Demand for North American bulk transloading capacity is surging, but a geographic disconnect between rail-to-truck facilities and the manufacturers who need them remains an industry hurdle, leaving many shippers struggling to identify viable transfer points in their target markets.

Rebulk, a logistics software startup, entered the bulk carrier space in May to help solve this problem. By mapping 3,350 rail-served locations across the U.S. and Canada, the company launched a free transload facility directory that gives shippers, transloaders, and carriers visibility into active bulk infrastructure. Rebulk’s platform utilizes AI agents to track facility updates, M&A transactions, and operational statuses, bridging the gap between rail networks and motor carriers.

“We’re seeing a lot of expansion, but the biggest hiccup is connecting transloaders with shippers,” Kenneth Bautista, Rebulk’s head of business operations, told Bulk Transporter. “A lot of people want to get into the transload business, because it’s a high-margin business, but the question is, ‘How do I get connected?’”

From agricultural to carrier operations

Rebulk initially worked with agricultural shippers like Cargill, deploying lidar cameras at dairy farms to scan feed stockpiles, calculate volumes, and automate truck delivery schedules, Bautista explained. The startup pivoted to broader bulk solutions after Frank Venezia of Pennsylvania-based Venezia Transport asked them to help solve his operational challenges.

Rebulk had five carrier terminals live on its digital platform in September, and was in the process of onboarding five more, Bautista said. Today, Rebulk builds digital tools for carriers like Venezia and Usher Transport, ranging from rail maintenance tracking systems and seal checks for tank trailers to end-to-end inventory lifecycle tracking and transload warehousing solutions.

Bautista and his team also met with several other high-profile and highly interested carriers with transload operations during their first trip to National Tank Truck Carriers’ Tank Truck Week, which ran Sept. 27-30 in Oklahoma City.

Bridging the ‘transload gap’

A key capability of Rebulk’s platform is identifying what Cole Robertson, the company’s CTO and co-founder, terms the “transload gap.”

“The original intention was to show where transloaders are missing from areas with manufacturing or end customers,” Robertson explained. Without them, shippers looking to move sizable rail volumes often discover there are zero transload facilities in the targeted destination. To resolve this, Rebulk fields multiple inquiries per day through its directory. When a shipper recently needed to move freight to Rock Springs, Wyoming, Rebulk gathered quotes from regional transloaders for free, giving the client options while steering new business to carriers.

This data provides a clear playbook for strategic growth, Robertson maintained. Rather than waiting for existing facilities to open, bulk haulers can actively identify underserved regions and build intentional transload capacity. He also noted carriers frequently establish dedicated transload yards to anchor long-term relationships. So, by identifying where service is needed, carriers can create mutually beneficial sites that boost shipper care and their trucking operations.

Data-driven market insights

The research powering Rebulk’s directory highlights critical structural trends across the North American market, including:

• Rapid industry consolidation: “The industry is consolidating,” Bautista observed. “We’re seeing economies of scale make a big difference.” Between 2015 and mid-2026, 141 U.S. transload facilities were acquired compared to just seven closures—a 20-to-1 ratio. M&A activity accelerated sharply after 2023, led by roll-ups like Trinity Industries’ acquisition of RSI Logistics across 16 terminals.
• Geographic and metro hubs: Texas leads the U.S. with 274 transload facilities, followed by California with 213. The top five states—Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois—control 31% of all U.S. capacity. At the metro level, Kansas City serves as North America’s largest single transload hub, with 30 named terminals.
• Rail infrastructure and commodity scope: Exactly 75% of U.S. transload facilities reside on Class I railroads (led by Norfolk Southern and BNSF), while short lines serve the remaining 25%, with Genesee & Wyoming alone reaching 195 sites. Robertson noted that pending Class I mergers could result in roughly 40% of transload terminals becoming monopolized under unified networks. Operationally, the average facility handles 3.1 commodity groups, with dry bulk (1,211 facilities) and liquid bulk (974 facilities) leading the market.
• Canadian network: Canada accounts for 190 transload sites concentrated in Ontario (49) and Alberta (44), with 91% connected directly to CN or CPKC.