Intermodal Shipping in New Jersey
New Jersey is the single most important intermodal state on the East Coast, home to the ExpressRail intermodal terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey—the largest port complex in the eastern United States. CSX, NS, and multiple short-line railroads connect port containers to inland markets from the massive Elizabeth and Newark terminal complexes, making New Jersey the origin point for millions of intermodal container moves annually.
Industries Using Intermodal in New Jersey
These industries drive Intermodal freight demand in New Jersey.
Port & Maritime Logistics
The Port of NY/NJ handles over 9 million TEUs annually, with the ExpressRail Elizabeth and ExpressRail Port Newark terminals providing on-dock intermodal rail connections. Container ships from Asia, Europe, and Latin America feed New Jersey's intermodal pipeline to the rest of the US.
Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences
New Jersey's pharma corridor—Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi—generates high-value intermodal freight for drug distribution, medical devices, and pharmaceutical raw materials. Temperature-controlled intermodal containers serve this sector's national distribution needs.
Consumer Goods Distribution
Northern and central New Jersey host massive distribution center clusters that receive import containers from the port and redistribute nationally. Companies like Amazon, FedEx, and major retailers operate DCs along the I-95, NJ Turnpike, and I-78 corridors.
Key Intermodal Freight Lanes in New Jersey
High-volume Intermodal lanes originating in or passing through New Jersey.
Port NY/NJ → Chicago (NS/CSX)
The highest-volume intermodal lane in the eastern US. Both Norfolk Southern and CSX run multiple daily trains from New Jersey to Chicago with 2-3 day transit. This corridor carries the bulk of East Coast import redistribution to the Midwest.
Port NY/NJ → Columbus/Ohio Valley (NS/CSX)
Major intermodal corridor connecting the port to Ohio's distribution hub. NS's Heartland Corridor (double-stack cleared through West Virginia) provides efficient 2-day transit to Columbus.
Port NY/NJ → Atlanta/Southeast (NS)
Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor connects New Jersey to the Southeast with 2-3 day intermodal transit. Import containers heading to southern distribution centers use this high-frequency service.
New Jersey Regulations for Intermodal Freight
Key regulatory considerations for Intermodal shipping in New Jersey.
New Jersey Drayage Truck Regulations
New Jersey's Clean Truck Program requires drayage trucks serving port terminals to meet EPA 2010 or newer emission standards. The Port Authority of NY/NJ enforces registration and emission requirements at terminal gates. Non-compliant trucks are denied entry.
Chassis Management
The NY/NJ market uses a complex chassis provisioning system. Pool chassis (DCLI, Flexi-Van, TRAC) and carrier-owned chassis operate under Chassis Usage Agreements. Drivers must understand chassis interchange rules, and chassis shortages during peak season can add 2-4 hours to drayage transactions.
Market Insights: Intermodal in New Jersey
East Coast Gateway
Port NY/NJ handles approximately 35% of all East Coast containerized imports. The intermodal rail connections at ExpressRail terminals can move containers directly from ship to train, but only about 15% of port containers use rail—the rest are drayed by truck. Increasing the rail share is a major priority for port planners to reduce highway congestion.
Congestion & Cost
New Jersey's intermodal drayage market is among the most expensive and congested in the US. Port turn times average 60-90 minutes, chassis shortages are chronic, and NJ Turnpike tolls add $20-40+ per trip. Despite these costs, the sheer volume of freight makes NJ the dominant East Coast intermodal market.
Intermodal Shipping in New Jersey — FAQs
What intermodal terminals does New Jersey have?
New Jersey's major intermodal terminals include ExpressRail Elizabeth and ExpressRail Port Newark (on-dock port rail), NS's Croxton intermodal facility in Jersey City, CSX's North Jersey intermodal terminals, and various supporting rail facilities. This concentration of intermodal infrastructure makes northern New Jersey the East Coast's premier rail-truck exchange point.
How does the Port NY/NJ connect to intermodal?
The Port of NY/NJ offers on-dock intermodal rail at ExpressRail Elizabeth and Port Newark terminals—containers can move directly from ship to rail without truck drayage. CSX and NS provide service from these terminals to Chicago, the Southeast, and the Ohio Valley. Additionally, containers drayed from the port access NS and CSX ramps throughout northern New Jersey.
What are the biggest challenges for NJ intermodal drayage?
New Jersey drayage challenges include: chronic chassis shortages during peak season, NJ Turnpike and toll road congestion, port terminal congestion with 60-90 minute average turn times, high operating costs (tolls, fuel, labor), and strict emission requirements for terminal access. These factors make NJ drayage among the most expensive in the US at $300-$600 for short-haul moves.
Is it better to use on-dock rail or dray to an off-dock ramp in NJ?
On-dock rail at ExpressRail is typically cheaper (eliminates $300-$500 drayage) but has capacity constraints and limited service schedules. Off-dock ramps (NS Croxton, CSX terminals) offer more frequent departures and routing flexibility. For Chicago-bound containers, on-dock rail saves money; for time-sensitive or specialty routing, off-dock drayage to specific carrier ramps is often necessary.
Other Intermodal States
Freight Shipping Resources
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