Back to June 2026 Industry Update
June 2026 Industry Update: Intermodal
FreightWaves SONAR Intermodal Rates Index (INTRM.USA)
Key Points
- Following a strong increase in April, average intermodal rates continued to climb in May, rising by $0.04 MoM and were $0.21 higher YoY compared to May 2025.
FreightWaves SONAR Initially Reported Average Contract Base RPM (IMCRPM1.USA)
Key Points
- Contract intermodal rates have largely remained stable over the past few months — though signs of tightening truckload conditions are starting to show, as contract rates rose slightly in May — registering roughly $0.03 higher YoY but still depressed by historical standards.
Total Monthly U.S. Rail Carload Volumes
Key Points
- Total U.S. carload originations increased 2.5% YoY in May, driven by growth across 15 of 20 carload categories, reinforcing resilience in the industrial sector.
Total Monthly U.S. Rail Intermodal Volumes
Key Points
- Total U.S. intermodal rail volumes increased 8.1% YoY in May, reaching a record YTD high, highlighting ongoing strength in consumer-related freight demand and international trade flows.