How container drayage works in Atlanta
Atlanta's import containers come by train to three rail ramps: Norfolk Southern's Inman and Whitaker yards and CSX's Fairburn terminal. Many shippers also truck boxes the 250 miles to and from the Port of Savannah. Local carriers deliver to warehouses all around the I-285 perimeter.
- Rail ramps
- NS Inman Yard, NS Whitaker (Austell), CSX Fairburn
- Port link
- Savannah, about 250 miles via I-16 and I-75
- Warehouses
- Fulton Industrial, South Fulton, McDonough, Braselton
- Freight
- International boxes plus domestic 53-foot containers
More about drayage in Atlanta
Atlanta has three active intermodal terminals. Norfolk Southern's Inman Yard in northwest Atlanta is its largest, sharing space with a classification yard and handling about 250,000 lifts a year. Norfolk Southern's Whitaker terminal in Austell, opened in 2001 on 450 acres, adds capacity for about 300,000 lifts. CSX consolidated its Atlanta intermodal work at Fairburn, southwest of the city, after closing its older Hulsey yard near downtown in 2019.
Containers arriving at these ramps come from Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk and the West Coast ports, along with domestic 53-foot boxes from the Northeast, Midwest and Texas. Local carriers deliver them to warehouses that ring the city along Interstates 75, 85 and 20 and the Interstate 285 perimeter, from Fulton Industrial Boulevard and South Fulton to Henry County, McDonough, Braselton and Cartersville.
Many Atlanta shippers also truck containers directly to and from the Port of Savannah, about 250 miles southeast on Interstate 16 and Interstate 75. That long-haul port drayage is a big business in its own right and competes with rail for time-sensitive freight.
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Rail ramps
Railroads
Norfolk Southern · CSX
Main highways
I-285 · I-75 · I-85 · I-20 · I-16 · I-575 · I-985 · GA-400
Container terminals and rail ramps in Atlanta
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Atlanta area.
Rail ramp
Inman Yard Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern's largest Atlanta ramp in northwest Atlanta, collocated with a classification yard; about 250,000 lifts a year.
Whitaker Intermodal Terminal (Austell)
Rail ramp · Norfolk Southern
450-acre terminal opened in 2001 in Austell, west of Atlanta, with capacity of about 300,000 lifts a year.
Fairburn Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · CSX
CSX's only Atlanta-area intermodal terminal since Hulsey closed in 2019, southwest of the city near I-85; about 240,000 lifts a year capacity.
Distribution corridors around the perimeter
Metro Atlanta has one of the largest industrial markets in the country, and its warehouses are spread across several corridors. South Atlanta near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the Fulton Industrial district handle air cargo and big-box retail; Henry County and McDonough along I-75 South serve the Southeast with huge e-commerce and retail centers; and the I-85 Northeast corridor around Gwinnett, Braselton and Jackson County hosts manufacturers and consumer goods distributors.
Because the ramps sit on the west side of the metro, a delivery to the northeast or southeast corridors means crossing or circling the city on the Perimeter, which is often congested. Carriers price Atlanta moves by zone, and time of day can matter more than mileage. Fulton Industrial Boulevard, near Inman and Fairburn, remains a classic drayage district with older warehouses, container yards and transload operations close to the ramps.
Atlanta, Savannah and the inland port network
The Georgia Ports Authority has built a network of inland rail terminals to move Savannah containers closer to inland customers, including the Appalachian Regional Port in Crandall, the Gainesville inland port that opened in 2026 and the private Cordele ramp. Atlanta itself is served by regular Norfolk Southern and CSX trains from Savannah.
For Atlanta importers, the choice is usually between trucking a container from Savannah and railing it to Inman, Whitaker or Fairburn. Rail can cut costs and truck miles, but it adds handling and the risk of rail delays. Many importers use both, depending on urgency.
Exporters in Georgia, including poultry, paper, carpet and machinery producers, often pick up empty containers in Atlanta, load them, and send them by rail or truck to Savannah before the vessel cutoff.
Common lanes out of Atlanta
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Henry County / McDonough
Major distribution corridor along I-75 South.
35 mi
Braselton / Jackson County
Northeast I-85 manufacturing and distribution.
60 mi
Chattanooga
Tennessee manufacturing via I-75 North.
118 mi
Birmingham
Central Alabama via I-20 West.
147 mi
Charlotte
Carolinas distribution via I-85.
245 mi
Savannah
Long-haul port drayage via I-16 and I-75; competes with rail.
250 mi
Booking drayage in Atlanta: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Atlanta. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Name the exact ramp
Inman, Whitaker and Fairburn are separate terminals miles apart. Give the carrier the right one from your rail notice.
Price by zone and time
Crossing the Perimeter at rush hour can take longer than a much longer trip elsewhere. Ask for zone-based pricing and early appointments.
Compare rail and truck from Savannah
For each import, compare a direct truck from Savannah with rail to Atlanta plus local drayage. The best option changes with urgency and rail reliability.
Book exports early
Empty containers for Georgia exporters can be tight. Reserve equipment and drayage before the vessel cutoff week.
Drayage markets near Atlanta
Many carriers that serve Atlanta also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Atlanta, GA.