodal capacity alongside truckload. It is a competing route for shippers evaluating highway-vs-intermodal options and a channel partner/advisor in many of the same BCO accounts that CSXT targets directly.
• XPO (now part of RXO) Intermodal: RXO continues portions of the legacy XPO intermodal/brokerage business and competes for shipper freight dollars in the truckload-to-intermodal conversion space. While not a direct rail operator, it competes for the same shipper wallet share that CSXT's H2R Optimizer targets.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csx-transportation-intermodal

Compliance1 record

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 CSX Transportation Intermodal