If you’ve ever opened a tracking update and seen:

“Container available at ramp - no movement”

…for two or three days in a row, you know the frustration.

At that point, everyone starts pointing fingers:

• The rail says it’s ready
• The dray carrier says they’re trying
• The shipper wonders where the savings went

At Instant Trucking, we’ve learned this the hard way:

Intermodal loads don’t get stuck by accident - they get stuck by process failures.

The good news?
Almost every rail ramp delay follows a pattern. And once you understand those patterns, you can prevent most of them.

What “Stuck at the Rail Ramp” Really Means

First, let’s clarify something.

When a container is “stuck at the ramp,” it usually means:

• The rail portion is complete
• The container is available
• Drayage has not happened
  
  

Rail ramps are transfer points - not warehouses.

Media suggestion:
Diagram showing container arriving at ramp and waiting for drayage.

The Top Reasons Intermodal Loads Get Stuck

Let’s break down the most common causes we see.

‍

1. No Drayage Appointment Was Booked (The #1 Reason)

This happens more often than people admit.

How This Happens

• The container arrives earlier than expected
• No appointment was pre-booked
• The ramp has limited appointment slots
  
  

By the time someone tries to schedule pickup, free time is already ticking.

Personal anecdote:
We once reviewed a case where a container sat for three days — not because of congestion, but because nobody clicked “confirm appointment” in time.

Three days. One click.

‍

How to Prevent It

• Book destination drayage before rail arrival
• Don’t wait for “availability” notices
• Treat appointment booking as mandatory, not optional

2. Chassis Unavailability (Nothing Moves Without One)

No chassis = no movement.

Why Chassis Shortages Happen

• High ramp volume
• Poor chassis pool management
• Dray carriers arriving without confirmed chassis access
  
  

Chicago and Southern California are especially sensitive.

How to Prevent It

• Confirm chassis availability early
• Use dray carriers familiar with the ramp
• Avoid last-minute drayage assignments
  
  

Media suggestion:
Photo or illustration of container waiting without a chassis.

3. Missed or Late Drayage Appointments

Rail ramps do not operate on “close enough.”

What Happens When You Miss an Appointment

• Appointment is canceled
• Container is rolled to a later slot
• Fees begin stacking
  
  

A 15-minute delay can mean a 24-hour wait.

‍

How to Prevent It

• Use drivers experienced with specific ramps
• Schedule buffer time
• Avoid tight appointment windows
  
  

4. Ramp Congestion (The Excuse That’s Often Overused)

Yes - ramps get congested.

But congestion alone rarely causes long delays.

The Real Issue

Congestion exposes:

• Poor planning
• Late appointments
• Weak drayage coordination
  
  

Prepared shipments move even during busy periods.

5. Paperwork or Data Errors

Small mistakes cause big delays.

Common issues include:

• Incorrect container numbers
• Missing release references
• Booking mismatches
  
  

Ramps won’t release containers without clean data.

How to Prevent It

• Double-check documentation
• Confirm rail releases
• Use carriers who monitor paperwork status
  
  

How Delays Turn Into Fees (Fast)

A stuck container doesn’t just waste time — it costs money.

Typical Fee Chain Reaction

1. Container sits at ramp
2. Free time expires
3. Demurrage begins
4. Storage fees follow
5. Per diem starts after pickup
   
   

Media suggestion:
Timeline graphic showing delay → demurrage → storage → per diem.

Why First-Time Intermodal Users Get Burned

Most first-time users:

• Assume drayage will “figure itself out”
• Don’t pre-book appointments
• Underestimate ramp strictness
  
  

Intermodal doesn’t forgive learning on the fly.

How to Build a Ramp-Delay-Proof Process

1. Pre-Plan Every Drayage Move

If it’s not scheduled, it’s at risk.

2. Monitor Dwell Time Daily

You can’t fix what you don’t track.

3. Use Ramp-Experienced Partners

Not all drayage providers are equal.

4. Communicate Real Delivery Windows

Vague availability creates delays.

Ramp Delays in 2026: What’s Changing

Tighter Appointment Systems

Less Free Time

Higher Volume

Planning early is no longer optional.

When a Stuck Load Isn’t Your Fault (But Still Your Problem)

Sometimes:

• Weather shuts ramps
• Rail networks back up
  
  

Even then, preparation reduces impact.

Final Thoughts: Ramp Delays Are Preventable

Intermodal loads don’t get stuck because intermodal is broken.

They get stuck because:

• Appointments weren’t booked
• Drayage wasn’t managed
• Details were ignored
  
  

Fix those, and the problem disappears.

Want to Prevent Ramp Delays Before They Happen?

At Instant Trucking, we:

• Pre-plan drayage
• Monitor ramp dwell time

Prevent fees - not explain them