How container drayage works in Cordele
Cordele Intermodal Services runs an inland rail ramp off I-75 in South Georgia, with overnight trains to and from the Port of Savannah. Shippers truck a short distance to Cordele instead of driving 200 miles to the coast.
- Rail ramp
- Cordele Intermodal Services, Crisp County Industrial Park
- Port link
- Overnight rail to Savannah's Garden City Terminal
- Shippers
- Farm exporters and auto suppliers, including for Kia
- Railroads
- Heart of Georgia and Georgia Central
More about drayage in Cordele
Cordele Intermodal Services (CIS) operates a rail ramp in the Crisp County Industrial Park, just off Interstate 75 about 150 miles south of Atlanta. Through an agreement with the Georgia Ports Authority, the ramp functions as an inland port for Savannah: containers move about 200 miles by rail between Cordele and Garden City Terminal, with overnight service provided by the Heart of Georgia Railroad and the Georgia Central Railway.
For shippers in South and Southwest Georgia, that means an export container can be loaded at a plant, trucked a short distance to Cordele and railed to Savannah overnight, instead of being driven 200 miles to the coast. Imports work the same way in reverse.
The ramp sits on a 40-acre site with room to expand into the industrial park, and it has attracted shippers ranging from agricultural exporters to automotive suppliers. Kia, for example, has used Cordele for parts moving to its plant in West Point, Georgia.
1
Inland port
Railroads
Heart of Georgia Railroad · Georgia Central Railway · Norfolk Southern · CSX
Main highways
I-75 · US-280 · GA-300 Georgia-Florida Parkway · US-41
Container terminals and rail ramps in Cordele
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Cordele area.
Inland port
Cordele Intermodal Services
Inland port · Cordele Intermodal Services (private)
Rail ramp in the Crisp County Industrial Park with overnight service to Garden City Terminal in Savannah via the Heart of Georgia and Georgia Central railroads.
Agriculture and food exports from South Georgia
South Georgia is farm country. Peanuts, cotton, pecans, vegetables and watermelons are major crops around Cordele, which calls itself the Watermelon Capital of the World, and the region also produces timber, poultry and processed foods. Many of these products are exported in containers through Savannah.
Peanuts and cotton are often shipped in dry containers loaded at warehouses and gins, while pecans and some foods may need refrigerated containers. Harvest seasons drive peaks in empty container demand and drayage activity, especially in the fall.
Local carriers move empties from the CIS ramp to farms and processors, wait for loading or come back later, and return loaded containers to the ramp before the rail cutoff for the next train to Savannah.
I-75, Albany and regional manufacturing
Cordele sits directly on Interstate 75, which connects it north to Macon and Atlanta and south to Tifton, Valdosta and Florida. US Highway 280 runs west to Americus and Columbus, and Georgia 300 (the Georgia-Florida Parkway) links Cordele with Albany.
Albany and Southwest Georgia have food processing, manufacturing and distribution operations that can use the Cordele ramp. Drayage from Albany to Cordele is about 40 miles, a short move compared with a 180-mile truck run to Savannah.
Automotive and industrial suppliers in central and southern Georgia also use the ramp to bring in imported components or ship finished goods, adding steady non-agricultural volume to its business.
Why South Georgia shippers use an inland ramp
Truck drivers are scarce and expensive in rural South Georgia, and a round trip from Cordele to Savannah takes most of a day. By moving the long haul to rail, Cordele Intermodal Services lets local carriers focus on short moves that can be repeated several times a day, which makes better use of drivers and trucks.
The ramp also helps exporters manage equipment. Empty containers can be positioned in Cordele ahead of harvest, giving farms and processors better access to boxes than if they had to wait for empties trucked in from the coast.
For importers, Cordele is a convenient pickup point for distribution centers and plants along I-75 between Macon and Valdosta, as well as in Albany and Southwest Georgia. Containers can be cleared through customs at the port and released for pickup in Cordele.
Common lanes out of Cordele
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Americus
West on US-280.
30 mi
Albany
Southwest Georgia food processing and manufacturing via GA-300.
40 mi
Macon
Central Georgia via I-75 North.
65 mi
Valdosta
South Georgia via I-75 South.
85 mi
Atlanta
Metro Atlanta via I-75.
150 mi
Savannah
Truck alternative to the overnight rail service.
200 mi
Booking drayage in Cordele: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Cordele. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Ask for rail billing via Cordele
Your ocean carrier must route the container through CIS. Confirm the Cordele routing when you book.
Plan around harvest
Fall harvests of peanuts, cotton and pecans create peaks in empty demand. Book early.
Meet the rail cutoff
Loaded export boxes must be back at the ramp before the train cutoff to make the overnight run to Savannah.
Use reefers where needed
Pecans and some foods need temperature control. Confirm reefer capacity before dispatch.
Drayage markets near Cordele
Many carriers that serve Cordele also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Cordele, GA.