Top Intermodal Transportation Companies
Domestic intermodal shipping involves moving freight on the ground via a combination of road and rail. Having loads travel via train for the long-haul portion of the journey allows intermodal companies to offer cost and sustainability advantages, while incorporating trucks for the short haul allows for flexible door-to-door delivery.
Top Intermodal Transportation CompaniesThe top intermodal freight companies - known as intermodal marketing companies (IMCs) - work directly with Class 1 railroads to coordinate rail service. The largest intermodal transportation providers account for the majority of market share and own their containers.
InTekInTek Intermodal Logistics is hardly the biggest IMC, but as a non-asset provider with extensive intermodal expertise, customers realize a number of advantages - with service being the key. InTek's people, relationships with Class I Railroads and trucking companies and technology mean solutions for freight of all kinds, across North America.
Services ProvidedDoor-to-door intermodal (domestic and cross-border)
Truckload brokerage services
Transloading
Managed transportation
Refrigerated freight
StrengthsDedicated, white-glove type customer service with every account having its own Ops Manager
Non-asset intermodal provider with flexibility to use both private and public containers, along with direct relationships with all North American railroads
Competitively priced intermodal services that can also include 40' box programs
WeaknessesNot a one-off spot shipment shop that is narrowly focused on intermodal - emphasizing long-term relationships
Very well known among intermodal providers, but not well known to potential intermodal shippers
JB HuntWith 60 years of industry experience, J.B. Hunt has grown from five trucks and seven trailers to a Fortune 500 company listed on the NASDAQ with roughly a $17.5 billion market cap providing a variety of services for customers throughout the continental United States, Canada, and Mexico - placing it among the leading intermodal shipping companies.
Services ProvidedDoor-to-door intermodal (domestic and cross-border)
Asset truckload and truckload brokerage services
Managed transportation
Transloading
Refrigerated freight
StrengthsConsidered the intermodal market leader with the largest fleet of company-owned domestic intermodal containers
Large company owned drayage driver fleet
Very competitive pricing on key intermodal lanes
WeaknessesMay be too large for small to mid-size businesses
Less flexibility for lanes outside their dedicated map
Hub GroupWith over 50 years of experience in the industry, Hub Group is another of the largest intermodal transportation companies, offering service across North America. More than 6,000 employees serve and support the company's asset-based intermodal program. Hub Group is listed on NASDAQ with roughly $2.5 billion in market cap.
Services ProvidedDoor-to-door intermodal (domestic and cross-border)
Asset truckload and truckload brokerage services
Managed transportation
Transloading
Refrigerated freight
StrengthsOwns about 50,000 containers, second only to JB Hunt in the U.S.
Nationwide drayage network covering 29 terminals with dedicated drivers
Competitively priced
WeaknessesCustomer service tends to rate below smaller, non-asset providers
Most shippers consider as a secondary or tertiary provider behind JB Hunt
Schneider NationalAmong the oldest freight providers in the U.S., Schneider National was founded in 1935 and now boasts a variety of transportation services. In addition to its substantial container fleet, it is among the largest intermodal trucking companies and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market cap of almost $4.0 billion.
Services ProvidedDoor-to-door intermodal (domestic and cross-border)
Asset truckload and truckload brokerage services
Managed transportation
Transloading
Refrigerated freight
StrengthsThird-largest asset IMC with more than 27,000 containers
Competitively priced
Flexibility in asset and non-asset drayage capacity
WeaknessesCustomer service ratings vary, with larger companies tending to feel better served than smaller ones
Tends to rank second or lower among shippers' provider options
STG LogisticsFounded in 1985 as a warehousing firm, STG Logistics now operates coast-to-coast across North America, offering port-to-door supply chain solutions. STG became one of the top intermodal logistics companies in the U.S. when it acquired XPO Logistics' intermodal operations in 2022.
Services ProvidedDoor-to-door intermodal (domestic and cross-border)
Truckload brokerage services
Managed transportation
Transloading
Refrigerated freight
StrengthsFleet of 15,000 containers makes it the 4th largest asset IMC
Largest national drayage network in North America
Competitively priced by leveraging largest port-to-door services through company assets, transloading and technology
WeaknessesStill transitioning customers and service related to XPO acquisition across their entire service offering
Working to grow market share and notoriety in the IMC marketplace
Swift Transportation (a part of Knight-Swift)Thanks to its merger with Knight (to form Knight-Swift), Swift Transportation considers itself America's largest full truckload carrier. Since its founding in the 1960s, Swift has also grown to be among the top five intermodal transport companies in the country. Traded on the New York stock exchange with a market cap of roughly $8.0 million.
Services ProvidedDoor-to-door intermodal (domestic and cross-border)
Asset truckload and truckload brokerage services
Managed transportation
Transloading
Refrigerated freight
StrengthsMore than 12,000 privately owned containers
Flexibility in asset and non-asset drayage capacity
Separate terminal network located near rail gates
WeaknessesSignificantly fewer assets than top three asset IMC companies
Pricing is competitive, but tends to be a bit higher according to customer ratings
Who is the largest intermodal carrier?Determining the largest intermodal carrier is simple when looking at the number of assets each of the top companies owns. The charts below breakdown the container ownership of asset-based intermodal shipping companies and class 1 railroads. Though not owners, non-asset IMCs like InTek can tap into most of this capacity.
Intermodal transportation companies are logistics providers that purchase intermodal capacity directly from railroads and trucking firms to give shippers door-to-door service. There are two types of intermodal companies - better known within the industry as intermodal marketing companies or IMCs - bi-modal and non-asset.
Intermodal marketing companiesIntermodal marketing companies exist because U.S. class 1 railroads do not sell intermodal direct. IMCs handle sales, coordination and communication - serving as a single customer point of contact and biller.
Bi-modal intermodal marketing companiesBi-modal intermodal marketing companies own most containers and dray trucks they use when handling an intermodal freight move. Examples include J.B. Hunt, Hub Group and others making up the largest IMCs.
Non-asset IMCsNon-asset IMCs perform the same function as bi-modal companies, but they use railroad and privately owned containers and coordinate truck segments with private dray carriers. Examples include InTek and other companies of various sizes.
How to choose the best intermodal companyNow that you are armed with the basic information, there are a few important considerations for your business to additionally work through as you choose among the best intermodal shipping companies.
1. Customer baseDoes the IMC typically work with large, high-volume shippers or are their intermodal services geared toward small to medium-sized shippers? Consider which one reflects your business as you decide the best fit.
2. ServiceService covers the speed and reliability of delivery and how the company handles areas like dray activities, the execution of loads, adaptability to issues and visibility throughout the journey.
3. CommunicationCommunication is key within the intermodal provider, between the provider and the railroad(s) and dray provider(s), and between the provider and you, the customer.
4. Dedicated operational supportConsider whether your company will have a dedicated point of contact handling your shipments or go into a pool of customers passed around a call center.
5. PriceIt would be disingenuous to leave out price as a consideration, as while pricing can be fairly standardized, there are variations - and every little bit helps your bottom line. Just remember, it shouldn't be the only factor.
6. Subject matter expertiseDoes the IMC know what it's doing inside and out? Evidence of subject matter expertise includes blogs, articles, videos and other forms of thought leadership and knowledge-sharing.
7. Certifications and validationIn addition to sharing knowledge, look for independent certifications from the industry and a presence in major intermodal and transportation-related organizations.
8. TechnologyWhether its route and rate optimization, shipment track and trace, transportation management system (TMS) software or other technology, ensure your IMC of choice is on top of it all.
9. Asset ownershipWhile the largest providers own the majority of the assets they use, no intermodal company owns them all - and they all have to use the same railroads. Consider how important ownership is to you.
10. Freight brokersTechnically, freight brokers can sell intermodal service. But consider that they must use an IMC to do so, meaning there is additional margin built into the cost - and an additional layer to follow (and adjust) the shipment.
Choose InTek for a creative solution to your intermodal needsInTek addresses many of the key considerations above, with proven intermodal expertise, service reliability and a dedicated operations pro handling each customer's shipping needs - meaning no freight shipper is too big or small.
Our partnerships with all class 1 railroads and relationships with private container owners (including some of the bi-modal companies in this piece) and dray providers make handling any shipping challenge possible. Just reach out to us to learn more.
