Louisville, KY

Louisville is a unique container hub because it combines major rail, highway, river, and air-freight networks in one inland logistics market. Norfolk Southern operates multiple intermodal facilities in the area and, in 2026, reopened its Buechel terminal specifically for international containers arriving from the Port of Virginia, while international containers originating on the West Coast are handled at Appliance Park. CSX also identifies Louisville as one of its ten largest yards and terminals by annual volume. This creates a steady flow of international 20ft, 40ft, and 40ft high cube containers moving through the region alongside domestic intermodal freight.

Louisville’s location on the Ohio River adds another dimension to its freight network. Jefferson Riverport International provides direct access to CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Paducah & Louisville Railway, along with barge, truck, warehouse, and Foreign-Trade Zone facilities. Louisville is also home to UPS Worldport, reinforcing the region’s role as one of the country’s major multimodal distribution centers. The combination of expanding international rail-container service, multiple railroads, river transportation, and an unusually large logistics industry makes Louisville an important inland market for marine container movement and used shipping container availability. Used shipping containers are readily available in Louisville, usually at competitive prices.