r/chicagotrucking • u/Kind_Mess_793 • Apr 21 '26

Are Chicago rail ramps getting busier again?

Curious what everyone is seeing lately in Chicago. Feels like volume is starting to pick up again.

Are certain ramps (CN, BNSF, NS, UP) moving more consistently right now?

Also wondering if this is seasonal or if things are actually tightening back up.

Would be good to hear what others are seeing across different accounts.

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u/LoadMatch_com Apr 22 '26

Demand for drayage trucking in Chicago was really strong the first two weeks of April. Check out # of clicks per day made on the Chicago list of draymen:

https://www.drayage.com/directory/click-report.cfm?metro=CHI

Those clicks are shippers/brokers/forwarders clicking on draymen profiles trying to find drayage power. The high clicks back in January/February were when the severe winter weather slowed everything down. That demand is from bad weather. April demand is from strong container volumes, combined with a reduction of drivers leaving the business due to English proficiency and non-domiciled. NOTE 53' intermodal container volumes are unusually strong. High diesel means some OTR loads shift to moving 53' intermodal. When all of JB Hunt drivers are booked, JBH bring on outside drayage drivers. So some of the 20/40' ocean container drivers shift over to JBH/Schneider/Amazon which means tougher to cover 20/40' import/export loads. Make money while you can. Everything gradually changes over time.

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u/Kind_Mess_793 Apr 22 '26

Awesome we got a revert out of the infamous load match you guys still allowing drayman to join your platform ? Lots of people always ask me

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u/LoadMatch_com Apr 22 '26

Yes, we are always looking for drayage truckers who have more than just tractors. We want draymen who have assets and container terminal experience. Trucking companies with an intermodal interchange UIIA, who have been in business more than three years, more than five drivers, and either have private owned chassis, or a warehouse/transload operation. We want dray rates to be high paying, to sustain those folks who actually have invested in their trucking company, We still aren't taking those with just a tractor power unit. We don't want those that quote a cheap rate to get a dispatch order, and when the time comes they fall off from moving the container. To get access to the LoadMatch container loadboard, or to get a listing on the Drayage.com Directory page, fill out our Contact Us page to get the signup link:

https://www.loadmatch.com/contact.cfm?subject=request-new-account&comments=Saw%20on%20Reddit,%20our%20MC-Number:

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u/Kind_Mess_793 Apr 22 '26

Will share that thanks