In the world of domestic intermodal shipping, there’s a glaring gap and that is one mid-market shippers know all too well. In an industry dominated by mega-providers and generalist brokers, many shippers find themselves overlooked. The result?
Lost opportunities for cost savings, reduced emissions, and reliably consistent service. This blog explores why mid-market shippers are underserved and how InTek Intermodal delivers when others can’t.
If your company moves freight 700+ miles but doesn’t ship hundreds or more loads a month, you’re often stuck between two extremes:
This is the missing middle in intermodal, and it’s exactly where InTek Intermodal steps in.
According to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), mid-sized shippers represent a significant portion of future domestic intermodal growth potential. Yet this segment remains largely underserved by both large IMCs and traditional brokers making it a missed opportunity for both shippers and the intermodal industry at large.
The largest intermodal providers in North America: JB Hunt, Hub Group, and Schneider, are built to serve enterprise shippers with massive volume. JB Hunt is amazing on their intermodal service and price for their target market, but no company can be everything for everyone. JBH, and the other largest IMCs, built intermodal service networks optimized for density and consistency, not necessarily flexibility.
If your freight doesn't fit neatly into their biggest lanes, you're often left with:
Meanwhile, traditional truck brokers and smaller logistics providers may offer intermodal, but they often lack:
That means mid-sized shippers, who still ship tens to hundreds of loads per year, end up underserved, frustrated, and missing out on the real advantages intermodal can bring to their supply chains.
Shippers in the middle of the market aren’t looking for special treatment - they’re looking for solutions that just work.
Here’s what they often need:
These aren’t “nice to haves,” but essentials for shippers balancing cost, performance, and customer expectations. And they’re often exactly what’s missing from traditional intermodal options.
At InTek Intermodal, we’ve built our company around a critical gap in the market. We exist to serve the underserved mid-market shippers who deserve the same level of sophistication, reach, and reliability as the industry’s largest players, without being deprioritized or overlooked.
Unlike traditional asset-based IMCs or generalist brokers, InTek brings the scale, access, and flexibility needed to move your freight efficiently across North America. Here’s how we deliver:
We offer end-to-end intermodal transportation solutions across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Our services include:
Full door-to-door service, managed from pickup through delivery
Customs clearance for cross-border shipments
Port-to-door container moves for importers and exporters
Complete drayage coordination at both origin and destination
Whether you're shipping dry goods, consumer products, or temperature-sensitive freight, InTek provides the operational expertise to keep it moving on time and damage-free.
As a non-asset Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC), we aren’t tied to any single railroad or container pool. Instead, we’ve built strong strategic relationships with every Class 1 railroad, giving you access to:
National and cross-border intermodal capacity
Competitive rail pricing and reliable equipment availability
Flexible routing to avoid congestion, weather, or disruption
We also work closely with top-tier drayage providers to ensure precision handling from ramp to final mile.
InTek supports a wide variety of equipment configurations to meet your freight requirements, without the constraints of fixed fleets. Through our broad rail and provider network, we offer:
Access to 53’ domestic containers across all major North American lanes, plus lesser know intermodal routes
Specialized options including temperature-controlled, small boxes, open top and ISO tanks
Scalable capacity to handle seasonal surges and project-based spikes
A flexible sourcing model to avoid bottlenecks and keep your freight moving
For shippers moving dense or weight-sensitive freight, our Small Box Program offers access to 40’ ocean containers for inland domestic moves via the intermodal rail network. These “small boxes” operate through the same ramps as traditional domestic containers and offer:
Improved availability during periods of tight domestic equipment supply
A better solution for heavy products like beverages, metals, or paper
Weight optimization for shipments that don’t require the full cube of a 53’ box
By leveraging inland repositioning of international equipment, we help you unlock cost savings, capacity, and operational flexibility when it matters most.
Whether you're shipping a few loads per week or scaling to hundreds per month, we’ll align your business with the right equipment and capacity when and where you need it.
Because we work with every Class 1 railroad, InTek can build and manage any ramp-to-ramp origin/destination combination across North America. That means:
Greater network flexibility and coverage
Redundant routing options to avoid disruption
Reach into secondary and underserved markets
Closer alignment with your customer distribution points
You're no longer limited to just the “biggest lanes” that asset-heavy IMCs prefer. We build custom intermodal routing around your supply chain needs, not the other way around.
Our cloud-based Transportation Management System (TMS) provides real-time visibility and control across your intermodal shipments. Key capabilities include:
Automated tracking and milestone notifications
Customizable performance dashboards and scorecards
Detailed cost and transit analytics
Full API and EDI integration with your ERP, TMS, or WMS systems
We equip your team with the insights needed to optimize performance, reduce costs, and keep your freight on schedule.
At InTek, you won't be passed between reps or routed through a call center. You'll work with a dedicated operations team that understands your freight, your business, and your goals. Our service model includes:
Proactive communication and real-time issue resolution
Fast response from experienced intermodal professionals
A white-glove approach to execution, regardless of volume
Strategic account management with a long-term focus
We treat every customer like a top-tier account—because in our world, service isn’t scaled down based on load volume.
If you’re moving long-haul freight over 700 miles and don’t feel like a priority with your current intermodal provider, InTek Intermodal may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
We understand what it takes to make intermodal work and we’ve made it our mission to bring a better solution to shippers who are tired of being overlooked.
Whether you're looking to shift freight from truckload to intermodal, reduce your carbon footprint, or simply get better service without sacrificing performance or cost, InTek is built to help.
Just because your company ships a high volume of freight doesn't mean InTek Intermodal isn’t the right fit. In fact, many of our best partnerships are with Fortune 100 and 500 companies who need more than just capacity. They need service, flexibility, and accountability.
Since 2007, InTek Intermodal has frequently operated alongside the biggest names in the business, JB Hunt, Hub Group, and Schneider, on the same docks moving freight for the same large customers.
Why? Because these shippers have specific lanes, products, or service-level requirements that demand a more tailored, hands-on approach than traditional intermodal providers can offer.
Our Operations Team brings decades of intermodal experience to every move, with a focus on consistency, communication, and problem-solving especially when the alternative is flipping loads to truckload because intermodal feels too risky or unreliable.
With InTek, you don’t have to sacrifice sustainability or cost-efficiency to get the service you expect.
InTek bridges the intermodal gap with:
Whether you're underwhelmed by a mega-IMC or under-supported by a broker, we offer a better intermodal experience that puts your business first.
Let’s talk about building a better intermodal strategy that fits your business, your customers, and your goals.
At InTek, we help you ship with confidence, knowing your products are protected, your budget is respected, and your supply chain is ready for whatever the road—or rail—throws your way. Ready to get started? Reach out to us by requesting a quote, and we'll discuss how we can help you achieve your refrigerated shipping goals. For more information about InTek Intermodal, or the logistics and supply chain space in general, check out our Freight Guides.