How container drayage works in Phoenix and Tucson
Phoenix used to get its imports by truck from Los Angeles, about 380 miles away. Since February 2024 Union Pacific's Phoenix Intermodal Terminal also brings them in by rail. Tucson has its own rail-served logistics park, the Port of Tucson, which also handles freight crossing from Mexico at Nogales.
- Rail ramp
- UP Phoenix Intermodal Terminal, opened 2024
- Tucson
- Port of Tucson logistics park on UP's main line
- Port drayage
- Long hauls from Los Angeles / Long Beach
- Cross-border
- Freight through the Nogales crossing
More about drayage in Phoenix / Tucson
For years most international containers bound for Phoenix were trucked about 380 miles from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. That changed in February 2024, when Union Pacific opened the Phoenix Intermodal Terminal inside an existing yard near downtown Phoenix and began running international containers by rail from the LA Basin.
Importers now have a choice between a long truck haul across the desert and a rail move with a short local delivery at the Phoenix end.
Tucson, about 115 miles southeast on Interstate 10, has its own inland hub at the Port of Tucson, a privately owned logistics park on Union Pacific's main line with rail sidings, an intermodal yard and transload warehouses. It serves southern Arizona shippers and cross-border freight moving through Nogales.
Drayage across the region therefore mixes three kinds of work: short moves from rail terminals to warehouses, long-haul port drayage from Southern California, and cross-border freight from Mexico. Carriers often specialize in one of these, so it pays to check which kind of move a company runs before asking for a quote.
1
Rail ramp
1
Inland port
Railroads
Union Pacific · BNSF
Main highways
I-10 · I-17 · I-8 · I-19 · Loop 101 · Loop 202 · Loop 303
Container terminals and rail ramps in Phoenix / Tucson
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Phoenix / Tucson area.
Rail ramp
Inland port
Phoenix Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · Union Pacific
Opened February 2024 inside an existing Union Pacific yard near downtown Phoenix, with international container service from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Port of Tucson
Inland port · Port of Tucson (private)
Rail-served logistics park on Union Pacific's main line in southeast Tucson, with an intermodal yard, transload warehouses and container storage.
Warehouses, semiconductors and the West Valley
Metro Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing distribution markets in the country. Large warehouse parks line the Interstate 10 corridor west of downtown in Tolleson, Goodyear and Buckeye, and along Loop 303. Retail and e-commerce distribution centers there serve Arizona and much of the Southwest.
Manufacturing is growing just as quickly. Semiconductor plants in north Phoenix and Chandler, electric vehicle and battery projects, and their suppliers import equipment and materials in containers. Some of that cargo is high-value or oversized and needs carriers with secure parking or special trailers.
Because the metro is so spread out, a delivery from a rail terminal in central Phoenix to a site in the far West Valley or Pinal County can take as long as a regional run elsewhere. Carriers usually price Phoenix moves by zone or mileage rather than a single flat local rate.
Heat, border freight and long hauls from California
Summer heat is a real operating issue. Daytime temperatures above 110°F stress tires, engines and drivers, and cargo such as food, chemicals and electronics may need refrigerated containers even when they would ship dry elsewhere. Many carriers start early in the morning in summer to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat.
Southern Arizona is a major gateway for Mexican produce and manufactured goods. Trucks crossing at the Mariposa port of entry in Nogales bring fresh produce north to cold storage warehouses in Nogales and Tucson, and finished goods from Sonora's factories move into the US the same way. Cross-border carriers need the right customs bonds and FAST or C-TPAT credentials.
Long-haul port drayage from Los Angeles and Long Beach is still common, especially for urgent freight. Those moves take a full day each way and usually include chassis rental and per diem for the round trip, so compare them carefully with the rail option to Phoenix.
Common lanes out of Phoenix / Tucson
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Tucson
I-10 between Arizona's two largest metros.
115 mi
Nogales
Mexican border crossing for produce and maquila freight (65 miles from Tucson).
180 mi
Las Vegas
Via US-93; regional distribution.
300 mi
Los Angeles / Long Beach ports
Long-haul port drayage across the desert on I-10.
380 mi
El Paso
East on I-10 to the Texas border crossings.
430 mi
Booking drayage in Phoenix / Tucson: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Phoenix / Tucson. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Compare rail to Phoenix with trucking from LA
Since 2024, Union Pacific can bring international containers to Phoenix by rail. Get a rail-plus-local-drayage price alongside a direct truck quote from the ports.
Plan for summer heat
Temperature-sensitive cargo may need a reefer in summer, and early delivery appointments help drivers avoid afternoon heat.
Give the exact delivery zone
The metro is huge. A delivery in Buckeye or Casa Grande is a different price from one in Tempe. Share the full address up front.
Use cross-border specialists for Nogales
Freight coming from Mexico needs carriers with customs bonds and border credentials. Not every drayage company can cross.
Confirm chassis for rail boxes
International containers railed to Phoenix need a chassis at the Phoenix end. Ask whether the carrier brings its own chassis or uses a pool, because chassis fees can change the total price of the move.
Drayage markets near Phoenix / Tucson
Many carriers that serve Phoenix / Tucson also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Phoenix / Tucson, AZ.