DB Schenker Rail - formerly EWS - has appointed Wincanton as its road haulage partner in the UK, in a deal worth up to £3.5m in the first year.
Wincanton says the agreement to provide road transport services will follow the model of its German sister company, which uses barge, rail and road operations.
Under the contract, the company, along with Norbert Dentressangle, have been named preferred road haulage suppliers for the rail operator and both will use space on DB Schenker freight trains.
Wincanton container logistics managing director Ian Wilson says: "In Germany, Wincanton has a good multi-modal transport operation with smooth integration between barge, rail and road.
"We are keen to build on this and make our service offering in the UK better and wider."
Wincanton did not confirm the length of the agreement but admitted it was "long-term" and could be worth about £3.5m in the first year.
The 
company will use its existing depots at Wakefield, West Yorks; Trafford Park, Manchester; Daventry, Northants; Tilbury, Essex; and Southampton, Hants.