Trucking Shortage Drives Up Freight Costs for Businesses

Trucking Shortage Drives Up Freight Costs for Businesses

Shrinking truckload capacity is a top concern for shippers, driven by factors like the ELD mandate, driver shortages, and manufacturing growth. Intermodal transportation emerges as a crucial strategy to combat capacity challenges. Businesses need to optimize their supply chains and select appropriate intermodal solutions to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and maintain a competitive edge in the market. Focusing on strategic intermodal implementation allows companies to navigate the current capacity constraints and build more resilient and cost-effective supply chains.

01/27/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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North American Rail Freight Defies Economic Slowdown

North American Rail Freight Defies Economic Slowdown

Recent data shows year-over-year growth in both U.S. rail freight and intermodal volumes. Performance varies across market segments, with intermodal demonstrating strong growth. Businesses should monitor market changes, diversify transportation modes, strengthen supply chain collaboration, embrace digital technologies, and focus on sustainable development to optimize their freight strategies. The intermodal sector's robust performance suggests a shift towards more integrated and efficient transportation solutions. Adapting to these trends is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the evolving freight landscape.

02/04/2026 Logistics
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US Intermodal Freight Volumes Decline in October Amid Tariff Worries

US Intermodal Freight Volumes Decline in October Amid Tariff Worries

North American Intermodal Association data shows a 2% year-over-year decrease in U.S. intermodal freight volume in October 2025, ending months of consecutive growth. Key influencing factors include tariff policies, economic uncertainty, and industrial weakness. While cumulative freight volume for the year remains positive, the growth rate is slowing. The future intermodal market should focus on key factors such as tariffs, consumer spending, inventory levels, and capacity supply, while also strengthening innovation and international cooperation.

02/04/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Struggles As Auto Shipments Offset Coal Decline

US Rail Freight Struggles As Auto Shipments Offset Coal Decline

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail freight and intermodal volumes declined year-over-year in the first week of February. However, automobile and parts transportation saw an increase, while coal shipments experienced a significant drop. Year-to-date freight volume showed a slight increase, but intermodal remained weak. North America mirrored the U.S. trend, with a small rise in overall freight volume but a decrease in intermodal transportation. The divergence highlights shifting dynamics within the freight transportation sector.

01/28/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Sees Modest Recovery in Late September

US Rail Freight Sees Modest Recovery in Late September

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail carload and intermodal traffic both experienced year-over-year growth in late September. Carload traffic increased by 0.9%, with notable gains in nonmetallic minerals, grain, and motor vehicles & parts, while coal, petroleum, and metals declined. Intermodal volume rose by 1.1%. Year-to-date figures show a 2.1% increase in total carload traffic and a 3.5% increase in total intermodal volume. The rail freight market faces both challenges and opportunities, requiring proactive adaptation.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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North American Intermodal Decline Eases As Domestic Demand Holds Steady

North American Intermodal Decline Eases As Domestic Demand Holds Steady

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reported a 4.3% year-over-year decrease in North American intermodal volume in Q2, although the decline narrowed. Domestic container demand remained robust, increasing by 4.0%, while international standard containers faced challenges such as port congestion and COVID-19 lockdowns, resulting in an 8.4% decrease. The peak season impact is expected to diminish, leading to a more stable trend for the year. Inflation and high oil prices may present opportunities for intermodal transportation.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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Intermodal Transportation A Key Method to Enhance Global Logistics Efficiency

Intermodal Transportation A Key Method to Enhance Global Logistics Efficiency

Multimodal transport enhances global logistics efficiency and safety by seamlessly integrating various modes of transport such as ships, trains, and trucks. This model is applicable not only to maritime and air transportation but also facilitates efficient flow in land supply chains. Effectively managing the connections and coordination of each transport segment is crucial for improving overall supply chain efficiency.

07/23/2025 Logistics
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Forward Air Acquires Chickasaw Container Services to Boost Intermodal Reach

Forward Air Acquires Chickasaw Container Services to Boost Intermodal Reach

Forward Air's acquisition of Chickasaw Container Services aims to expand its intermodal operations in the Mobile market and solidify its position in Memphis. This move highlights the growing importance of intermodal transportation as a key growth area in the logistics industry, foreshadowing accelerated industry consolidation, digitalization, green initiatives, and collaborative trends. Forward Air's strategic deployment warrants attention. The acquisition strengthens Forward Air's network and service offerings, positioning them for further growth in the competitive logistics landscape. This acquisition is a strategic move to capture a larger share of the intermodal market.

01/20/2026 Logistics
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Rail Freight Expert Tony Hatch Analyzes Intermodal Trends for Shippers

Rail Freight Expert Tony Hatch Analyzes Intermodal Trends for Shippers

This logistics management podcast features rail freight expert Tony Hatch, providing an in-depth discussion of the US rail freight, intermodal market, and US-Mexico trade. Hatch analyzes the current market situation, development trends, policy impacts, and key considerations for shippers. He offers professional advice for businesses to optimize their supply chains and develop effective transportation strategies. The podcast explores the challenges and opportunities within the rail freight sector, providing valuable insights for companies involved in cross-border trade and domestic transportation.

01/22/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Rail Freight Sees Split Trends in Carload Intermodal Volumes

US Rail Freight Sees Split Trends in Carload Intermodal Volumes

According to the Association of American Railroads, for the week ending August 23rd, U.S. rail carloads increased by 0.6% year-over-year, while intermodal traffic decreased by 1.9%. Grain and automotive shipments showed strong performance, while oil and coal shipments declined. Year-to-date figures still indicate solid growth. Railroad companies need to improve efficiency, invest in infrastructure, expand services, and focus on sustainable development.

01/22/2026 Logistics
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