Lumber & truck brokerage

SMS Rail Service provides specialized rail-served logistics solutions for the lumber and building-products industry, including the handling, storage, and distribution of dimensional lumber, panel products, steel, and related commodities. Our team manages inbound and outbound railcar and truck movements, particularly centerbeam and bulkhead flatcar and boxcar shipments, while providing transloading services, inventory control, and detailed daily inventory reporting to ensure customers maintain visibility into their supply chain.

In 2026, SMS introduced a new 10,000-square-foot warehouse dedicated to the indoor storage of lumber and similar building materials, providing weather-protected space adjacent to active rail infrastructure, which will see further expansion in the spring. This facility will support efficient unloading of rail shipments, short-term inventory staging, and rapid distribution by truck to regional lumber yards, building supply centers, and construction markets throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

To complement rail operations, SMS operates a truck brokerage division that coordinates short- and long-haul over-the-road transportation, enabling flexible last-mile delivery directly to customer facilities or job sites. Our carrier partners are fully insured, vetted by SMS, and maintain UIIA credentials for port access, allowing SMS to support both domestic and international movements through regional marine terminals.

By integrating rail transportation, indoor storage, inventory management, and truck distribution, SMS provides shippers with a flexible logistics platform designed to reduce handling time, protect product quality, and maintain reliable flow from mill or port to end user.