The Intermodal Logistics Podcast

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 ...

AI continues to offer new solutions for a variety of scenarios, and agents have become one of the next big things for artificial intelligence. Transportation and logistics companies can benefit from using these agents under many circumstances - especially to automate tedious tasks. Peter Qian, CEO of Ventus AI, joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss how companies like his can help do just that.

Peter takes us throug...

As we pass the halfway point of 2025, we take stock with a new perspective on where intermodal stands now and going forward, thanks to Bridget Dean, Associate Editor with Progressive Railroading - on this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.

Bridget talks about her recent cover story which takes a look back at the first six months of the year and perhaps surprising volume strength juxtaposed with uncertainty about ...

Depending on the source, upwards of 90% of freight travels by ocean at some point, meaning sea shipping ties in with every freight mode, just about every shipper, and just about every customer - worldwide. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we focus on ocean cargo with Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand.

We begin by going over what goes into container shipping rates, what Xeneta does to monitor, inform and c...

After hitting a high note nearly two decades ago, freight volume on railroads have stayed down - threatening the industry long-term. On this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, Trains.com writer Bill Stephens discusses the findings of a TD Cowen report he wrote about in a recent article (found here: www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/report-railroads-must-gain-volume-to-remain-relevant)

He tells us why volu...

Software and technology solutions abound today - touching just about every aspect of supply chains. But Smart Access, an application that focuses on distribution center operations, stands out because rather than removing the human element - it aims to personalize the retail DC floor and encourage interaction. 

CEO and Founder Tim Regnier joins this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to explain how he and his team arrived at...

Maintenance and repair are vital to keeping supply chains moving, but many are missing out on efficiencies that come with better technology. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we talk about a software that's streamlining the M&R process for intermodal equipment (and truck carriers as well), REACH, with its CEO and co-founder Paul Burgoyne.

Paul tells us how REACH came about, the app-based simplic...

It's been an issue as long as trucks and their drivers have traversed the country with freight - where to safely park. Now, technology and innovation have converged to address the problem, with a simple app known as Truck Parking Club. Its CEO and co-Founder Evan Shelley joins us to discuss the genesis of the idea and the progress it's already made since launching in late 2022 - having just passed 1,900 locations across t...

Thousands of containers, and thus chassis and trucks, move across the country every day. And while an ideal world would have everything going perfectly each time, wear and tear happens, meaning there's an ongoing need for repairs and maintenance. On this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we discuss a (sort of) new nationwide solution - RapidLink Repairs - with RapidLink and DCLI VP of Sales Rob Finch.

Rob e...

RFID technology has been around for quite some time, but Eric Biel, Powercast's Director of Strategic Partnerships, shares how his company is elevating its use in freight, especially for temperature-monitoring and warehouse applications.

Eric discusses how both custom-designed and adapted RFID tags, known as RAIN RFID, provide detailed, real-time data on temperature, humidity, and more for products like food, beverages, and pha...

Quite a bit of the food Americans eat is grown on foreign soil, so it only gets here because of food importers. On the latest episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, guest Bob Bauer, President of the Association of Food Industries (AFI), discusses the food import process, some examples of products that the U.S. doesn't (and can't) produce on a large scale like nuts and olive oil, and the challenges importers face wit...

Choosing freight rail offers a wide array of benefits - but they're benefits many need reminders of. That's where GoRail comes in. To discuss more about what GoRail does, its now more than 20-year history and the evolution of the industry, State Director Brett Sebastian and AVP for Communications Betsy Cantwell join The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.

Betsy and Brett talk about GoRail's origins, its role at th...

As the first quarter of 2025 nears an end, check in on the state of freight as it stands now, as it compares to 2024, and as it relates to the future of the market.

InTek CEO Rick Lagore answers 5 questions (plus a few follow-ups) to offer a measure of the logistics landscape - discussing predictions of recovery made just a few months ago that already feel deferred, spot rates and volumes relating to intermodal, how the ne...

Freight moves domestically and across borders every day using various combinations of road, rail, ship, etcetera, but one thing all that freight - and all the providers who have a stake in it - have in common is insurance. On the latest episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, guest Mark Vickers, EVP of International Logistics for Reliance Partners, discusses cargo insurance - including what it is, why it's needed, why cov...

The new leader of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) already knows the lay of the land, so he's hit the ground running tackling membership priorities. President and CEO Chris Burroughs began leading TIA in November, after his predecessor Anne Reinke took the leadership spot with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) - see and hear more from her on our previous episode of the Intermodal Logistics P...

Taking over a new organization is always a challenge, but Anne Reinke is ready to face it head-on when it comes to running the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). Anne joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast about a month into her tenure as IANA President and CEO following four years in the same role with the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA).

She tells us about her background, including how ...

It's the base of intermodal container movement and a necessity for dray trucks' ability to transport boxes to their final destination. It's the chassis, so consider this a chassis appreciation episode of the Intermodal Logistics Podcast.

To explain all it does and how the chassis system in the U.S. works, we welcome Abby Anderson, AVP of Marine Operations for DCLI. Abby tells us about DCLI's systems, ho...

Intermodal logistics combines road and rail for valuable transportation solution in todays supply chain environment. So why not focus a podcast on this important freight mode? That's what the Intermodal Logistics Podcast is all about - welcoming key industry figures to provide the ins and outs of intermodal and how it fits into the shipping landscape.

With topics like market updates, ports, warehousing, railroads, dra...