Marine terminals and rail ramps run on different clocks, different paperwork and different equipment rules. What shippers should plan for on each side of a Pacific Northwest intermodal move.
A container moving through Seattle or Tacoma and a container coming off a BNSF or Union Pacific ramp both end up on the same chassis behind the same tractor. Everything before that point is different, and planning for a rail move as if it were a port move is how loads miss cutoffs.
Marine terminal moves
Marine drayage is appointment-driven and vessel-driven. Discharge sets availability, the terminal sets appointment availability, and the last free day sets your deadline. Congestion is visible and seasonal: a heavy vessel week compresses everyone's options at once.
Rail ramp moves
Rail is notification-driven. Inbound IPI containers become available when the ramp notifies, and free time on the ramp is typically shorter than marine free time. On the outbound side the controlling number is the ingate cutoff — miss it and the box rolls to the next train, which is usually a multi-day delay, not a multi-hour one.
Practical differences to plan around
- Shorter free time on the ramp than at most marine terminals
- Outbound cutoffs are hard deadlines tied to train departure
- Ramp hours and gate procedures differ from marine terminal gates
- Street-turn opportunities differ, which changes empty mileage
Why the same carrier should handle both
Many Pacific Northwest moves touch both worlds: an import discharged in Tacoma that ingates for an inland destination, or a ramp pull that stages in our yard before a Portland delivery. Running both sides on one fleet means one dispatch team owns the handoff, and the empty gets repositioned instead of paying for two separate moves.
Our coverage runs Washington, Oregon and regional lanes, including Portland and the Puget Sound corridor from Everett down through Lacey.
Frequently asked
- Is rail free time shorter than marine free time?
- Generally yes. Ramp free time is typically tighter than marine terminal free time, so an inbound rail container needs to be scheduled as soon as the notification lands.
- What happens if an outbound container misses the ingate cutoff?
- The container waits for the next available train. That is usually a delay of days rather than hours, which is why cutoff-driven scheduling matters more on rail than on marine moves.
Need this container moved?
Send the container details and our dispatch team will price the move. Dispatch runs 24/7 to discuss pickup availability in Seattle and Tacoma.