Hall of Fame coach John Wooden once said, "The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching." With fewer people watching business sustainability efforts in the current environment, one may believe companies could put it on the backburner. But on this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we learn that Breakthrough's 2026 State of Transportation report shows shippers and carriers are still making it a priority - even if they're doing so quietly.
Breakthrough Chief Operating Officer Jenny Vander Zanden takes us through how the report came together and more specific findings, including how more than two thirds of the 500 pros surveyed expect to reduce emissions in the coming year.
We dig into why, even with fewer external incentives pushing sustainable practices, many shippers and carriers still see clear business wins - like lower fuel spend, tighter cost control, and more agile, disruption-resistant supply chains - that keep them moving in a greener direction. Along the way, we unpack a newer buzzword in the space: “greenhushing.”
Jenny shares that roughly a third of shippers have considered - or implemented - mode conversion, including shifting more freight to intermodal, to capture emissions reductions and fuel savings on top of rate advantages. She also walks through her own journey from intern to the C-suite, and how Breakthrough evolved from a company solely focused on fuel to a broader data and insights partner helping shippers optimize cost, capacity, and sustainability across their transportation networks.
Learn more about Breakthrough and find the report at www.breakthroughfuel.com.
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