How container drayage works in Toledo and North Baltimore
CSX's Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal in North Baltimore is a hub where containers switch trains without going through Chicago. It also serves local shippers, while Toledo adds NS and CSX rail yards and a Lake Erie port for bulk cargo.
- Rail hub
- CSX Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal, North Baltimore
- Toledo
- NS and CSX yards; Port of Toledo for bulk
- Counties
- Wood, Lucas, Hancock and Henry
- Regional runs
- Detroit, Findlay and Columbus
More about drayage in Toledo / North Baltimore
CSX opened its Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal in North Baltimore, about 35 miles south of Toledo, as a hub in its East-West network. Trains from East Coast ports and the Midwest meet there, and cranes move containers between trains so they can continue to their final destinations without passing through Chicago. The terminal also handles local containers for shippers in the region.
Toledo itself has rail yards served by Norfolk Southern and CSX, and the Port of Toledo on Lake Erie handles bulk and breakbulk cargo. Norfolk Southern's Airline Yard has supported intermodal service for the city.
Local drayage carriers move containers from North Baltimore and Toledo to warehouses and plants in Wood, Lucas, Hancock and Henry counties, and run regional loads to Detroit, Findlay and Columbus.
2
Rail ramps
1
Marine terminal
Railroads
CSX · Norfolk Southern · CN · Ann Arbor Railroad
Main highways
I-75 · I-80/I-90 Ohio Turnpike · I-475 · I-280 · US-23 · US-6
Container terminals and rail ramps in Toledo / North Baltimore
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Toledo / North Baltimore area.
Rail ramp
Marine terminal
Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal (North Baltimore)
Rail ramp · CSX
CSX hub terminal in North Baltimore where containers are transferred between trains, also serving local shippers.
Airline Yard (Toledo)
Rail ramp · Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern yard in Toledo with intermodal service for the city.
Port of Toledo
Marine terminal · Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Lake Erie port handling bulk, breakbulk and project cargo.
Automotive and manufacturing freight
Toledo is home to Stellantis's Toledo Assembly Complex, which builds Jeep vehicles, and the region has many automotive suppliers. Containers of parts move on tight schedules to keep production lines running.
Glass manufacturing has deep roots in Toledo, and companies produce glass for autos, buildings and solar panels. First Solar's manufacturing in Perrysburg and Lake Township imports equipment and materials. Food processing, chemicals and plastics also generate freight across Northwest Ohio.
Distribution along I-75 and the Ohio Turnpike
Interstate 75 runs north-south through Toledo and near North Baltimore, connecting Detroit with Dayton and Cincinnati. The Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90) runs east-west across the region. Distribution centers cluster near these highways in Perrysburg, Rossford, Findlay and Wood County. Findlay, about 25 miles south of North Baltimore, has a large concentration of warehouses and logistics companies. The area's flat terrain and good highways make local moves efficient, though winter snow and lake-effect storms can slow traffic.
Rail hub and Great Lakes port
The North Baltimore hub improves CSX's ability to move containers between East Coast ports and Midwest markets, and it gives Northwest Ohio shippers direct access to that network.
The Port of Toledo focuses on bulk commodities such as grain, iron ore and coal, but it also handles project and breakbulk cargo. Container services on the Great Lakes are limited and seasonal. Shippers can compare routing containers through North Baltimore with trucking from Detroit, Chicago or East Coast ports.
The North Baltimore hub-and-spoke model
CSX's North Baltimore terminal was designed to change how intermodal freight moves through the Midwest. Instead of sending every container through congested Chicago, trains from different origins meet at North Baltimore, where cranes swap containers between trains so each continues to its proper destination.
That hub-and-spoke model reduces transit times and lets CSX serve more city pairs efficiently. It also brought a large, modern terminal to rural Wood County, attracting new warehouses and logistics companies to the surrounding area.
For Northwest Ohio shippers, the terminal offers direct access to CSX's network to the East Coast and Midwest, and local carriers move containers between the hub and plants in Findlay, Bowling Green, Toledo and nearby communities.
Common lanes out of Toledo / North Baltimore
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
Findlay
Warehouse and logistics cluster south of North Baltimore.
25 mi
Perrysburg / Rossford
Distribution and manufacturing near Toledo.
25 mi
Detroit
Southeast Michigan via I-75.
60 mi
Fort Wayne, IN
Northeast Indiana via US-24.
100 mi
Cleveland
Northeast Ohio via the Ohio Turnpike.
115 mi
Columbus
Central Ohio via US-23.
120 mi
Booking drayage in Toledo / North Baltimore: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Toledo / North Baltimore. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Confirm North Baltimore or Toledo
Containers may be at the CSX hub in North Baltimore or yards in Toledo. Check your notice.
Match auto plant schedules
Jeep and suppliers need precise timing. Share appointment details early.
Use Findlay for distribution
Warehouses in Findlay are close to North Baltimore, keeping drayage short.
Plan winter flexibility
Snow can slow I-75 and the Turnpike. Allow extra time in winter.
Drayage markets near Toledo / North Baltimore
Many carriers that serve Toledo / North Baltimore also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Toledo / North Baltimore, OH.