Union Pacific: Intermodal Uses Rail and Truck to Access Top Consumer Markets

Intermodal Reach Screencap | LR

A leader in intermodal transportation, Union Pacific provides shippers access to top tier freight, trucking, and rail shipping networks in North America.

Union Pacific has the largest intermodal network in North America, reaching more of the nation’s top tier metropolitan markets faster and more frequently than any other railroad.

We have “Z trains” built for speed. We have 32 intermodal ramps geographically situated for ease of access. And we connect businesses and consumers in Mexico and Canada with fast, premium intermodal border service.

We even provide connections to the east, offering fast freight interchanges with other railroads and access into northeast and southeast markets.

Union Pacific’s premium rail franchise has the largest intermodal footprint in North America focused on customer growth, making it the Best in the West.

“Whether its automotive parts, appliances or consumer goods, we can get your products where you need them, and we can do it efficiently, consistently and with huge environmental savings,” said Kenny Rocker, executive vice president of Marketing & Sales.

Union Pacific Intermodal Service Reaches Top Markets

Union Pacific's competitive intermodal service helps connect customers with top markets across North America.

Market Access

Union Pacific offers 20 unmatched franchise lanes that blanket two-thirds of the western U.S. and connect some of the nation’s biggest market hubs: Chicago, Kansas City, Houston, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, and both Northern and Southern California.

• We connect Los Angeles to 18 market hubs.
• We connect Chicago to 15 market hubs.
• We connect Texas to 23 market hubs.
• We connect Northern California to 11 market hubs.
• We connect Seattle and Portland to 13 market hubs.

Unmatched Cross-Border Service

We offer premium intermodal services to both Canada and Mexico, making it easier and faster to transport goods and products across the border.

Compared to our competitors, Union Pacific has the shortest route between Mexico and Chicago. And, we are the only railroad with access to all six gateways into the growing Mexico markets.

Our premium intermodal services can move goods between Canada and Mexico in seven days:

Eagle Premium delivers seamless interchanges between Mexico, Chicago, the West Coast and Detroit, Michigan, Louisville and Kentucky.
Falcon Premium was developed jointly with Canadian National and Grupo Mexico, and services all CN points within Canada and Detroit.

Providing Accessible Intermodal Terminals

Over the last few years, Union Pacific has significantly expanded our terminal footprint to meet the geographical and capacity needs of our customers. We’ve made it easier and quicker to access our network.

• We provide 24/7 service at more than 20 of our 32 terminal ramps.
• We’ve added nearly one million in incremental lift capacity since 2021.
• We developed three new intermodal ramps in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Inland Empire in California, and Phoenix, Arizona.

Stepping Up Our Game

In the past few years, as the demand for intermodal services has grown, Union Pacific has been a leader in developing new ways to meet our customers’ needs.

• Our “Z Train” service can transport goods from Southern California to the Chicago area in three days.
• On-dock loading at Port Houston provides customers’ direct rail access to 11 key metropolitan markets, eliminating drayage at the port.
• We enhanced driver experience at our terminals with a mobile app that allows for quicker ingate and outgate validations, ramp navigation and problem resolution for drivers.
• We installed Precision Gate Technology (PGT) that allows for efficient access to and from our ramps and a rolling-gate experience for drivers.

Connecting Shippers to Diversified Partners

Union Pacific has an extensive list of channel partners that elevate our services and can help provide our customers drayage services on a shipment’s critical first and last mile. The partners can work with shippers of any size to ease the transition from trucks to trains.

Whether it’s partnering with other railroads or trucking companies, our goal is to provide our customers with seamless service from beginning to end.

Union Pacific Railroad is ready to grow with you and your business. Let’s connect.

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