Intermodal

Rail carloads, at 224,620, fell 1.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailer volume, at 294,284 units, decreased 1.2% annually.

Rail carloads, at 228,823, rose 1.7% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 280,176 units, fell 5.4% annually.

The November FRI was down 0.4% from October to November, falling for the seventh time in the last eight months, and it was off 4.4% annually, due largely to an intermodal slowdown in recent months, noted the report.

Rail carloads, at 197,955, increased 4.3% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 234,860 units, fell 6.5% annually.

The state of the North American intermodal market could be described as somewhat bifurcated, based on a presentation at last week’s RailTrends conference in New York by noted intermodal expert Larry Gross, president of Gross Transportation Consulting.

In a wide-ranging presentation at the RailTrends conference in New York last week, Adriene Bailey, partner and head of the North American Rail Team at Oliver Wyman, offered up detailed insight and analysis on various topics impacting the North American freight railroad market.

Rail carloads, at 224,651, were up 0.1% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 268,842 units, were off 8.7% annually.

As rail and intermodal rebound from years of underinvestment, new technology and AI-driven analytics are helping to modernize networks, improve service levels, and restore shipper confidence. With visibility, safety, and fluidity on the rise, industry leaders say rail’s digital transformation is finally catching up—setting the stage for a new era of intelligent, data-driven logistics.

Rail carloads, at 224,244, eked out a 0.3% annual increase, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 273,610 units, fell 4.8% annually.

Rail carloads, at 224,562, increased 1.2% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 273,900 units, fell 3.3% annually.

In this podcast, LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman interviews Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Ian Jefferies.

U.S. rail carloads, at 224,972, eked out a 0.002% annual increase, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 278,566 units, rose 6.7% annually.

Rail carloads, at 228,903, eked out a 0.9% annual increase, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 283,739 units, headed up 1.1%.

The 15th Annual Rail/Intermodal Roundtable examines the current state of the U.S. rail and intermodal markets, highlighting modest carload growth, improving service levels, and the ongoing impact of tariffs, truck competition, and emerging technology. Experts also weigh in on the potential Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, forecasting that regulatory review and broader economic conditions will shape service, pricing, and growth opportunities over the next several years.

The October cover story highlights rail and intermodal transportation, showing how technology and emerging AI are improving network efficiency, service levels, and visibility for long-haul, high-volume shipments. The column also previews the 2025 Supply Chain Outlook Virtual Summit, where MIT’s Matthias Winkenbach will explain how AI is transforming logistics decision-making and creating smarter, more resilient supply chains.