Rail and intermodal freight.
Rail for the long haul, coordinated with the road legs at each end. Equipment and routing matched to the shipment.
Explore the service details
Setara Logistics is a freight forwarder in Vaughan, Ontario that books container-on-rail across the CN and CPKC networks. We line up the drayage at both ramps, so one account manager owns the whole move. Rail is cost-effective on the long inland lanes and a lower-emission alternative to over-the-road when timing allows.
Long-haul by rail, trucked at both ends.
Intermodal is the work of putting your container on the most economical leg for each part of the route: rail for the long inland haul, truck for the first and last mile. We sequence the handoffs between modes rather than leave them to chance.
More about this service
At the GTA ramps, CN Brampton and CPKC Vaughan, Setara Transport, our group’s carrier, runs the drayage. At the far-end ramps we book vetted partner carriers, including at CN Taschereau and CPKC Lachine in Montreal for containers off the Port of Montreal ocean leg. You never source a separate trucker at either end.
Where a shipment is too time-critical for the ramp schedule, we will quote straight trucking instead and let you compare. Customs, when the container crosses a border, is coordinated through a licensed customs broker partner.
What intermodal includes.
Container-on-rail, CN and CPKC
Your container moves on CN or CPKC intermodal rail for the long inland haul, the cost-effective choice when the schedule has room for the ramp timing.
See all modesRamp drayage, both ends
We book the drayage at both ends and time it to the rail schedule, so there is no gap between the rail leg and the road leg.
See Setara TransportFrom quote to proof of delivery.
01Quote and book
You send origin, destination, and the container detail. We quote the intermodal lane against straight road and book the rail.
02First-mile drayage
We book the pickup and the dray to the origin ramp, timed to the rail schedule.
03Rail line-haul
Your container moves on the CN or CPKC network for the long inland leg, with status from ramp to ramp.
04Delivery and POD
We book the dray from the destination ramp and confirm delivery, with customs coordinated through our customs broker partner on cross-border moves.
Rail and intermodal FAQ.
What is intermodal rail freight?
Intermodal rail moves your container on a train for the long inland leg and on a truck at each end. We book container-on-rail across the CN and CPKC networks and line up the drayage at both ramps, so one account manager owns the whole move.
When does rail cost less than trucking?
Rail tends to win on the long inland lanes, where distance makes over-the-road expensive. On shorter or time-critical lanes, road can be the better call. Send us the origin, destination, and timeline and we will quote both so you can compare. Our guide explains when intermodal is cheaper than trucking, lane by lane.
Do you handle drayage to and from the rail ramps?
Yes. At the GTA ramps, CN Brampton and CPKC Vaughan, the drayage runs on Setara Transport trucks. At Montreal and the far-end ramps, we book vetted partner carriers. Dedicated account manager owns the move from pickup to delivery.
Is rail a lower-emission option?
Rail is a lower-emission alternative to over-the-road on the inland legs, which can help when timing allows for it. We will flag where an intermodal lane fits your schedule so you can weigh the cost and emissions trade-off against straight trucking.
How does customs work on an intermodal move?
Customs entries are filed by our licensed customs broker partner, coordinated alongside the rail booking so clearance is ready when the container reaches the ramp. We do not file entries in-house; the broker holds the licence and files with CBSA or CBP. See customs coordination.
Related services and guides.
Moving a container down a long inland lane?
Send us the lane and the container detail. We will quote intermodal rail against straight road and coordinate the drayage at both ends.
Request a quote Talk to a logistics specialist