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. For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:20 Andrew&#x27;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

Andrew Sibold, IANA | Tracking the Intermodal Market

Freightvine

Hello and welcome to the Freightvine podcast, your source for all things freight transportation. I'm Chris Caplice, Chief Scientist at DAT Freight and Analytics, and today I'm joined by Andres Mendoza Pena, Director of Economics for the Intermodal Association of North America, or IANA. Now we're currently witnessing a unique market rebound where domestic intermodal volume is growing while international volume is decreasing.

Andrew explains that this is a structural shift caused by rising truck rates, dropping imports, and a boom in data center construction. He actually notes something that I was surprised by, that sensitive components like cooling racks are increasingly moving via intermodal because it's a much more secure option for high-value tech. He specifically noted how IANA's driver database and the interchange agreements help prevent fraud and theft at the driver level.

We also go into detail on IANA's latest metric, the Intermodal Volume Index, or IVF. And this modernized, de-seasonalized indicator can be used to describe the current situation across intermodal networks or within a region. It can also be used for about a 12-month forecast using machine learning models and including macroeconomic factors like unemployment and diesel prices. Finally, we discuss that sticky nature of tariffs following the volatility of 2025.

And you'll learn how the pull-forward behavior from shippers has led to a pretty pronounced volume shift from the West Coast toward East Coast and Gulf ports. So whether you're looking to understand how intermodal interacts with the trucking freight cycle or how autonomous trucking might impact the market, this conversation offers great insights into the economics of the intermodal market and the industry. Now, following my conversation with Andrew, I'll present the truckload market update. So, let's get started. Welcome to the Freightvine.

Andrew Sibold, IANA | Tracking the Intermodal Market

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Andrew Sibold, IANA | Tracking the Intermodal Market

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.