Drayage
Best in class service meets the rails.
- 01 Cargo Departs From Origin Port At this point, CR Express can track and trace the ETA of the container to its destination Port/Rail.
- 02 Container Arrives At Destination Port/Rail CR Express departs for pickup when the cargo is available, ensuring that charges at the Port/Rail are minimized/mitigated.
- 03 CR Express Recovers The Container From The Port/Rail CR Express recovers the container from the Port/Rail.
- 04 Container Transload If the decision is to transload the container, CR Express facilities can accomplish this task, while performing other services like palletizing and shrink wrapping the cargo for its next destination(s).
- 05 Container Termination CR Express will terminate the container once the import shipment is complete.
Inbound Container Process
From Origin to Final Destination
- 01 Export booking All documentation is provided to CR Express for the Export Booking.
- 02 Empty container pick up Once the cargo is ready for pickup, CR Express dispatches a driver to an empty container yard to retrieve the container that will be loaded.
- 03 Loader container delivery CR Express delivers the container with ease to any Rail/Port where the outbound shipment needs to go.
Outbound Container Process
From Shipper Door to Rail/Port
Industry-Leading Equipment & Fleet
Our privately-owned chassis fleet and specialized equipment ensure reliable container drayage services with no supply shortages or delays.
Privately-Owned Chassis
Protection from supply shortages with our dedicated fleet of container chassis available 24/7.
- 20ft, 40ft & 45ft capacity
- Tri-axles for heavy containers
- Always available fleet
- No supply chain delays
7-Day Operations
Round-the-clock railyard pickup capabilities Monday through Sunday for maximum flexibility.
- Monday-Sunday availability
- Weekend pickup/drop-off
- 24/7 dispatch support
- Afterhours expedited pickups or deliveries
500+ Container Storage
Massive container parking capacity throughout Chicagoland area for flexible staging and storage.
- 500+ parking spots available
- Strategic Chicagoland locations
- Secure container staging
- Flexible storage solutions
Strategic Railyard Network
Our access to 21 major railyards all across Chicagoland provides unmatched intermodal connectivity and the fastest container pickup and delivery times in the region.
North Railyard Network
North Railyard Rate (CPB) - Direct access to northern Chicago rail networks with connections to Canadian markets.
City Railyard Network
CSX/NS/BNSF Corwith/ITI Chicago/CGI Forest View/Integrated 35th/Yards/Jerrys - Comprehensive inner-city rail access across all major carriers.
South Railyard Network
CN Harvey/NFS Calumet/Integrated Harvey - Strategic southern Chicago positioning for southeastern and Gulf Coast markets.
Elwood/Joliet Network
LPC/G4/CN Joliet/ITI Wilmington/Conglobal Joliet/Integrated Elwood/Delong/CCIS - Primary intermodal hub with fastest east-west rail corridor access.
Comprehensive coverage across Midwest with established delivery networks.
All across Chicagoland for maximum intermodal connectivity.
Round-the-clock operations for time-sensitive container movements.
Seamless Intermodal Process
Our streamlined container drayage process ensures efficient movement from rail to final destination with complete visibility.
Rail Arrival Notification
Automated notifications when containers arrive at railyard facilities with immediate pickup scheduling.
Rapid Container Pickup
Same-day or next-day container retrieval using our dedicated chassis fleet and experienced drivers.
Flexible Delivery Options
Direct delivery to final destination or strategic staging at our container storage facilities as needed.
Real-Time Tracking
Complete visibility throughout the drayage process with GPS tracking and proactive status updates.
Competitive Supply Chain Advantages
No Equipment Shortages
Our privately-owned chassis fleet eliminates dependency on third-party equipment availability, ensuring consistent service delivery.
Scaleable Capacity
With 500+ container storage spots and dedicated chassis, we provide flexible and scaleable capacity to meet your needs during peak shipping seasons.
Rapid Transit Times
Access to 21 major railyards all across Chicagoland enables the fastest container pickup and delivery times in the Chicago market.
Free Drop Zones
Strategically located free drop zones in various cities reduce your transportation costs and provide flexible delivery options.
Drayage Services FAQ
Get answers about our container drayage and railyard services
Do you have your own chassis fleet for container drayage?
Yes, we have a privately-owned chassis fleet that protects against supply shortages. Our dedicated fleet includes 20ft, 40ft & 45ft capacity chassis, tri-axles for heavy containers, and is available 24/7 with no supply chain delays.
How many railyards do you serve in the Chicago area?
We have access to 21 major railyards all across Chicagoland, providing unmatched intermodal connectivity. This includes North Railyard Network (CPB), City Railyard Network (CSX/NS/BNSF), South Railyard Network (CN Harvey/NFS Calumet), and Elwood/Joliet Network (LPC/G4/CN Joliet).
What are your operating hours for drayage services?
We offer 7-day operations with round-the-clock railyard pickup capabilities Monday through Sunday. We provide weekend pickup/drop-off, 24/7 dispatch support, and afterhours expedited pickups or deliveries for maximum flexibility.
How much container storage capacity do you have?
We have massive container parking capacity with 500+ container storage spots throughout the Chicagoland area. Our strategic locations provide secure container staging and flexible storage solutions for your drayage needs.
How quickly can you pick up containers from railyards?
Our seamless intermodal process includes automated notifications when containers arrive at railyard facilities with immediate pickup scheduling, same-day or next-day container retrieval using our dedicated chassis fleet, and complete visibility throughout the drayage process with GPS tracking.
What cities do you serve with drayage services?
We serve 300+ cities with comprehensive coverage across the Midwest. Our 21 major railyards all across Chicagoland provide maximum intermodal connectivity with 24/7 availability for time-sensitive container movements.
The CR Express Way
Our goal is to provide a level of customer service that allows our customers a worry-free experience. With that in mind, we work to develop comprehensive service plans tailored to meet our customer’s specific needs
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