How container drayage works in Denver
Denver is far from any seaport, so its imports arrive by train from West Coast ports or via Chicago. BNSF and Union Pacific both run rail ramps near I-70 and the South Platte River, a few miles from downtown, and most local deliveries are under 40 miles.
- Rail ramps
- BNSF Denver Intermodal Facility and UP Denver Intermodal Terminal
- Warehouses
- Commerce City, Henderson, Aurora and near DIA
- Longer runs
- Greeley, Loveland and Colorado Springs
- Exports
- Beef, dairy, grain and hay can use spare empties
More about drayage in Denver
Denver's isolation from the coasts defines its freight. Imports from Asia usually land at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach or Seattle–Tacoma and travel east by rail; goods from Europe and the East Coast arrive through Chicago or the Gulf.
Two railroads run intermodal terminals in the city: BNSF's Denver Intermodal Facility off West 53rd Place, and Union Pacific's Denver Intermodal Terminal with its gate on North York Street. Both sit in the industrial corridor along the South Platte River and Interstate 70, only a few miles from downtown.
From those ramps, local carriers deliver to distribution centers in Commerce City, Henderson, Aurora, the I-76 corridor and the new industrial parks near Denver International Airport, and to manufacturers and retailers as far as Greeley, Loveland and Colorado Springs. Most moves are under 40 miles, but some Front Range deliveries run 70 miles or more each way.
Exports are lighter than imports, which means many empty containers have to be sent back west by rail. Colorado's beef, dairy, grain and hay exporters can sometimes take advantage of that by loading empties that would otherwise travel back unused.
2
Rail ramps
Railroads
BNSF · Union Pacific
Main highways
I-25 · I-70 · I-76 · I-270 · I-225 · E-470 · US-85
Container terminals and rail ramps in Denver
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Denver area.
Rail ramp
BNSF Denver Intermodal Facility
Rail ramp · BNSF
BNSF's Denver ramp at 585 West 53rd Place, north of downtown, with service to Southern California, Chicago and Texas.
Denver Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · Union Pacific
Union Pacific's Denver ramp with its gate at 4085 North York Street, near I-70 and the South Platte industrial corridor.
Mountains, weather and the I-70 corridor
Weather is the biggest wildcard. Snowstorms on the Front Range can close Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 for hours, and the mountain passes west of Denver — Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass and Loveland Pass — have chain laws for commercial vehicles from September to May. Carriers moving containers into ski country or toward Grand Junction need chains and drivers experienced with mountain grades.
Altitude and grade also affect heavy loads. A container that is legal and easy to pull on flat ground can be hard on engines and brakes on Interstate 70's long climbs, so carriers plan heavy moves carefully and may limit gross weight for mountain routes.
Inside the metro, the convergence of Interstates 25, 70, 76 and 270 north of downtown is one of the most congested freight areas in the region. Early-morning pickups at the ramps help trucks avoid the worst traffic.
Regional distribution and the airport corridor
Denver has grown into a regional distribution hub for the Mountain West, serving Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas and parts of New Mexico from warehouses along Interstate 76 and Interstate 70 east of the city. E-commerce operators, grocery chains and home-improvement retailers all run large buildings here.
The area around Denver International Airport has added millions of square feet of new industrial space, and rail-served sites keep expanding along the BNSF and Union Pacific lines. Carriers that know these newer parks can offer faster turns than those based farther away.
Because so much freight arrives by rail, rail schedules set the rhythm of local trucking. Containers become available in batches as trains are unloaded, and Denver importers that track train arrivals can avoid storage charges at the ramps.
Common lanes out of Denver
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Denver International Airport area
New industrial parks east of the city.
20 mi
Greeley
Meatpacking, dairy and agricultural exporters via US-85.
55 mi
Fort Collins / Loveland
Northern Colorado manufacturers along I-25.
65 mi
Colorado Springs
Southern Front Range retail and defense freight.
70 mi
Cheyenne
Wyoming distribution up I-25.
100 mi
Grand Junction
Western Slope via I-70; mountain chain laws apply.
245 mi
Booking drayage in Denver: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Denver. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Track train arrival, not vessel arrival
Denver containers come by rail from the coast. Watch the rail ETA and book a truck so the box is pulled before the ramp's free time ends.
Ask about chains and mountain experience
For deliveries west on I-70, confirm the carrier carries chains and is comfortable with steep grades in winter.
Use empty containers for exports
Empties often travel back to the coast unused. Ask carriers and ocean lines about loading them with Colorado exports.
Avoid the north metro rush
The I-25/I-70/I-76 junction is congested at peak hours. Early ramp pickups save time and cost.
Drayage markets near Denver
Many carriers that serve Denver also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Denver, CO.