Schneider Will Shift Its Eastern Intermodal Freight to Norfolk Southern

Published: November 1, 2026

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Schneider and Norfolk Southern on October 29 announced a strategic agreement that makes Norfolk Southern Schneider’s primary railroad in the East. Schneider has 35 years in intermodal. On the company’s earnings call the same day, chief executive Jim Filter said the shift away from CSX will begin next month, with official implementation on January 1. The year was left unstated. Schneider did not say how much freight would move.

Norfolk Southern train 217 at Bluefield WV

Norfolk Southern train 217 passes the engine facility in Bluefield, West Virginia. Loyd Lowry photo.

What the two companies are putting together

The announcement came from Green Bay and Atlanta. Schneider described an asset-based intermodal network: company-owned tractors, about 23,900 chassis, 26,800 containers, and more than 60 rail hubs in North America. Company dray drivers complete more than 90 percent of its domestic dray moves. Norfolk Southern said its intermodal volume grew 3 percent in the third quarter of 2026.

“As we transition our primary eastern rail provider to Norfolk Southern, we’ll expand access to key markets, increase network flexibility and create new opportunities to better serve our customers,” said Michael Baumgardt, Schneider’s executive vice president of intermodal and logistics. Ed Elkins, Norfolk Southern’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said customers “are taking a broader view of intermodal than ever before, and we are investing ahead of that demand.”

Norfolk Southern’s eastern work

The railroad described the agreement as part of the work already under way on its 22-state intermodal network: more room at gateways, larger terminals, double-stack clearance, and work on reliability and security. The list includes a new service between Cincinnati and Atlanta, and double-stack clearance on the East Edge route between the Midwest and New England. Terminal expansions are in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, and Illinois. At Atlanta, Louisville, Harrisburg, Croxton, Chesapeake, Charlotte, Chicago, and St. Louis, the railroad is also working on pavement, lighting, storage, maintenance buildings, truck routes, and security.

The change from CSX, and what stays

Filter said the Norfolk Southern agreement “stands on its own,” and he called the proposed Union Pacific combination “really just the icing on the cake for us.” The transition from CSX, he said, begins next month. Spoken on October 29, that is November. Official implementation is January 1, with the year left unstated. He said Schneider had spent a long time comparing the two eastern railroads and was confident the change could be finished. He expects the agreement to strengthen service.

The CPKC relationship continues, including intermodal freight across the Mexican border. CPKC said this week that its interline service with CSX, called SMX, linking the Southeast and Mexico, grew 30 percent in the third quarter compared with the second quarter. That figure is CPKC’s. In the West, Schneider moved its primary partnership from BNSF to Union Pacific in 2023. Filter said that change supplied lessons for the eastern shift. The Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern proposal remains in front of the Surface Transportation Board. The review timetable still runs through May 28, 2027.

The quarter Filter was reporting

These figures are Schneider’s third quarter, as Filter gave them and as Trains reported them. Intermodal operating income rose 35 percent, to $22.6 million. Intermodal revenue excluding fuel surcharge rose 2 percent, to $287.7 million. Revenue per load rose 3 percent and offset a 2 percent decline in volume. Intermodal was 21 percent of company revenue excluding fuel surcharge. Shipments in the quarter were 6 percent higher than in the second quarter.

Sources

Schneider National, October 29, 2026, Green Bay and Atlanta. Strategic agreement. Schneider will transition its primary eastern rail provider to Norfolk Southern. Thirty-five years of intermodal service. About 23,900 chassis and 26,800 containers. More than 60 North American hubs. Company dray drivers complete more than 90 percent of domestic dray moves. Norfolk Southern intermodal volume grew 3 percent in the third quarter of 2026. Michael Baumgardt and Ed Elkins. A 22-state network, a Cincinnati-Atlanta service, East Edge double-stack clearance between the Midwest and New England, terminal expansions in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, and Illinois, and facility work at Atlanta, Louisville, Harrisburg, Croxton, Chesapeake, Charlotte, Chicago, and St. Louis.
Trains, October 29, 2026, Ripley Watson. Jim Filter, on the earnings call that day. The agreement “stands on its own.” The proposed Union Pacific combination is “really just the icing on the cake.” The transition from CSX begins next month, with official implementation on January 1. The year was left unstated. The volume to be shifted was not disclosed. The CPKC relationship, including Mexico, continues. CPKC said the SMX service with CSX grew 30 percent in the third quarter from the second quarter. Schneider moved its western partnership from BNSF to Union Pacific in 2023. Third-quarter intermodal operating income rose 35 percent, to $22.6 million. Intermodal revenue excluding fuel surcharge rose 2 percent, to $287.7 million. Revenue per load rose 3 percent and offset a 2 percent volume decline. Intermodal was 21 percent of revenue excluding fuel surcharge. Shipments were 6 percent higher than in the second quarter.

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