Los Angeles is the western gateway for international trade, with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach generating massive rail volumes. BNSF and Union Pacific operate major yards that funnel freight from Asia-Pacific trade routes onto transcontinental rail corridors serving the entire U.S. market.
Rail logistics services in Los Angeles
A Los Angeles shipper moving consumer goods, automotive and electronics by rail can route on BNSF or Union Pacific, and the two carriers rarely price the same lane the same way. Steel Wheel Logistics is that shipper's outsourced rail department: we price the lane, choose the routing between BNSF and UP and handle the railroad coordination that most plants no longer staff in-house. For consumer goods, automotive, electronics and agricultural products that means sourcing boxcars and autoracks, managing car ordering and supply, and watching demurrage before it accrues. Los Angeles's port access adds a rail-to-vessel option for export and import cargo; we arrange the transload leg and the terminal handoff so the rail move and the vessel schedule line up. We are a national company based in Petal, Mississippi, and work Los Angeles lanes remotely, by phone and email, the same way shippers work with the railroads themselves. Rate estimates are indicative until the serving railroad confirms them.
See what the engagement looks like on our outsourced rail department page, or the individual services.
Railroads Serving Los Angeles
Los Angeles is served by BNSF and Union Pacific, providing solid Class I railroad coverage for freight shippers in the Los Angeles metro area.
BNSF
BNSF Railway operates one of the largest rail networks in North America, covering the western two-thirds of the United States. BNSF is a major carrier for coal, grain, and industrial products.
Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad operates the largest rail network in the U.S., spanning 23 states across the western two-thirds of the country. UP handles diverse freight including industrial, coal, and agricultural products.
Understanding how Class I and short line railroads work together is key to efficient rail shipping. Read our guide: Short Line vs Class I Railroads.
Key Rail Terminals & Yards
Major rail facilities in and around Los Angeles include:
- Hobart Yard (BNSF)
- ICTF (UP)
- East Los Angeles Yard (UP)
These facilities handle car classification, transload, and bulk commodity loading and unloading operations. Learn how classification yards sort and route freight in our article: How Railroad Classification Yards Work.
Commodities Shipped by Rail
Key commodities moving by rail through Los Angeles include:
- Consumer goods
- Automotive
- Electronics
- Agricultural products
Rail is the most cost-effective way to move bulk commodities over long distances. See our rail vs truck cost comparison to understand when rail makes sense for your freight.
Priced lanes from Los Angeles
Indicative single-car estimates from our rate model for lanes we have already priced out of Los Angeles, highest rate first. Not a quote; the serving railroad confirms the rate.
| Destination | Commodity | Rail miles | Indicative rate / car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staten Island, NY | Paper | 3,060 | $19,207 |
| Brooklyn, NY | Paper | 3,069 | $18,851 |
| Newark, NJ | Paper | 3,060 | $18,817 |
| Queens, NY | Plastic pellets | 3,079 | $18,654 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Paper | 2,989 | $18,532 |
| Jersey City, NJ | Plastic pellets | 3,060 | $18,216 |
| Manhattan, NY | Plastic pellets | 3,130 | $18,145 |
| New York City, NY | Steel | 3,090 | $17,776 |
Priced lanes into Los Angeles
Indicative single-car estimates for lanes we have already priced into Los Angeles, highest rate first. Not a quote; the serving railroad confirms the rate.
| Origin | Commodity | Rail miles | Indicative rate / car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queens, NY | Paper | 3,079 | $19,254 |
| Jersey City, NJ | Paper | 3,060 | $18,816 |
| Manhattan, NY | Paper | 3,130 | $18,753 |
| Boston, MA | Plastic pellets | 3,193 | $18,370 |
| Miami, FL | Plastic pellets | 3,051 | $18,171 |
| West Raleigh, NC | Paper | 2,789 | $17,727 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | Plastic pellets | 2,912 | $17,631 |
| Baltimore, MD | Plastic pellets | 2,964 | $17,557 |
Rail transload and terminals near Los Angeles
Rail-served transload and terminal sites within 40 miles of Los Angeles from the Steel Wheel Transload Directory. If your plant has no rail spur, one of these is usually where the truck leg meets the railcar.
- MHX LLC — Vernon, CA · Transload terminal · 3 mi · Details
- Ventura Transfer Co — Commerce, CA · Transload terminal · 6 mi · Details
- A&R Transport Inc — Buena Park, CA · Third-party warehouse (rail-served) · 19 mi · Details
- Los Angeles Harbor Grain Terminal — Long Beach, CA · Transload terminal · 17 mi · Details
- Konoike Pacific — Wilmington, CA · Transload terminal · 18 mi · Details
- Vopak Terminal Los Angeles — Wilmington, CA · Third-party warehouse (rail-served) · 18 mi · Details
Distances are straight-line from the city center. Capabilities are as listed by the operator; we confirm before routing.
Multimodal & Port Connections
Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach — the nation's busiest port complex with dedicated on-dock rail facilities.
Port access gives Los Angeles shippers the advantage of rail-to-vessel transloading for international trade. Whether you are exporting or importing bulk commodities, the combination of rail and port infrastructure creates efficient multimodal supply chain options.
Learn more about how transloading works in our guide: What Is Transloading?
Get an indicative rail rate from Los Angeles
Tell us the destination and the commodity. We price the lane on BNSF and UP, confirm it with the serving railroad, and run the move as your outsourced rail department. Indicative rates in 60 seconds; a 30-minute call if you want a human on the lane.
Or call (601) 821-2199
Common questions about rail freight in Los Angeles
Which railroads serve Los Angeles?
Los Angeles, CA is served by BNSF and Union Pacific, with major facilities including Hobart Yard and ICTF. Short lines and switching carriers connect individual plants and transload sites to those Class I networks.
Does Steel Wheel Logistics handle rail freight in Los Angeles?
Yes. Steel Wheel Logistics is a national rail logistics company based in Petal, Mississippi, and works Los Angeles lanes remotely as an outsourced rail department: routing, pricing, railroad coordination, transload, demurrage management and railcar sourcing. There is no walk-in location; the work is done by phone, email and the railroads' own systems.
How do I get a rail freight rate from Los Angeles?
Run the Steel Wheel rail rate quote tool with Los Angeles, CA as the origin, plus your destination and commodity; it returns an indicative single-car estimate in about 60 seconds. Estimates are indicative, not a quote: we confirm the number with the serving railroad before you commit freight. You can also call (601) 821-2199.