How container drayage works in Quincy
The Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal, on BNSF's main line over Stevens Pass, ships Central Washington's frozen and dry farm exports by rail to Seattle and Tacoma. It is being expanded to handle longer trains.
- Terminal
- Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal, BNSF
- Main cargo
- Frozen potatoes and vegetables, hay and grain
- Port link
- Seattle and Tacoma
- Counties
- Grant, Douglas, Adams and Chelan
More about drayage in Quincy
The Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal sits on BNSF's main line over Stevens Pass, the old Great Northern route to Puget Sound. It provides truck and rail intermodal export services for shippers in Central and Eastern Washington, focusing on frozen and dry agricultural products that move in ocean containers to Seattle and Tacoma.
The Port of Quincy has expanded the terminal with more surface area and additional tracks so it can load and unload longer intermodal trains, with the goal of meeting BNSF unit-train requirements and reducing congestion on the main line. Local drayage carriers move containers between the terminal and food processors, cold storage warehouses and farms in Grant, Douglas, Adams and Chelan counties.
1
Rail ramp
Railroads
BNSF · Columbia Basin Railroad
Main highways
I-90 · SR-28 · SR-281 · SR-17 · SR-283
Container terminals and rail ramps in Quincy
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Quincy area.
Rail ramp
Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · Port of Quincy / BNSF
Intermodal terminal on BNSF's Stevens Pass main line, handling frozen and dry agricultural exports bound for Seattle and Tacoma; being expanded for longer trains.
Frozen foods and farm exports
The Columbia Basin is one of the most productive farm regions in the country, irrigated by the Columbia Basin Project. It produces potatoes, vegetables, fruit, hay and grain. Potato and vegetable processors turn much of this into frozen products for export to Asia. Frozen exports require refrigerated containers with gensets and careful temperature monitoring. Cold storage facilities in Quincy and Moses Lake support this trade.
Hay and other dry products also move in containers, especially to Asian dairy markets.
Data centers and new industry
Quincy has become a major data center hub thanks to cheap hydroelectric power, with large facilities owned by tech companies. Construction and equipment for these data centers generate inbound freight. Battery and clean energy manufacturers have also built plants in Moses Lake, bringing imports of materials and equipment. These industries add non-agricultural container traffic to the region.
Routes and mountain passes
Interstate 90 runs south of Quincy, connecting it with Moses Lake, Ellensburg and Seattle via Snoqualmie Pass. State Route 28 and SR-281 serve Quincy directly.
Mountain passes over the Cascades can close in winter, affecting truck moves to Seattle and Tacoma, about 150 to 180 miles away. Rail offers an alternative during storms. Summer heat and dust can affect operations in the dry interior.
The Columbia Basin irrigation economy
Quincy sits in the heart of the Columbia Basin Project, a vast irrigation system that turned dry plateau land into productive farmland using water from the Columbia River and Grand Coulee Dam. The result is one of the most diverse agricultural regions in the country.
Potatoes, onions, sweet corn, beans, apples, cherries and hay all grow in the area, and food processing plants in Quincy, Moses Lake and Othello turn much of the harvest into frozen and packaged products for export.
These exports depend on reliable access to containers and ports, which is why the Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal and its rail link to Puget Sound are important to the regional economy.
Common lanes out of Quincy
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Moses Lake
Food processing, cold storage and battery plants.
35 mi
Wenatchee
Apple country via SR-28.
35 mi
Ellensburg
Hay growers via I-90.
70 mi
Tri-Cities
Southeast Washington via SR-17 and US-395.
120 mi
Seattle / Tacoma
Ports via I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass.
160 mi
Booking drayage in Quincy: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Quincy. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Book reefer capacity
Frozen exports need reefers with gensets. Reserve equipment early in peak season.
Check rail schedules
Coordinate loading with train departures from Quincy to Puget Sound.
Plan winter crossings
Snoqualmie Pass can close. Rail can be more reliable in winter.
Ask about empty availability
Empty containers may be limited during harvest. Coordinate with ocean carriers.
Drayage markets near Quincy
Many carriers that serve Quincy also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Quincy, WA.