As shippers clearly recognize intermodal’s value amid tight truckload capacity, intermodal volume has surged in recent months. With that greater spotlight, IANA’s Intermodal EXPO 2026 arrives at an important moment. IANA President & CEO Anne Reinke joins The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss how EXPO brings the intermodal ecosystem together and addresses the industry’s most pressing logistics issues.
In her second year leading IANA, Anne explains how the Intermodal Association of North America's signature event is evolving in response to member feedback and reviews of the 2025 program. A notable change comes at the start of this year’s agenda: Union Pacific and BNSF CEOs Jim Vena and Katie Farmer will take the stage, giving attendees a direct connection to railroad leaders.
Anne also discusses how the programming is designed to keep attendees together at the convention center rather than sending them to off-site meetings, keeping the opportunity to do business intact while strengthening the intermodal community.
Along with InTek Logistics President (and IANA board member) Shelli Austin, Anne explores what “intermodal’s moment” means for shippers. They discuss the role of intermodal marketing companies in the shipper experience and the importance of helping prospective shippers understand what intermodal providers do. Those topics will be central at EXPO, where IANA will present the results of its shipper survey. Beneficial cargo owners will also have dedicated programming to help them better understand how intermodal works, with the idea of bringing them into - and keeping them in - the fold.
Shelli and Anne also discuss IANA’s Academic Challenge (an annual favorite) and the Future Leaders of Intermodal Program (FLIP), both of which are designed to build and cultivate the next generation of intermodal expertise.
Intermodal EXPO 2026 takes place September 14–16 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. Learn more and register at www.intermodal.org/EXPO.
For the second consecutive year, The Intermodal Logistics Podcast will be there, too, with episodes coming straight from the EXPO floor - so look out for those next month!
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