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 two 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.