Immerse yourself in the world of intermodal with BNSF’s handy glossary

By STEPHEN MANNING 
Staff writer

Intermodal freight is the use of multiple modes of transportation, like trains, trucks and ships, to move goods in containers or truck trailers from one place to another. Many of the products you use every day, from clothes to shaving cream to frozen foods to big-screen TVs, were brought to you by intermodal transportation.  

BNSF played a major role in the development of intermodal. One of our two main predecessors, Santa Fe, pioneered and popularized carrying truck trailers on flatcars, called piggyback service, starting in the 1950s. Burlington Northern (BN) was an early adopter of containerization, or moving freight in standard-sized containers, and built a network of intermodal hubs. By 1985, it had established 20 hub centers. 

Today, BNSF is the world’s leading provider for intermodal freight, moving 5.3 million units for our customers in 2024.  

Intermodal is a complex topic, with its own jargon, complete with many acronyms. Here’s a glossary of terms you’ll come across when working with BNSF’s world-class intermodal team, along with an example sentence to show how it might be used. Enjoy our intermodal glossary! 

AGS (Automated Gate System) 

Automated Gate System (AGS) technology is used at intermodal facilities and aims to reduce or eliminate manual tasks to expedite the entry and exit of trucks. It incorporates features such as cameras, sensors, and kiosks to capture information about trucks, drivers, and containers, improving efficiency and reducing wait times at the gate.

Example sentence: Thanks to BNSF's state-of-the-art Automated Gate System (AGS) at our intermodal facilities, customers benefit from faster gate processing times, ensuring their containers move efficiently through the supply chain. 

Chassis 

A special trailer or framework with wheels used by trucks to carry shipping containers over the road.

Example sentence: After delivering a container to a BNSF intermodal facility, a truck driver may drop off the chassis that was used to haul the container and then pick up another container that has already been mounted on a different chassis. 

COFC (Container on Flat Car) 

A method of transporting shipping containers directly on a flat railcar known as a well car. It’s like giving your container a first-class train ride! 
 
Example sentence: BNSF predecessor Burlington Northern (BN) was a pioneer of COFC services. 

Containerization 

The use of standardized shipping containers to transport goods. Ocean containers come in 20- and 40-feet-long options. Domestic containers can be 45, 48 or 53 feet long.

Example sentence: Containerization makes shipping with BNSF even more efficient, because the freight stays in the same container for the whole trip rather than having to be unpacked and repacked when it’s moved from one mode of transport to another.  

Double-Stack 

A method of placing one shipping container on top of another on a railcar, allowing double the freight to move efficiently. 

Example sentence: A BNSF double-stack intermodal train is the equivalent of taking 280 trucks off the highway, good for reducing emissions and road congestion. 

Drayage 

The short-distance transport of goods, often between an intermodal terminal and a nearby warehouse or distribution center. It's like a quick shuttle service for your cargo! 
 
Example sentence: BNSF's continuous drive to innovate and improve processes for truckers at our intermodal facilities makes drayage more efficient for our customers. 

Dwell 

The amount of time a container spends at a facility after arrival by train, waiting to be picked up by a truck driver – kind of like when you have a layover at an airport. The less time, the better. 
 
Example sentence: BNSF is developing the Barstow International Gateway (BIG) at Barstow, California, a strategically located facility that will reduce dwell time at Southern California ports by allowing direct transfer from ships to trains for processing inland at BIG. 

Fluidity 

The smooth and efficient movement of goods through the supply chain. It's like having a well-oiled machine! 
 
Example sentence: BNSF invests in infrastructure, applies innovation and streamlines its operations to maintain and improve the fluidity of its rail network. 

Hostler 

A vehicle that moves trailers or containers within a terminal or intermodal facility. 

Example sentence: BNSF’s Stockton, California, yard is the first facility in the U.S. fully equipped with electric hostlers, significantly reducing emissions. 

In-gate 

The process of checking a truck carrying a container or trailer into an intermodal facility. It's the official start of a container’s journey.

Example sentence: BNSF’s touchless in-gate technology speeds up the process of admitting a driver and container into an intermodal facility by coordinating the delivery before the truck even arrives on BNSF property.  

IPI (Inland Point Intermodal) 

A type of intermodal shipment that moves from an international seaport to an inland destination.  

Example sentence: BNSF's 2,200-mile Southern Transcon, which leads from Southern California ports to Chicago, is a critical route for IPI freight. 

Kiosk 

A self-service station located at intermodal facilities where drivers can quickly and easily check in and out, get instructions and handle necessary paperwork without needing direct assistance.

Example sentence: Truck drivers can use the RailPASS mobile app to input information into the kiosk at the entrance to BNSF intermodal facilities, enabling them to enter the facility more quickly than by manually entering information.  

LCL (Less-than-Container Load) 

Shipping method where a customer’s freight doesn’t fill an entire container, so it’s combined with other shipments. It's like sharing a ride with someone to save costs. 
 
Example sentence: BNSF partners with LCL service providers who save you money by combining your shipment with others in a single container, ensuring cost-effective and efficient delivery. 

LTL (Less than Truckload) 

A shipping method that transports multiple customers’ freight in one trailer. It’s like carpooling for your cargo! Just like LCL, combining shipments into a single trailer saves on cost. 
 
Example sentence: BNSF also partners with LTL service providers who offer flexible and economical solutions for smaller shipments. 

Lift 

The act of loading or unloading a container from a railcar or truck.  

Example sentence: In December 2024, BNSF set a new annual on-dock container record at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, when it surpassed 1.5 million lifts for the year! 

On-dock 

Refers to the loading and unloading of containers directly from ship to train at the port, without needing extra transport to a nearby terminal.  
 
Example sentence: With BNSF's advanced on-dock services, our customers gain a competitive edge by minimizing dwell times and maximizing the efficiency of their supply chains. 

Parcel 

A small package or shipment – at BNSF, a shipment under 150 pounds is considered a parcel. A great example is the millions of parcels BNSF ships containing gifts and supplies for the holiday season each year.  
 
Example sentence: In the days between Nov. 25 and Christmas Eve 2024, BNSF moved shipments equaling more than 76 million parcels. 

Peak Season 

The busiest time for BNSF, when there's a surge in freight volume in November and December for the holidays. It's like rush hour for cargo! 
 
Example sentence: It takes the dedication and commitment of BNSF team members during peak season to ensure millions of eagerly awaited packages arrive in time for the holidays. 

Piggyback 

An older name for transporting truck trailers on railcars – basically, giving trucks a train ride! See also TOFC (Trailer on Flat Car).

Example sentence: BNSF’s major predecessor Santa Fe was one of the first railroads to adopt piggyback shipment of truck trailers.  

Reefer 

A refrigerated container or trailer used to transport perishable goods. It's like a giant fridge on wheels. 
 
Example sentence: BNSF can ship Temperature-Controlled freight on reefer containers and trailers as part of its expedited intermodal service.  

RTG (Rubber-Tired Gantry) Cranes 

A wheeled, mobile crane used to stack and move containers at a terminal.  

Example sentence: At its Los Angeles terminal, BNSF's rubber tire gantries can go five containers high, making the most of available space. 

TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) 

A measurement for cargo capacity, based on the volume of a 20-foot by 8-foot by 8-foot container. It’s like the ruler of the shipping world. A standard 40-foot container would equal two TEUs. 
 
Example sentence: BNSF’s robust network has the capacity to handle large TEU volumes, ensuring your cargo is transported efficiently. 

TOFC (Trailer on Flat Car) 

A method of transporting truck trailers on flat railcars, combining road and rail transport. Formerly called “piggyback.”

Example sentence: BNSF’s TOFC services provide seamless integration of road and rail, giving customers the best of both worlds when it comes to moving their freight. 

Velocity 

The speed at which goods move through the supply chain. It’s a measure of efficiency. At BNSF we define velocity as the average speed a railcar or locomotive travels per day. 
 
Example sentence: BNSF’s continuous work to improve velocity on multiple fronts has made its intermodal services on average 12 percent faster than the rest of the industry.  

3PL (Third-Party Logistics) 

A company that provides logistics services to other businesses, like warehousing, transportation and inventory management. 
 
Example sentence: By working with trusted 3PL providers, BNSF is able to offer our customers customized logistics solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce costs. 

If any of these terms make sense for moving your consumer goods, learn more about BNSF, the largest intermodal railroad, handling more than one million additional intermodal loads each year compared to our competitors!