Intermodal in 2026: Capacity, Consistency, and Confidence
Insights from Gary Ahlstrom, Vice President of Pricing, STG Logistics
As the freight market looks toward 2026, regulatory developments, labor dynamics, rail network evolution, and global trade shifts are all influencing how shippers plan their supply chains. In this environment, intermodal transportation continues to emerge as a critical solution—not just for cost savings, but for reliability, scalability, and resilience.
Intermodal Capacity and Network Reliability: Strong and Ready for Growth
From a container and chassis perspective, intermodal capacity across the industry is robust. There is more than enough equipment available today to support an incremental one to two million additional shipments. Truck capacity, driven by continued softness in freight demand, is also more than adequate.
That said, potential regulatory pressures could significantly impact the driver workforce. Enforcement around electronic logging policies, CDL eligibility for non-domiciled drivers, and immigration regulations could reduce available drivers by as much as 15–16% in a worst-case scenario.
Intermodal offers a compelling solution to this challenge.
A single transcontinental over-the-road shipment typically requires one driver for five full days. Multiply that by five shipments, and you’ve consumed 25 driver days. Shift those same shipments to intermodal, and the work required drops to local pickups and deliveries—about 20 total hours, or roughly two driver days. The efficiency gains are substantial, especially as driver availability tightens.
On the rail side, network reliability continues to improve. All major Class I railroads are introducing faster, more competitive services, particularly as the industry evaluates potential mergers and network optimizations. In addition, CSX’s Howard Street Tunnel project—now in its final stages—will open new intermodal lanes in late Q1 to early Q2 that were previously unavailable, creating more routing flexibility for shippers.
STG’s close alignment with Class I rail partners allows us to select the optimal rate and transit-time combinations, ensuring customers receive consistent, dependable service tailored to their specific needs.
Technology, Visibility, and Process Improvements: Consistency Comes First
While speed is important, today’s shippers value consistency even more.
STG continues to invest in system enhancements and close collaboration with rail partners to improve ETA accuracy. More reliable forecasting allows shipments to be scheduled earlier in the transit cycle, reducing reschedules and improving on-time performance.
We are also evaluating next-generation transportation management systems to further enhance shipment visibility, exception management, and execution across our network—giving customers greater confidence in both transit times and cost predictability.
Just as importantly, STG has made meaningful process improvements that customers feel every day.
Lessons from 2025: Simplicity, Reliability, and a Better Customer Experience
One of the most important lessons from 2025 was that shippers—especially in a highly competitive pricing environment—care deeply about reliability, visibility, and ease of doing business.
A major step STG took to improve the customer experience was restructuring our Customer Service organization. Previously, customers using both drayage and intermodal services had two separate contacts and two different paths to get information.
“That created unnecessary complexity,” Ahlstrom notes.
Today, those teams have been combined. Customers who use both drayage and intermodal services now benefit from a single point of contact—one relationship, one source of information, and a more streamlined experience overall. This change has improved responsiveness, accountability, and customer satisfaction across the board.
STG also learned the importance of agility. As opportunities emerged in specific markets, we were able to reposition assets quickly to meet customer demand. These experiences are shaping a more dynamic asset-repositioning strategy for 2026, enabling STG to respond faster and more effectively as conditions change.
Preparing for 2026
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be anything but predictable. Tariffs, inflation, regulatory pressure on driver capacity, and potential rail mergers are all contributing to a unique freight environment.
Intermodal—supported by STG’s integrated service offerings—helps customers navigate that uncertainty. With long-term capacity, competitive pricing, and reliable service, STG provides stability when it matters most.
And with complementary services including transloading, drayage, warehousing, and trucking, STG offers a true one-stop-shop approach to supply chain management.
“Our strategy for 2026 is simple,” Ahlstrom says. “Elevate service consistency and shape our network around what our customers actually need.”
Ready to rethink intermodal?
STG Logistics is helping shippers move faster, smarter, and more confidently—today and into 2026. Learn more: https://www.stgusa.com/services/intermodal/
