How container drayage works in Kansas City
Kansas City has four rail ramps, led by BNSF's Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, where warehouses sit next to the rail yard. CPKC's single line from Canada to Mexico makes the city a key hub for north-south trade.
- Rail ramps
- BNSF LPKC, UP KCIT (opened 2025), CPKC and NS Voltz
- Routes
- West Coast, Chicago, the Southeast, Texas and Mexico
- Warehouses
- Edgerton, Gardner and both sides of the state line
- Highways
- I-35, I-70, I-435 and I-29
More about drayage in Kansas City
BNSF opened Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC) in Edgerton, Kansas, about 30 miles southwest of downtown, in 2013. The 443-acre intermodal facility has wide-span electric cranes, thousands of container stacking spots and long strip tracks, and it anchors a large logistics park where warehouses sit next to the rail ramp.
Closer to the city, Union Pacific opened its new Kansas City Intermodal Terminal at Armourdale Yard in Kansas City, Kansas, in August 2025, CPKC operates a terminal in Kansas City, Missouri (formerly Kansas City Southern), and Norfolk Southern serves Voltz Yard. Together the four terminals connect Kansas City with the West Coast, Chicago, the Southeast, Texas and Mexico.
CPKC's single-line network from Canada through Kansas City to Mexico has made the city a key hub for north-south trade, while BNSF and UP bring containers from Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.
4
Rail ramps
Railroads
BNSF · Union Pacific · CPKC · Norfolk Southern
Main highways
I-35 · I-70 · I-435 · I-29 · I-49 · US-69 · US-71
Container terminals and rail ramps in Kansas City
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Kansas City area.
Rail ramp
BNSF Logistics Park Kansas City
Rail ramp · BNSF
443-acre intermodal facility in Edgerton, Kansas, opened in 2013 and surrounded by a large logistics park.
Kansas City Intermodal Terminal (KCIT)
Rail ramp · Union Pacific
Union Pacific's new ramp at Armourdale Yard in Kansas City, Kansas, opened in August 2025 for domestic and international containers, including grain, refrigerated products and consumer goods.
CPKC Kansas City Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · CPKC
Former Kansas City Southern terminal in Kansas City, Missouri, linking the region with Mexico and Canada.
Voltz Yard
Rail ramp · Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern's intermodal yard in Kansas City, Missouri.
Warehouse districts on both sides of the state line
Kansas City's industrial market has boomed, with large distribution centers in Edgerton and Gardner near LPKC, Lenexa and Olathe in Johnson County, and along I-35, I-435 and I-70. On the Missouri side, areas around the airport, Riverside and Liberty have also grown.
Because LPKC is surrounded by warehouses, many drayage moves there are very short, sometimes only a few miles. Moves from in-town ramps to suburban warehouses can take longer due to traffic.
Kansas City's central location allows distribution centers to reach much of the country within a day or two by truck, attracting retailers and e-commerce companies.
Agriculture, food and manufacturing
The region exports grain, meat and processed foods, some of it in containers. Reefer exports need gensets and cold storage coordination.
Manufacturing includes automotive assembly, with Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo and GM's Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Suppliers import components and ship parts on tight schedules. Greeting cards, engineering, animal health and other industries headquartered in Kansas City also generate container traffic.
Weather and road conditions
Kansas City experiences hot summers and cold winters with occasional ice storms. Ice can make roads dangerous and slow deliveries. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in spring can disrupt rail and trucking. Carriers monitor forecasts and adjust schedules.
Interstates 35, 70, 29, 49 and 435 connect the metro with the rest of the country, and traffic is generally lighter than in larger cities, allowing efficient moves.
The rise of the KC logistics market
Over the past decade, Kansas City has become one of the hottest industrial markets in the country. LPKC and the surrounding logistics park in Edgerton and Gardner drew major retailers and e-commerce companies, while new parks in Riverside, Kansas City International Airport's area and Olathe added more space.
The opening of Union Pacific's new terminal at Armourdale in 2025 added more rail capacity inside the city, giving shippers another option alongside BNSF, CPKC and Norfolk Southern.
CPKC's single-line network from Canada to Mexico has also made Kansas City central to north-south trade, and some companies have located warehouses here specifically to serve cross-border supply chains.
Common lanes out of Kansas City
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Edgerton / Gardner
Warehouses next to LPKC.
5 mi
Lenexa / Olathe
Johnson County distribution centers.
20 mi
Omaha
Nebraska via I-29.
190 mi
Wichita
South-central Kansas via I-35.
200 mi
St. Louis
Eastern Missouri via I-70.
250 mi
Dallas–Fort Worth
Texas via I-35; often moved by rail.
500 mi
Booking drayage in Kansas City: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Kansas City. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Identify the terminal
Kansas City has four intermodal terminals. Confirm the railroad and terminal from your rail notice.
Consider LPKC warehouses
Warehouses near LPKC can cut drayage to just a few miles. Factor this into site selection.
Ask about Mexico routing
CPKC links Kansas City directly with Mexico. Compare rail and truck for cross-border freight.
Watch for ice storms
Winter ice can slow deliveries. Allow extra time during storms.
Drayage markets near Kansas City
Many carriers that serve Kansas City also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Kansas City, MO.