Over 70 percent of freight in the U.S. is hauled by truck according to the American Trucking Association (ATA). Due to the ELD mandate, the ongoing truck driver shortage and continuously changing regulations, shippers are concerned that there will be a decrease in trucking capacity. This supply and demand could cause shippers to pay higher shipping costs. To alleviate that concern, it’s important for shippers to become familiar with alternate modes of transportation such as intermodal to avoid supply chain disruptions.

Landstar’s intermodal department answers questions about the benefits and considerations of intermodal transport.

What are some of the benefits of intermodal transportation?

• Shippers have an additional source of capacity to utilize.
• Intermodal costs are comparable to truckload costs.
• It’s a fuel efficient shipping option.

When should shippers consider intermodal?

If a shipper has freight that is not time sensitive and is traveling a distance of 500 miles or more, intermodal is a great alternative to trucking. Intermodal transportation tends to be slower compared to trucking and is more cost effective for the long hauls. In addition, shipping by rail for the long hauls uses less fuel than shipping by truck providing the shipper with a green solution.

How can Landstar help?

The Landstar Advantage is our expertise in various modes of transportation. Working directly with an independent Landstar agent will give you access to the entire Landstar network while communicating with a single a point of contact. Your Landstar agent will help develop a customized solution to haul your freight, even if it means using an alternate transportation mode or bundling multiple services to accomplish your shipping needs.

For more information about Landstar’s intermodal services, click here or request a quote here.