By Lawrence J. Gross, President, Gross Transportation Consulting, JOC.com; February 19, 2018
It’s clear that a shortage of domestic containers limited intermodal gains in the fourth quarter 2017. Data show that even while truck spot rates soared to record levels and trailer-on-flatcar 53-foot trailer loads shot up nearly 14 percent year over year in December, domestic container activity inched up only 1.2 percent. This trend, in place for the last few months, clearly indicates that the culprit was not enough boxes or, at least, not enough boxes in the right places. A closer look, however, reveals there is a bit more to the story.
Click here to read the full story.