With more than half the year gone, we’re pausing to get a fresh perspective on where the intermodal industry stands—and where it’s headed next. For this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we sit down with Bridget Dean, Associate Editor at Progressive Railroading, who recently penned a cover story recapping the first half of 2025 and going over what the key players like class 1 railroads are doing to prep for the future.
Bridget unpacks why surprising Q1 volume strength has been a bright spot (with a caveat) in a year marked by uncertainty—thanks to shifting tariff policies from the Trump Administration. That caveat - inventory pull-forward - means any strength in volume could come crashing down when inventory is fully loaded, meaning Christmas could be in the cross-hairs without a more settled environment.
She also breaks down other predictions industry experts have for the remainder of 2025 and shares insight on why the Class 1 railroads remain laser-focused on long-term investment, undeterred by all the “uncertainty” chatter.
Bridget also takes us through a recent League of Railway Women conference which looked at how policy—and politics—on are shaping North America, with elections in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada all playing their part as causes and effects. Plus, Bridget gives us a candid view into her own relatively new journey covering rail and intermodal, highlighting the value of supportive colleagues, the camaraderie within the sector, and why she’s encouraging other up-and-coming journalists to jump in—especially with so many industry pros eager to mentor the next generation.
Find Bridget's cover story here: www.progressiverailroading.com/intermodal/news/Class-Is-continue-to-maneuver-for-long-term-intermodal-growth-despite-short-term-uncertainties--74656, and get more from Progressive Railroading (including how to subscribe to its railPrime service) at www.progressiverailroading.com.
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