Gitnux/Report 2026

Intermodal Transportation Industry Statistics

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Intermodal Transportation Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

An editor sets the topic, the inclusion criteria, and the evaluation framework before research starts.

02Source Research

AI search agents locate sources and extract each figure together with the document it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The intermodal transportation industry at a glance

The global intermodal freight transportation market was valued at $136.7 billion in 2025, while U.S. rail intermodal volume reached a near-record 14.06 million containers and trailers.

$136.7B[84]
Global market size, 2025
9.5%[84]
Global CAGR, 2026–2034
14.06M[85]
U.S. rail units, 2025
40.38%[84]
North America share, 2025
Market size
The global intermodal freight transportation market was valued at $136.7 billion in 2025. A separate estimate placed the U.S. domestic intermodal market at $40 billion in 2024.[84][86]
Forecast & CAGR
The global market is forecast to grow from $147.2 billion in 2026 to $283.4 billion in 2034, representing a 9.5% CAGR. The U.S. Department of Transportation forecasts the U.S. multiple-modes-and-mail freight category to increase in value by 76% between 2025 and 2050.[84][2]
Market share & regions
North America held 40.38% of the global intermodal freight transportation market in 2025. In the European Union, container transport represented 22.2% of rail transport performance and 5.3% of road transport performance in 2024.[84][87]
Segmentation
The market is segmented by rail-road, road-sea, rail-sea, air-road, air-sea and multimodal services; by domestic and international operations; and by end users including automotive, food and beverage, healthcare, energy, and construction. Road-rail was the largest type segment, with a 45.8% share in 2023, while domestic intermodal accounted for 52.3%.[20]
Key players & concentration
Major participants include Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO, Deutsche Bahn, Union Pacific, BNSF, FedEx, UPS, Kuehne + Nagel and XPO Logistics. In the United States, six Class I freight railroads operate alongside roughly 615 short-line railroads, indicating a concentrated long-haul rail core with a broader regional feeder network.[84][88]
Pricing
For shipments longer than 500 miles, intermodal can reduce shipping costs by approximately 20% to 40% versus truck-only transport. In North American domestic intermodal brokerage, the average revenue per intermodal load was $2,821 in the first quarter of 2025, down 7.5% year over year.[89][90]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Growth is being supported by containerized trade, nearshoring, digital freight platforms, automated terminals, and demand for lower-emission transport. Key constraints include terminal capacity, outdated infrastructure, weak first- and last-mile connections, port and highway congestion, and the need to improve service reliability.[2][84][89]
Consumer behavior & competition
Shippers increasingly compare intermodal with truck-only service on cost, reliability, emissions and network resilience, especially on longer routes. Kearney assessed the U.S. intermodal segment as a $40 billion market in 2024 with medium carrier concentration, while domestic intermodal loads rose 0.7% year over year in the first quarter of 2025.[86][90]
M&A
The Canadian Pacific–Kansas City Southern transaction created CPKC and was the first major U.S. railroad merger in roughly two decades. The combined network expanded single-line intermodal opportunities linking Canada, the United States and Mexico, including Dallas–Chicago and Mexico-related freight corridors.[91]
Regulation
U.S. intermodal operators are affected by federal rail-safety, crew, hazardous-materials, emissions and infrastructure rules. The Federal Railroad Administration finalized a rule in 2024 requiring freight trains to have at least two crew members, while the national freight plan identifies terminal capacity and inland-port development as policy priorities.[24][2]
Latest news
The latest full-year U.S. rail data available from the Association of American Railroads show 14.06 million intermodal containers and trailers moved in 2025, up 1.5% from 2024 and the second-highest annual total on record. The result followed strong domestic and international container activity despite uneven industrial freight conditions.[85]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Intermodal Transportation Industry

The leading companies in the intermodal transportation industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

DSV leads Gitnux's 2026 intermodal transportation ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with revenue growth 48.1% and operating margin 7.9%. DP World is the highest-ranked port and inland logistics operator at 9.2, backed by revenue growth 22% in its ports and integrated inland logistics segment.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in multimodal freight logistics

    DSV

    DK

    Ranked #1 · 9.3 · Multimodal freight logistics

    Why we picked it: It supports multimodal freight across road, rail, ocean, and air in a global logistics footprint.

    See in ranking ↓Visit dsv.com ↗

  2. Leader in port and inland logistics

    DP World

    AE

    Ranked #2 · 9.2 · Port and inland logistics

    Why we picked it: It operates port, terminal, and inland logistics infrastructure connecting trade corridors.

    See in ranking ↓Visit dpworld.com ↗

  3. Leader in container shipping and terminals

    MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

    CH

    Ranked #3 · 8.9 · Container shipping and terminals

    Why we picked it: It runs container shipping plus overland transport and terminals at large scale.

    See in ranking ↓Visit msc.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the intermodal transportation industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

DSV

Multimodal freight logistics · DK

9.3
2

DP World

Port and inland logistics · AE

9.2
3

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

Container shipping and terminals · CH

8.9
4

DHL Group

Ocean freight forwarding · DE

8.9
5

CMA CGM

Container shipping and terminals · FR

8.8
6

A.P. Moller - Maersk

Ocean shipping, terminals and inland logistics worldwide · DK

8.7
7

Union Pacific

North American Class I rail and intermodal transportation · US

8.6
8

COSCO Shipping Holdings

Container shipping and integrated port logistics worldwide · CN

8.3
9

BNSF Railway

North American rail and intermodal transportation · US

8.2
10

Schneider

North American intermodal and multimodal freight · US

8.2

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the intermodal transportation industry. In Intermodal Transportation Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intermodal-transportation-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Projection

Total North American rail intermodal originations, year-to-date through June

Total North American rail intermodal originations, year-to-date through June fell from 9.6M units in 2021 to 8.8M units in 2024.

9.6M units
Start
-2.86%
CAGR · 3y
8.8M units
Projected
20212024
source-verifiedaar.org2024

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

Technology adoption signals center on AI and automation at terminals and planning functions. Automation coverage is visible in 100% of the 10 largest U.S. container ports using some automation technology in 2024.

AI in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 107 intermodal rail-terminal professionals across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America participated in a 2025 technology-adoption survey.[1]
  • 95 transportation-industry, labor, public-sector and nonprofit responses informed the U.S. DOT’s 2024 review of AI applications in transportation.[2]
  • 36% of larger intermodal terminal networks reported using AI to collect and analyse operational data in 2025.[1]
  • 63% of intermodal operators cited increasing capacity or optimising yard utilisation as a top challenge in 2025.[1]
  • 45% of intermodal operators listed improving safety among their top operational challenges in 2025.[1]
  • More than 10,000 rail wagons per day were handled with AI assistance at eight major DB Cargo depots in 2024.[3]

Automation in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 43% of all surveyed marine terminals prioritised AI in 2025.[1]
  • 74% of marine terminals focused on reducing unproductive moves and maximising equipment use in 2025.[1]
  • 35% of marine-terminal professionals ranked equipment automation as a technology priority in 2025.[1]
  • 58% of marine-terminal professionals ranked process automation as their top technology priority in 2025.[1]
  • 100% of the 10 largest U.S. container ports used some form of automation technology in 2024.[4]
  • 64% of intermodal terminals used automated gate systems in a 2025 global survey.[1]

Digital Transformation in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 51% identified high costs as a challenge to digitalizing logistics operations in 2025.[5]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 49% had digitized 50% or fewer of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[6]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 69% expected digitalization to improve efficiency in 2025.[5]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 63% expected digitalization to enhance customer experience in 2025.[5]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 23% had digitized more than 75% of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[6]

Technology Adoption in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics executives surveyed in Europe and North America, 44% were using AI for transportation planning and optimization in 2025.[7]
  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying AI to reduce workloads in 2024.[8]
  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 19% of shippers reported using AI at scale.[8]
  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 15% of logistics service providers reported using AI at scale.[8]
  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying automated real-time shipment tracking to address knowledge-worker shortages in 2024.[8]

Cloud Computing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 89% planned to increase AI and machine-learning investment during the following one to two years.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 84% had increased AI and machine-learning investment during the preceding one to two years.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 75% said cloud was crucial to their organization’s future in 2023.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 85% said leadership viewed cloud as a long-term investment in 2023.[9]

Big Data in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 49% expected digitalization to improve data visibility in 2025.[5]
  • 45% of surveyed multinational logistics and supply-chain organizations said in 2024 that they were using logistics data to its full potential, according to a survey of 60 organizations.[10]
  • 9.5% of transportation and storage enterprises used big-data analytics alone in the OECD’s 2026 cross-sector comparison, based on the latest available enterprise data.[11]
  • 38% of surveyed GCC logistics organizations used structured data, while 20% recognized a systematic link between data and business insights, according to a 2023 study.[12]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data quality and visibility gaps constrain analytics and automation. In 2024, 44% of intermodal terminal operators cited data accuracy and reliability as a data-management pain point.

Business intelligence in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 73% of intermodal terminals use data dashboards and reporting, according to a 2024 survey of terminal operators.[13]
  • 54% of intermodal terminals with networks of 10 or fewer facilities still use spreadsheets and manual entry to collect and analyze operational data.[13]
  • 44% of intermodal terminals lack real-time visibility when managing operational data, according to a 2024 industry survey.[13]
  • 42% of intermodal terminal operators cite data accuracy and reliability as a data-management pain point.[1]
  • 53% of marine terminals report internal system-connectivity challenges affecting operational data use.[13]
  • 65% of intermodal terminals use terminal operating systems, according to a 2024 survey of terminal operators.[13]

Data analytics in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 42% of intermodal terminals cite ongoing data-accuracy challenges that limit analytics and automation initiatives.[13]
  • 63% of intermodal terminal respondents rank capacity and yard utilization as their leading operational challenge.[14]
  • 28% of transportation organizations identify data analysis, forecasting and decision support as an artificial-intelligence use case.[8]
  • 45% of logistics service providers cite data quality as a barrier to scaling artificial intelligence in transportation.[8]
  • 67% of logistics service providers use artificial intelligence for real-time visibility and tracking in the 2026 transportation benchmark survey.[8]
  • 40% of intermodal terminals cite limited staff expertise in data analytics as an operational technology challenge.[13]

Data Quality in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics shippers, 33% identified data quality as a top barrier to scaling artificial intelligence in 2026.[8]
  • Across supply management organizations, 67% said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[15]
  • Across supply management organizations, 33% rated their data-security ability as very high for assuring data quality in 2024.[15]
  • Across supply management organizations, 49% rated their data quality as good or excellent in 2024.[15]

Data Governance in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance function, 47% housed it in a center of excellence in 2024.[15]
  • Across supply management organizations, 61% had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024.[15]
  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance program, 81% found the program useful in 2024.[15]
  • 49% of shipper respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running in place, with no noticeable progress, in the 2024 global survey.[16]
  • 19% of shipper respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running ahead, meaning proactive and predictable, in the 2024 global survey.[16]
  • 33% of 3PL respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running ahead, meaning proactive and predictable, in the 2024 global survey.[16]

KPIs in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 84% of carriers say scorecards are useful tools for improving logistics performance.[17]
  • 10.3 hours was CSX’s average annual terminal dwell time in both 2024 and 2025.[18]
  • 19.6 miles per hour was CSX’s train velocity in the fourth quarter of 2025.[18]
  • 24.3 miles per hour was Union Pacific’s average train speed in 2025, compared with 23.6 miles per hour in 2024.[18]
  • 99% was Union Pacific’s intermodal service performance index in 2025, up from 90% in 2024.[18]
  • 93% was CSX’s intermodal trip-plan performance in the third quarter of 2025.[18]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Demand remains near record levels while corridors and equipment investments shape growth. Global CAGR is 9.5% for 2026–2034, with U.S. rail intermodal units reaching 14.06 million in 2025.

Growth in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 23.5% is the fourth-quarter 2024 volume increase in the Southeast–Southwest U.S. intermodal corridor.[19]
  • 76% is the forecast increase in U.S. intermodal freight value from 2025 to 2050, reaching $4.78 trillion.[2]
  • 9.9% is the increase in U.S. grand-total intermodal revenue moves during 2024, reaching 14.154 million moves.[19]
  • 18.8% is the fourth-quarter 2024 volume increase in the South Central–Southwest U.S. intermodal corridor.[19]
  • 12.1% is the projected global intermodal freight transportation market CAGR from 2024 to 2030.[20]
  • $93.5 billion is the projected global intermodal freight transportation market size in 2030.[20]

Differentiation in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 85,000-plus domestic containers were owned by U.S. railroads in IANA’s industry profile.[19]
  • 688,237 chassis were registered in IANA’s Global Intermodal Equipment Registry.[19]
  • 70 locations is the North American footprint operated by Ports America, supporting its diversified port and logistics offering.[21]
  • 2 million TEUs is the annual volume handled by IMC Logistics in intermodal drayage and rail operations.[22]
  • 53 feet is the container length in DP World’s new Mexico–United States finished-vehicle rail solution.[23]
  • 1,700 employees is the approximate workforce of IMC Logistics in the United States.[22]

Mergers and acquisitions in the intermodal transportation industry

  • $31.1 billion was the value of Canadian Pacific’s approved 2023 takeover of Kansas City Southern, creating CPKC.[24]
  • $53 million was Maersk’s purchase price for 100% of Martin Bencher Group in 2023.[25]
  • $44 million was Maersk’s purchase price for its 51% controlling interest in Grindrod Logistics.[25]
  • 2 million TEUs annually is the intermodal volume of IMC Logistics, acquired by Kuehne+Nagel in 2024.[22]
  • 51% was Maersk’s controlling interest acquired in Grindrod Logistics in 2023.[25]
  • 5.3 times was the implied EV/EBITDA multiple in TFI International’s 2024 acquisition of Daseke.[26]

Strategic partnerships in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 60%-plus of North American intermodal volume was handled by the seven highest-density trade corridors in the fourth quarter of 2024.[19]
  • 4.8% was the fourth-quarter 2024 increase in total intermodal-carrier volume reported by IANA members, alongside a 12.2% increase in intermodal traffic.[19]
  • $67 million-plus in federal funding supports the Livernois Intermodal Facility partnership involving MDOT, Detroit and Norfolk Southern.[27]
  • 17,200 feet of new rail track is planned under the Livernois Intermodal Facility partnership in Detroit.[27]
  • 30 ports is the Ports America operating network supporting its CSX intermodal partnership at Baltimore and elsewhere.[21]
  • 3,000 trucks is Bison Transport’s fleet in its 2024 intermodal agreement with CPKC.[28]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce pressure shows up as projected openings and turnover concerns for transportation roles. U.S. railroad conductors and yardmasters had 30,000 projected openings from 2025 to 2035.

Hiring in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 203,500 transportation dispatchers were employed in the United States in 2025, with 160,000 projected openings from 2025 to 2035.[29]
  • 194,100 transit and intercity bus drivers were employed in the United States in 2023.[29]
  • 166,400 bus and transit operators were employed in the United States in 2025, with 211,000 projected openings from 2025 to 2035.[29]
  • 22% of transportation, distribution and logistics leaders reported organizational turnover above 45%.[30]
  • 38,900 railroad conductors and yardmasters were employed in the United States in 2025, with 30,000 projected openings from 2025 to 2035.[29]

Employee retention in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 25% of transportation respondents reported voluntary separation rates of 1% to 5% during 2023.[31]
  • 57% of transportation survey respondents identified employee retention as a top talent-management challenge in 2024.[31]
  • 25% of transportation survey respondents identified developing effective training programs as a top talent-management challenge in 2024.[31]
  • 21% of transportation survey respondents identified employee well-being as a top talent-management challenge in 2024.[31]
  • 36% of transportation respondents reported first-year voluntary turnover of 1% to 5% during 2023.[31]

Remote Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities occupations, about 11% of workers worked remotely at least sometimes from October 2023 through September 2024.[32]
  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities, 20.3% of workers could work from home in 2024–2025, while 18.6% actually did so, according to annual averages.[33]
  • Among U.S. transportation, logistics, supply-chain and storage hires, 17.0% of hires at small companies were remote during the year ending September 2024.[34]
  • In the U.S. transportation and warehousing industry, 13.9% of wage and salary employees worked from home in January 2025.[35]

Hybrid Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Globally, 25% of engaged employees were working in hybrid arrangements in 2025, compared with 30% of exclusively remote employees and 17% of on-site, non-remote-capable employees.[36]
  • Among transportation employers surveyed for the U.S. Job Outlook, 33.3% reported fully hybrid work arrangements in 2024.[37]
  • Among U.S. remote-capable employees, 54% worked hybrid schedules in August 2026.[36]
  • Across transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 42% reported a hybrid work arrangement in 2025.[38]

Upskilling in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 100% of CSX operations managers received SAFE CSX training and in-field coaching in 2024.[39]
  • 35% of all U.S. workers were under age 35 in 2019, compared with 17% in ground passenger transportation and 27% in rail transportation.[40]
  • 27% of the U.S. rail-transportation workforce was under age 35 in 2019.[40]
  • 54,000+ SAFE CSX training hours were delivered by CSX in 2024.[39]
  • 3,192 CSX management employees received formal performance reviews in 2024.[39]

Employee Engagement in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • In U.S. logistics, 71% of frontline workers reported workplace stress in 2024.[41]
  • In U.S. logistics, more than 60% of frontline workers considered their roles long-term career commitments in 2024.[41]
  • Across Asia-Pacific transport and logistics organizations, 62% of employees were actively engaged, based on feedback from 30,116 employees in 24 surveys.[42]
  • Globally, 20% of employees were engaged at work in 2025, while 16% were actively disengaged.[36]
  • In U.S. logistics, 40% of frontline workers wanted to quit in 2024, according to a survey of 500 logistics employees.[41]

DEI in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 37% of U.S. ground-passenger-transportation workers were women in 2019.[40]
  • 18% of U.S. rail-transportation workers were non-White in 2019.[40]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Shipper and provider satisfaction signals align with service performance and partner selection. In North America, 90% of respondents reported satisfaction with domestic intermodal services in the second half of 2025.

Customer experience in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 82.1% of shippers were satisfied with intermodal marketing company partners in spring 2023 in North America.[43]
  • 77.5% of intermodal providers were satisfied with Class I railroad performance in the second half of 2024 in North America.[44]
  • 58.9% of shippers were somewhat satisfied with their intermodal marketing company partners in spring 2023 in North America.[43]
  • 5.4% of shippers were dissatisfied with their intermodal marketing company partners in spring 2023 in North America.[43]
  • 43.9% of North American shippers named J.B. Hunt the best-performing intermodal service provider in spring 2023.[43]

Customer retention in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 2% decline in total intermodal units in 2023 reflected reduced freight demand and increased truck competition despite customer activity.[18]
  • 8% growth in international intermodal units in 2023 was attributed partly to growth in existing customers.[18]
  • 27% of Forward Air’s intermodal operating revenue came from its ten largest customers in 2024, indicating a diversified customer base.[18]
  • 33.5% of Forward Air’s 2024 intermodal direct transportation expenses were supplied by company-employed drivers.[18]
  • 62.1% of Forward Air’s 2024 intermodal direct transportation expenses were supplied by leased capacity providers supporting customer service continuity.[18]

Customer acquisition in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 66.7% of large North American shippers selected J.B. Hunt as their top intermodal service provider in spring 2023.[43]
  • 25% of North American shippers reported no change in truckload-to-intermodal conversion after January 1, 2023.[43]
  • 44% of surveyed shippers purchased ocean or ocean-intermodal transportation through 3PLs in 2024.[45]
  • 74% of surveyed shippers said a 3PL’s artificial-intelligence capabilities would influence provider choice in 2025.[46]
  • 26.4% was the average contractual cost saving for U.S. shippers choosing intermodal over long-haul trucking in the fourth quarter of 2023.[47]

Customer loyalty in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 77.5% of participating intermodal providers were satisfied with Class I railroad performance in the second half of 2024.[44]
  • 45.3% of intermodal marketing companies were satisfied with Class I railroad service in spring 2023.[43]
  • 43.9% of surveyed North American shippers rated J.B. Hunt as their best-performing intermodal provider in spring 2023.[43]
  • 85% of shippers were satisfied with their intermodal marketing company partners in the second half of 2023 in North America.[47]
  • 82.1% was the overall intermodal marketing company customer-satisfaction score in North America in spring 2023.[43]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Brand activity is measured through social reach and campaign outcomes rather than qualitative claims. CSX generated 120 million impressions through paid digital activity for The Intermodals campaign.

Marketing in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 58.9% of surveyed shippers were somewhat satisfied with their intermodal marketing company partners in spring 2023, North America.[43]
  • 38.8% of respondents voted CSX the top-performing U.S. Class I railroad for intermodal service in late 2023, United States.[39]
  • 82.1% was the overall customer-satisfaction score received by intermodal marketing companies in spring 2023, North America.[43]
  • 90% of respondents reported satisfaction with domestic intermodal services in the second half of 2025, North America.[48]
  • 5.4% of surveyed shippers reported dissatisfaction with their intermodal marketing company partners in spring 2023, North America.[43]

Digital marketing in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 1,440,331 impressions were generated by Intermodal Europe’s 2022 LinkedIn digital campaign, Europe.[49]
  • 63.86% was the video-completion rate for FLEXRail’s geofenced advertisement at a 2023 rail-shippers meeting, United States.[50]
  • 9,718 click-throughs were generated by Intermodal Europe’s 2022 LinkedIn digital campaign, Europe.[49]
  • 443% was the increase in LinkedIn followers for FLEXRail after its 2024 digital-marketing program, United States.[50]
  • 113% was the increase in FLEXRail LinkedIn social actions after its 2024 digital-marketing program, United States.[50]

Branding in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 2 million organic impressions were generated by CSX’s The Intermodals campaign and related public-relations activity, United States.[51]
  • 231% was the period-over-period increase in mentions of CSX after The Intermodals campaign, United States.[51]
  • 4.6 out of 5 was J.B. Hunt’s overall intermodal score in the second half of 2025, North America.[48]
  • 72% was the period-over-period increase in positive sentiment toward CSX after The Intermodals campaign, United States.[51]
  • 120 million impressions were generated through paid digital activity for CSX’s The Intermodals campaign, United States.[51]

Social media in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 3,077,265 Facebook followers were recorded for APM-Maersk in a 2022 maritime-industry study, global container shipping.[52]
  • 50,000+ new followers were generated across Amtrak’s seven social platforms by its viral video, United States.[53]
  • 29,973 Facebook followers were recorded for COSCO Group in a 2022 maritime-industry study, global container shipping.[52]
  • 22,000 Instagram followers were reported for Maersk Line’s social-media program, global container shipping, circa 2013.[54]
  • 9,033 followers were recorded for Intermodal Europe’s principal social channel in its 2022 event review, Europe.[49]

Influencer Marketing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 43% of worldwide B2B marketers who achieved positive results said micro-influencers generated the most success in 2024.[53]
  • 49% of B2B marketers selected industry relevance as a criterion for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[55]
  • 29% of B2B companies planned to adopt influencer marketing within the following year in 2025, globally.[55]
  • 58% of B2B marketers selected authenticity and credibility as criteria for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[55]
  • 55% of B2B companies used influencers in 2025, according to a global survey of marketing decision-makers.[55]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operational execution metrics highlight dwell time, speed, and safety outcomes across rail networks. Union Pacific’s intermodal service performance index reached 99% in 2025.

Process optimization in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 22.6 hours was Union Pacific’s average terminal dwell time in 2024, improving 3% from 2023.[18]
  • 7.0 hours was Canadian National’s 2024 systemwide through-dwell measure for freight cars.[18]
  • 24 miles per hour was the average Class I railroad speed in the United States in Q3 2025, up 4% year over year.[2]
  • 4 ports used automated cargo-handling equipment among the U.S. container ports reviewed by GAO in its port-automation study.[4]
  • 208 daily miles per car was Union Pacific’s freight-car velocity in 2024, up 2% from 2023.[18]

Operational efficiency in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 59.8% was Union Pacific’s operating ratio in 2025.[18]
  • 1,132 car miles per employee was Union Pacific’s workforce productivity in 2025, up 7% from 2024.[18]
  • 9.8 hours was CSX’s terminal dwell in Q4 2025, compared with 11.5 hours in Q1.[18]
  • 139 gross ton-miles per horsepower day was Union Pacific’s locomotive productivity in 2025, up 3% year over year.[18]
  • 18.0 million units was total U.S. intermodal volume in 2024, up 8.5% year over year.[56]

Quality management in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 1.2% of cross-border German freight trains experienced partial service failure in 2024.[57]
  • 0.90 reportable personal injuries occurred per 200,000 employee-hours at Union Pacific in 2024.[18]
  • 5,969 railroad injuries were recorded in the United States in 2024, including Amtrak data.[58]
  • 23% was Union Pacific’s year-over-year reduction in its reportable personal-injury rate in 2024.[18]
  • 0.3% of domestic German freight trains experienced complete service failure in 2024.[57]

Supply chain in the intermodal transportation industry

  • $752 billion was the value of freight moved by rail in the United States in 2024.[59]
  • 51.1% was vessel on-time performance at British Columbia ports in Canada in 2024.[60]
  • 24 days was end-to-end transit time from Antwerp to Chicago via Canadian East Coast ports in 2024.[60]
  • 33.2 days was end-to-end transit time from Shanghai to Chicago via British Columbia ports in 2024.[60]
  • 34.1 days was the 2024 Shanghai-to-Chicago transit time via Seattle and Tacoma in the U.S. comparison.[60]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 57% planned outsourcing projects in warehousing in 2026.[61]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 65% expected outsourcing to continue increasing in 2026.[61]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 25% had fully outsourced warehouse operations in 2026.[61]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, about 60% had fully outsourced transportation services in 2026.[61]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Pricing and load economics move with revenue per load and contract mix. Average intermodal revenue per load in North America reached $3,065 in the third quarter of 2026.

Pricing strategy in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 15.2% was the year-over-year increase in average intermodal revenue per load in the third quarter of 2026, reaching $3,065 in North America.[18]
  • 2.8% was the year-over-year increase in Swift Intermodal average revenue per load in the fourth quarter of 2025, despite a 6.0% decline in loads.[62]
  • 14.6% was HHLA Intermodal revenue growth in Germany and Europe in 2024, reaching €711.3 million after price adjustments and volume growth.[63]
  • 12.8% was the year-over-year increase in average intermodal revenue per load in the second quarter of 2026, reaching $2,901 in North America.[18]
  • 65% of intermodal load volume was contractual in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 62% in the second quarter of 2025.[18]

Cost reduction in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 140 basis points was the year-over-year improvement in Swift Intermodal’s operating ratio in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by cost reductions and network balance.[18]
  • 3.3% was the year-over-year reduction in Knight-Swift Intermodal average tractors in 2025, from 615 to 595.[18]
  • 0.2% was the year-over-year reduction in Knight-Swift Intermodal average containers in 2025, while load count declined 6.7%.[18]
  • 2.6% was the sequential increase in Swift Intermodal load count in the fourth quarter of 2025, supporting network utilization and cost control.[18]
  • 0.9% was the year-over-year decline in Swift Intermodal revenue per load sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting freight-mix changes as volumes softened.[18]

Profitability in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 101.4% was Knight-Swift Intermodal’s adjusted operating ratio in 2025, compared with 102.4% in 2024.[18]
  • €103.7 million was HHLA Intermodal EBIT in 2025, up 23.9% from €83.7 million in 2024.[63]
  • $5 million was Forward Intermodal operating income in the third quarter of 2026, up 26.4% from $4 million in the third quarter of 2025.[18]
  • $0.7 million was Swift Intermodal operating income in the second quarter of 2026, compared with a $3.4 million operating loss in the second quarter of 2025.[18]
  • 64.7 million dollars was Werner Intermodal operating income in 2025, compared with $54.5 million in 2024.[18]

Financial planning in the intermodal transportation industry

  • $364.914 million was Knight-Swift Intermodal revenue in 2025, compared with $387.232 million in 2024.[18]
  • €711.3 million was HHLA Intermodal revenue in 2024, compared with €620.5 million in 2023.[63]
  • 39,082 loads were handled by Swift Intermodal in the second quarter of 2026, up 19.6% from 32,682 in the second quarter of 2025.[18]
  • $113.388 million was Swift Intermodal revenue in the second quarter of 2026, up 34.9% from $84.065 million in the second quarter of 2025.[18]
  • $95.663 million was Swift Intermodal revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with $99.040 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.[18]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Service scope spans equipment registries, terminal footprints, and cross-border interchange capability. There were 350 marine and inland intermodal terminals supporting the North American network.

Product development in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 7 U.S.-Mexico rail border crossings supported North American intermodal service development.[19]
  • 12,187 motor carriers were registered in IANA’s Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement system.[19]
  • 467,431 drivers were registered in IANA’s Intermodal Driver Database.[19]
  • 350 marine and inland intermodal terminals supported the North American intermodal transportation network.[19]
  • 280,000+ domestic containers were owned by intermodal marketing companies and other providers in North America.[19]

Product lifecycle in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 7.6 million CEUs represented Triton International’s container and chassis fleet at December 31, 2024.[18]
  • 82% was CPKC’s average in-service utilization for freight cars in 2025.[64]
  • 15 additional years of interchange service may be available for qualifying railcars after the standard 50-year life.[27]
  • 86,000 revenue-generating railcars, or 5.5%, were added to the North American fleet between 2014 and 2024.[27]
  • 10 years was the average age of CPKC’s 19,134 intermodal equipment units at December 31, 2025.[64]

After-sales in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 62.1% of Forward Air Intermodal’s direct transportation expenses were provided by leased capacity providers in 2024.[18]
  • 1 dedicated Customer Experience Team supported CN’s intermodal customers, according to CN’s 2025 investor fact book.[18]
  • 33.5% of Forward Air Intermodal’s direct transportation expenses were provided by company-employed drivers in 2024.[18]
  • 1 daily per-diem-management report was provided by Forward Air Intermodal as part of its customer-service tools in 2024.[18]
  • 3 service capabilities were specifically cited for Forward Air Intermodal tablets: driver communication, shipment-progress monitoring and hours-of-service monitoring.[18]

Value proposition in the intermodal transportation industry

  • €711.3 million was HHLA’s intermodal-segment revenue in 2024, up 14.6% from 2023.[63]
  • $57.6 billion was the annual revenue generated by the North American intermodal industry in IANA’s industry profile.[19]
  • 18.1 million loads were moved by rail annually in the North American intermodal industry profile.[19]
  • 2.9 million intermodal units were shipped by Norfolk Southern in 2024, representing 46% of its total volume.[18]
  • Approximately 30 terminals served all major markets east of the Mississippi River through Norfolk Southern’s intermodal business in 2024.[18]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Lower-emission performance stays quantified alongside contract structure concerns. CSX customers avoided more than 10 million tons of CO₂ emissions through rail transportation in 2024.

Sustainability in the intermodal transportation industry

  • CSX customers avoided more than 10 million tons of CO₂ emissions through rail transportation in 2024.[65]
  • Union Pacific moved one ton of freight 463 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel, according to its environmental management data.[66]
  • 12 trillion tonne-kilometres of freight were moved by rail worldwide in 2023, representing 38% of global inland freight.[67]
  • An intermodal train can haul approximately 280 truckloads of freight, according to the U.S. EPA.[68]
  • Rail carried 6% of global freight while producing approximately 1% of transport emissions in 2023.[67]

ESG in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 50% of logistics respondents said ESG targets were not included in intermodal-freight contracts in 2023.[69]
  • 42% of logistics respondents described intermodal ESG targets as aspirations in 2023.[69]
  • 22% of respondents said ESG targets were contractual obligations for intermodal freight in 2023.[69]
  • 44% of respondents described ESG targets as aspirations for intermodal freight in 2023.[69]
  • Union Pacific’s science-based target covers a 50.4% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030 from 2018.[66]

Ethics in the intermodal transportation industry

  • CSX conducted 12 responder-incident-training events in 2023.[39]
  • CSX installed 2.18 million tons of ballast in 2024.[39]
  • CSX replaced 2.5 million ties across its network in 2024.[39]
  • CSX provided hazardous-materials responder training at 5,054 events in 2023.[39]
  • CSX conducted 10 responder-incident-training events in 2022.[39]

CSR in the intermodal transportation industry

  • CSX had 177 diverse suppliers in 2023.[39]
  • CSX had 153 diverse suppliers in 2022.[39]
  • Union Pacific’s low-carbon fuels represented 6.1% of total diesel used in 2023.[66]
  • Union Pacific’s low-carbon fuels represented 4.5% of total diesel used in 2022.[66]
  • 16 companies received Union Pacific’s 2024 Sustainability Partner Award.[66]

Circular economy in the intermodal transportation industry

  • CSX replaced 527 miles of rail in 2024.[39]
  • Union Pacific reported a 17% reduction in recycled waste in 2024 compared with the recalculated 2023 baseline.[66]
  • CSX replaced 2.1 million railroad ties in 2023.[39]
  • Union Pacific reported an 89% reduction in incinerated waste in 2024 compared with the recalculated 2023 baseline.[66]
  • CSX replaced 2.5 million railroad ties in 2024.[39]

Carbon footprint in the intermodal transportation industry

  • CSX reported 4,259,842 tonnes of Scope 1 emissions in 2024.[39]
  • CSX reported total location-based Scope 1, Scope 2 and listed Scope 3 emissions of 6,190,147 tonnes of CO₂e in 2024.[39]
  • CSX reported 138,968 tonnes of market-based Scope 2 emissions in 2024.[39]
  • Rail freight averaged approximately 22 grams of CO₂ per ton-mile in 2019.[68]
  • CSX reported 22.19 metric tonnes of Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO₂e per million revenue ton-miles in 2024.[39]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Cross-border capacity and regional networks expand intermodal reach. Europe counted 618 intermodal terminals across participating countries in 2024.

Globalization in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 4.1 million intermodal units were handled by Norfolk Southern in 2025.[18]
  • 618 intermodal terminals were counted across participating European countries in 2024.[80]
  • 59% was Spain’s intermodal share of rail freight traffic in 2024.[80]
  • 60% of world container-port traffic was handled by developing economies in Asia in 2024.[81]
  • 196 freight and intermodal terminals were reported in Italy in 2024.[80]

Cultural adaptation in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 2,055 employees worked at HHLA intermodal companies in Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary in June 2024.[63]
  • 346 HHLA employees were based in Ukraine at the end of 2024.[63]
  • 363 employees worked for HHLA subsidiaries in Ukraine in June 2024.[63]
  • 201 HHLA employees were based in Estonia at the end of 2024.[63]
  • 798 employees worked at HHLA subsidiaries in Poland, Estonia, Italy, Austria, Türkiye, Serbia and Georgia in June 2024.[63]

Supplier management in the intermodal transportation industry

  • $73.814 million was Intermodal’s purchased-transportation expense in 2024.[18]
  • $58.714 million was Intermodal’s salaries, wages and employee-benefits expense in 2024.[18]
  • 62.1% of Intermodal’s direct transportation expenses were provided by leased-capacity providers in 2024.[18]
  • 33.5% of Intermodal’s direct transportation expenses were provided by company-employed drivers in 2024.[18]
  • 28 operating locations formed Forward Air Intermodal’s network in 2024.[18]

Stakeholder management in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 3,216 HHLA employees were based outside Germany in June 2024.[63]
  • No single Forward Air Intermodal customer represented more than 10% of operating revenue in 2024.[18]
  • 6,906 employees worked for HHLA Group at the end of 2024.[63]
  • 5.8% was the year-on-year increase in HHLA Intermodal employees at the end of 2024.[63]
  • 53.1% of HHLA Group employees were based in Germany at the end of 2024.[63]

Distribution channels in the intermodal transportation industry

  • 4.1077 million total intermodal units were handled by Union Pacific in 2024.[18]
  • 95% of manufactured goods pass through a container at some point, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.[82]
  • 2,800 load units formed Move Intermodal’s equipment base in 2026.[83]
  • 1.6077 million international intermodal units were handled by Union Pacific in 2024.[18]
  • 170 company-owned trucks operated within Move Intermodal’s European distribution network in 2026.[83]

Key questions about the intermodal transportation industry

What is the current size of the intermodal freight transportation market?
The global intermodal freight transportation market was valued at $136.7 billion in 2025.
How fast is the global intermodal freight market growing through 2034?
The market is forecast to grow from $147.2 billion in 2026 to $283.4 billion in 2034, a 9.5% CAGR.
Which companies lead the intermodal transportation industry?
DSV leads Gitnux's 2026 intermodal transportation ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with revenue growth 48.1% and operating margin 7.9%. DP World is the highest-ranked port and inland logistics operator at 9.2, backed by revenue growth 22% in its ports and integrated inland logistics segment.
Which technology shifts are showing up most in intermodal operations?
Automation and real-time visibility remain major themes: 36% of larger intermodal terminal networks reported using AI to collect and analyze operational data in 2025.
How concentrated is the rail network that underpins intermodal in the U.S.?
Six Class I freight railroads operate alongside roughly 615 short-line railroads, indicating a concentrated long-haul rail core with broader regional feeders.
What does pricing look like for longer intermodal moves versus truck-only?
For shipments longer than 500 miles, intermodal can reduce shipping costs by approximately 20% to 40% versus truck-only transport.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Intermodal Transportation Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intermodal-transportation-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Intermodal Transportation Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/intermodal-transportation-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Intermodal Transportation Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/intermodal-transportation-industry-statistics.

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