Major industries in the Tacoma area rely on Tacoma Rail. For example, the Port of Tacoma is one of the largest container ports in North America. It handles more than a million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) per year. Tacoma Rail serves some of the world's shipping giants, including Evergreen, K Line, Yang Ming and Hyundai, through the Port. Tacoma Rail provides a crucial link to the Port of Tacoma's success by efficiently and cost-effectively switching containerized goods between trans-Pacific cargo ships and trans-American railroads.

In addition to containerized cargo, Tacoma Rail's freight includes chemicals, automobiles, scrap metal, feed, grain, frozen food, lime, petroleum products and lumber products — the foundations of Tacoma's industrial heritage. The largest of these customers include Auto Warehousing Corporation, MacMillan Piper, Schnitzer Steel, US Oil, Sound Refining and Graymont Western.