2021 was a challenge for the intermodal industry. Coming off the pandemic-dented 2020, 2021 dawned with the promise and hope of better consistency and growth for intermodal and the supply chain in general.
TRUCKING: Trucking conditions improve, but they might have finally peaked.
RAILCAR: Carload volumes are being held back by four main commodities to start 2022.
INTERMODAL: International volumes remained weak in December and face near-term headwinds to growth in 2022.
SHIPPERS: Fuel costs are proving to be the difference between tough and really tough market conditions.
The outlook for intermodal dimmed this month as it appears volumes will hold at present levels through the end of the year. There is demand to move more goods via intermodal, but congestion and metering by the carriers are limiting how high volumes can go. The existing thinking is that volumes will not improve meaningfully until the mid-to-late-first quarter at the earliest.
TRUCKING: Strengthening freight rates support a high floor on market conditions for carriers.
RAILCAR: The 2021 carload outlook took another step down in the latest month and now sits at just over 5% compared with 2020.
INTERMODAL: International and domestic traffic each weakened in September as volumes are metered by providers.
SHIPPERS: Market conditions are stalled at a level unfavorable to shippers.
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