Intermodal

J.B. Hunt Transport signed a multiyear deal with global retail giant Walmart, with a key component of the deal being its acquisition of Walmart’s intermodal assets, including its operational intermodal container and chassis fleets.  

Rail carloads, at 220,362, were down 2.5% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 264,478 units, increased 11.1%.

U.S. rail carloads, at 1,025,168, were down 7.2%, or 79,725 carloads, compared to January 2023. And intermodal containers and trailers, at 1,206,014, headed up 5.5%, or 63,195 units, annually.

IANA reported that total fourth quarter intermodal volume, at 4,367,940 units, rose 3.1% annually, marking the first time there has been annual growth in the past nine quarters. Full-year 2023 intermodal volume, at 16,669,980 units, was off 5.9% annually.

Rail carloads, at 173,371, were down 22.4% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 224,182 units, saw a 4.5% annual decline.

Total December volume, at 1,410,345 units, was up 6.4% annually, posting annual growth for the second consecutive month, following November’s 3.8% annual increase. For all of 2023, total intermodal volume came in at 16,669,980 units, for a 5.9% annual decrease.

Rail carloads, at 208,176, were up 0.9% annually, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 209,081, saw a 3.7% annual increase.

December rail carloads, at 876,881, increased 7.3%, or 59,084 carloads, annually, and intermodal container and trailer volume, at 982,383 units, were up 10.2%, or 90,881 units, annually.

Rail carloads, at 234,449, increased 6.5% annually, and intermodal container and trailer volumes, at 268,134 units, rose 8.6% annually.

Rail carloads, at 229,424, decreased 2.5% annually, and intermodal container and trailer volumes, at 269,670 units, were up 5.5% annually.

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

Rail carloads, at 1,128,573, were down 0.0% annually, or a mere 102 carloads. Intermodal containers and trailers, at 1,279,906, rose 5.0%, or 60,486 units, annually.

A key takeaway of the report highlighted how the GDP Goods Transport Sector reading saw a 6.5% increase, from the second quarter to the third quarter, which snapped a five-quarter stretch of negative or nearly negative sequential quarter growth. And TIA noted that this was in line with the U.S. third quarter advance estimate reading of 4.9%.

We canvassed a seasoned group of industry observers to record what happened this past year and what it means to our logistics and supply chain operations as we head into 2024. Here’s what they had to say.

While freight demand and volumes still leave room for growth, the overall state of the intermodal market remains somewhat mixed, albeit with some potentially promising signs ahead. That was the word from Larry Gross, president of Gross Transportation Consulting, at the recent RailTrends conference in New York hosted by Progressive Railroading and independent railroad analyst Tony Hatch.