Schneider moves eastern intermodal business from CSX to Norfolk Southern starting in November

Schneider National said on Oct. 29 that it will move its primary eastern rail business from CSX to Norfolk Southern, according to FreightWaves and Truck News. FreightWaves reported on Oct. 30 that the switch takes effect in November. The companies did not give a transition date or financial terms.

Schneider is one of the largest intermodal players in the country. The companies say it runs about 23,900 chassis and 26,800 containers, reaches more than 60 rail hubs in North America, and uses its own drivers for more than 90% of its domestic dray moves.

What Norfolk Southern is offering

Norfolk Southern said its intermodal volumes grew 3% in the third quarter of 2026, which it attributed to steady consumer demand, favorable truck-market conditions and network improvements. According to FreightWaves, the railroad is adding Cincinnati to Atlanta service, improving double-stack clearances on its East Edge route between the Midwest and New England, and expanding terminals in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina and Illinois. It is also upgrading terminals in Atlanta, Louisville, Harrisburg, Chicago and St. Louis, with the aim of cutting driver dwell time.

Schneider said the partnership will widen its market access and add capacity flexibility. Both companies said they want to pull freight that now moves by truck onto rail. FreightWaves noted the move comes while Norfolk Southern pursues a merger with Union Pacific, and that a longer-term link could ease transfers between railroads. The status of that deal was not given in the article.

What it means for carriers

Truckload carriers in the East should expect more intermodal competition on longer hauls, especially where the new Norfolk Southern service lanes open up. Dray work near the terminals being upgraded may be the more stable business, since faster terminal turns help drivers who are paid by the move.

What shippers and brokers should watch

- Whether Schneider's intermodal offers on eastern lanes change once freight starts moving in November.
- Terminal dwell and ramp reliability at the Norfolk Southern hubs named above.
- Any announcement from CSX about how it will respond to the lost volume.
- Pricing. Neither company has disclosed rates or any discount against truckload, so shippers should ask for quotes rather than assume savings.

Contract bids tied to eastern intermodal lanes are the first place this will show up. Brokers who place freight with intermodal providers may want to confirm which railroad each provider will use after the switch.