Intermodal is gaining ground, but the story looks very different depending on the type of freight and where it is moving.

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Andrew Sibold, Director of Economics for the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), to discuss the forces reshaping the intermodal market.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why domestic intermodal volume is growing as international volume declines
• How higher truck rates, softer imports, and data center construction are influencing demand
• What IANA’s new Intermodal Volume Index reveals about current conditions
• How machine learning and economic indicators support 12-month volume forecasts
• Why tariff-driven shifts toward East Coast and Gulf ports may be here to stay
• How intermodal security, autonomous trucks, and the trucking freight cycle fit into the bigger picture

If you work in shipping, trucking, rail, or freight planning, this episode offers a clear look at the economics behind today’s intermodal market.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:20 Andrew's Career Path to IANA
• 04:32 The Rebound of Intermodal in 2026
• 07:25 Intermodal Volume Index
• 16:05 Intermodal Predictive Model
• 25:52 Forecasting and Data Analysis
• 29:07 Tariff Volatility and Intermodal
• 34:02 Driver Capacity and Drayage
• 36:36 Autonomous Vehicles and Intermodal
• 42:11 Artificial Intelligence in Freight
• 45:37 Intermodal Expo and Market Update