Back to May 2026 Industry Update
May 2026 Industry Update: Intermodal
FreightWaves SONAR Intermodal Rates Index (INTRM.USA)
Key Points
- Intermodal spot rates continued to strengthen in April, increasing $0.11 MoM and remaining $0.16 above year‑ago levels.
FreightWaves SONAR Initially Reported Average Contract Base RPM (IMCRPM1.USA)
Key Points
- Contract intermodal rates remained under pressure, declining $0.04 YoY amid excess container availability and reduced short‑term contracting activity.
Surface Transportation Board Total U.S. Rail Carload Volumes
Key Points
- Total U.S. rail car loadings increased 2.0% YoY in April, driven by growth across sixteen of twenty carload categories, reinforcing resilience in the industrial sector.
Surface Transportation Board Total U.S. Rail Intermodal Volumes
Key Points
U.S. intermodal rail volumes increased 1.5% YoY, with weekly average originations marking one of the strongest April readings on record, signaling continued strength in the goods economy.