The Intermodal Logistics Podcast

While intermodal is our focus, it's important to remember how all forms of freight transportation around the globe tie together to make supply chains go. On this episode, we welcome Cathy Morrow Roberson, Founder and Head Analyst of Logistics Trends & Insights, to give us a fuller picture.

Cathy takes us through a number of major supply chain stories - touching on the railroad merger between UP and NS, trucking capacity and...

Retail is the final link in supply chains getting finished products to consumers. So how did the industry do for the crown jewel period of the holiday season (and last year overall), and what are the expectations for 2026? For those answers and more, we welcome Jonathan Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy with the National Retail Federation (NRF) to The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.

Jonathan tells us how...

Just over a year after taking over as President and CEO of the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), Anne Reinke joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to both look back at her first 12 months on the job, and look forward to how IANA aims to tackle the biggest challenge facing intermodal - increasing market share.

Anne gives an overview of IANA's 2025, which included a focus on more policy advocacy and...

Truckload and intermodal rate and volume trends - along with market conditions - are shaping shipper and broker strategy for 2026. For the first episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast of the new year, we discuss all that and more as we offer our 2026 outlook.

InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin and InTek Logistics CEO Rick LaGore have you covered, looking at how transportation operations are going right now, how 2...

While traditional forward logistics gets most of the attention, reverse logistics (in essence, returns) is a significant part of business as well. And our guest on this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast explains how doing it right means a circular approach. 

Rich Bulger is the Founder of All Things Circular and author of "Going Circular: The Evolution of Reverse Logistics Into a Competitive Weapon." Rich explains...

On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we cover a variety of bases with Port X Logistics Founder and CEO Brian Kempisty - joining us from his home in Montana.

We start by learning about his background and the founding of Port X in 2017, then we get into the company itself - the areas it covers and services it provides.

Next, we bounce around a few key issues, as Brian explains the situation with drayage (and trucking in...

Almost all the way through year one of the second Trump administration, it's possible to assess the effects of some major policies on freight. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we welcome Arizona State University Professor Dr. Dale Rogers to discuss three key initiatives that relate to supply chains:

• The English language requirement for truck drivers
• Ramped up immigration enforcement
• Tariffs

Dr. Rogers ...

With an undoubtedly changed international trade environment along with differing priorities on sustainability, two key freight factors went from somewhat predictable to up in the air this year. On the latest edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we explore two surveys commissioned by Sphera that take the pulse of those logistics decision-makers: one on the effects of new trade policy and the other on how much sustainability ...

As with any industry, transportation requires standards to operate at maximum efficiency. And the organization behind setting those standards for LTL, truckload and more, is the National Motor Freight Traffic Association or NMFTA. NMFTA VP of Operations Keith Peterson joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss not only those standards, but an initiative that combines them with digitization known as the Digital Standard...

With cargo theft taking a step further into the forefront of consciousness after the recent story on Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's disappearing loads of Santo Tequila, the spotlight also goes on solutions to prevent it in the future. That's where Curtis Spencer, CEO of Bloodhound Tracking Device, comes in, as he joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.

Curtis tells us how the origins of Bloodhound date to 9/11...

Railroad is likely the first form of transportation that comes to mind when considering intermodal, but trucks play a vital role in getting freight delivered door-to-door. Drayage trucking takes the spotlight on the last of our episodes of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast recorded at IANA's Intermodal EXPO, as we welcome Kevin Lhotak, President of Reliable Transportation Specialists (RTSI).

Kevin tells us about his co...

While there are only a select few Class 1 Railroads in the U.S., there are hundreds of so-called short-line railroads. And our guest on this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast from IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California has worked with both.

Iowa Interstate Railroad Director of Intermodal Andy Bradfield explains the differences between smaller and larger railroads. He also outlines how his landlocke...

Intermodal is not just a long-haul option. CSX Director Sales, Rail Assets Lauren Eskew joined The Intermodal Logistics Podcast from IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California to outline the class 1 railroad's Rail Plus program and their various shorter distance offerings east of the Mississippi.

Lauren points out the surprising speed of intermodal on these shorter lanes, debunking a common misconception br...

Following fluctuations in the truckload market tells you not only plenty about the state of freight, but the overall economy as well. And one of the leaders in the field, Tim Denoyer, VP & Senior Analyst with ACT Research, joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast on-site at IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California - following his participation on a panel there earlier in the day.

Tim tells us about his...

The Academic Challenge, also known as the Case Competition, is a highlight of the IANA Intermodal EXPO each year, and the 2025 iteration was no different. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast from on-site in Long Beach, California, we welcome this year's winners, the team from Mississippi State University made up of Sophie Perrigin, Emma Lovely-Gonzalez, Brad Sills and Elijah Davis along with their advisor, Dr. ...

Kicking off our series of excellent interviews from IANA Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California this week, the Intermodal Logistics Podcast welcomes returning guest (and previous IANA Silver Kingpin Award honoree) Jeff Brashares of CMA CGM.

Jeff and InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin discuss the gathering of intermodal pros through the years, from how and why it started to what it's become- and why its current location ...

About this time a year ago, many expected 2025 would be a prosperous year in transportation - the year of the freight recovery.  More than eight months in though, it's clear that hasn't been the case. InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin - normally a co-host - is our guest on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast this time, and she shares her view on how the year has gone so far.

Shelli uses the word 'rollerc...

It's been an eventful summer for intermodal to say the least. To go over all the happenings (from the rail merger to the state of savings and service), we welcome a returning guest who's as plugged in to the industry as anyone, Ari Ashe with the Journal of Commerce.

We lead with the biggest story - the aforementioned rail merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Ari takes us through the timeline of the transactio...

In mid-September, Long Beach, California becomes the center of the intermodal universe as it hosts EXPO. On The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we preview this must-attend gathering put on by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), with IANA President and CEO Anne Reinke and VP of Member Services Hal Pollard.

Anne and Hal take us through the programming, which includes panels on the state of the industry (trade policy and ...