How container drayage works at the Appalachian Regional Port
The Appalachian Regional Port near Crandall is a Georgia Ports Authority inland terminal with a direct CSX line to the Port of Savannah. It lets shippers in Northwest Georgia and nearby states rail containers to the coast instead of trucking them down I-75.
- Terminal
- Appalachian Regional Port, opened 2018
- Port link
- Direct CSX rail to Savannah's Garden City Terminal
- Main market
- Dalton's flooring industry and the Chattanooga area
- Typical moves
- Short local runs plus trips of 100+ miles
More about drayage in Crandall / ARP
The Georgia Ports Authority opened the Appalachian Regional Port (ARP) in 2018 near Crandall, between Chatsworth and the Tennessee line. It is connected to Savannah's Garden City Terminal by a direct CSX rail line, letting shippers in Northwest Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and the Carolinas move containers to and from the coast by train instead of long truck hauls.
Containers railed from Savannah are unloaded at the ARP and trucked to plants and warehouses within a few hours' drive. Export boxes go the other way: carriers pick up empties at the ARP, deliver them for loading and return them to make the next train to Savannah. The GPA says the facility removes many truck trips from Interstate 75 and the Atlanta region.
Most drayage from Crandall serves Dalton and Murray, Whitfield and Gordon counties, the Chattanooga metro and the I-75 corridor in Tennessee. Carriers here combine short local runs with longer moves of 100 miles or more.
1
Inland port
Railroads
CSX
Main highways
US-411 · GA-225 · I-75 · GA-52 · US-76
Container terminals and rail ramps in Crandall / ARP
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Crandall / ARP area.
Inland port
Appalachian Regional Port
Inland port · Georgia Ports Authority
Inland rail terminal near Crandall in Murray County, opened in 2018, with direct CSX service 388 miles to Savannah's Garden City Terminal.
Dalton's flooring industry and regional manufacturing
Dalton, about 20 miles from the ARP, is known as the Carpet Capital of the World, and the flooring industry around it produces carpet, rugs and other floor coverings for global markets. Mills import raw materials such as yarn and backing and export finished products, and many of them use the ARP to reach Savannah.
Beyond flooring, Northwest Georgia and Chattanooga have automotive, appliance, food and chemical plants. Volkswagen's assembly plant in Chattanooga and its suppliers, along with other manufacturers in East Tennessee, are within reach of the ARP.
Because many of these shippers run production schedules, drayage is often tied to plant dock appointments. Carriers that understand the plants' receiving rules can keep both inbound and outbound containers moving smoothly.
Mountain routes and the I-75 corridor
The ARP sits on US Highway 411 and Georgia 225 east of Interstate 75. Carriers reach Dalton via Georgia 52 or US-76 and Chattanooga via I-75. Terrain in the area is hilly, and some routes into the mountains of North Georgia and East Tennessee have steep grades.
Winter weather is usually mild but occasional ice storms can disrupt roads in North Georgia and Tennessee. Carriers keep an eye on forecasts and adjust schedules.
For shippers deciding between rail and truck, the ARP offers a way to avoid the long run down I-75 through Atlanta to Savannah, which is often congested.
How the inland port changed Northwest Georgia logistics
Before the Appalachian Regional Port opened, most Northwest Georgia shippers trucked containers to Savannah or relied on rail ramps in Atlanta. Both meant long drives through one of the most congested metro areas in the Southeast. The ARP allows containers to bypass Atlanta entirely.
The GPA has expanded the ARP's capacity since opening as volumes grew, and the facility has become an important link for the flooring industry and other manufacturers in the region. Some companies have chosen sites in Northwest Georgia partly because of access to the inland port.
Local drayage carriers in Murray and Whitfield counties have grown alongside the ARP. Many offer daily shuttles between the terminal and mills or plants, as well as longer runs to Chattanooga, Knoxville and Atlanta.
Common lanes out of Crandall / ARP
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Chatsworth
Murray County seat and local plants.
10 mi
Dalton
Flooring mills and suppliers.
20 mi
Chattanooga
Tennessee manufacturing via I-75.
50 mi
Atlanta
Metro Atlanta via I-75 South.
95 mi
Knoxville
East Tennessee via I-75 North.
135 mi
Booking drayage in Crandall / ARP: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Crandall / ARP. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Ask for rail routing to ARP
Confirm with your ocean carrier that the container is billed to the Appalachian Regional Port, not Savannah or Atlanta.
Coordinate with plant schedules
Many mills and factories have strict dock appointments. Share them when booking.
Watch export cutoffs
Export containers must be back at ARP in time for the train to Savannah. Check the rail cutoff, not just the vessel cutoff.
Plan for hilly routes
Heavy loads on mountain roads need careful planning. Share weights early.
Drayage markets near Crandall / ARP
Many carriers that serve Crandall / ARP also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Crandall / ARP, GA.