Around this time last year, there was optimism that 2025 would mark the freight recovery everyone was waiting for. Now, more than eight months in, it’s clear the rebound hasn’t materialized as hoped. On this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin - usually co-hosting but joining as our featured guest - offers her take on the year’s unpredictable journey.
Shelli describes the freight market as a “rollercoaster,” citing the back-and-forth impact of tariff speculation, pauses, and enactments. She also digs into the inventory pull-forward and why this industry’s so-called “peak season” doesn’t quite feel like one.
Additionally, we hit the news to cover the recently announced Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger. Shelli observes that the vision of transcontinental rail is generating buzz and bringing fresh attention to the intermodal world thanks to extensive media coverage. But her excitement also comes from the collaborations and innovations reshaping rail and intermodal with more terminals, shorter distance viability and the recent agreement announced by BNSF and CSX - setting the stage for when freight volumes truly pick up steam.
You can catch Shelli on a couple of September industry panels, at FTR in Indianapolis (more at www.ftrconference.com), and at IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California (more at www.intermodalexpo.com).
Get this episode on YouTube, where you can also check out our playlist for our 69 previous episodes on The Intermodal Logistics Channel. You can also listen right here using the player below, or find it on Apple, Spotify, or whatever your favorite podcasting platform may be.
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