Intermodal transportation gained market share against trucks in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to FTR Associates, a company that tracks trucking industry trends.
Intermodel's share of U.S. long haul freight movement was estimated at 13.3%, up 0.2% from the third quarter of 2008 and slightly above its high-water mark during the fourth quarter of 2008.
"Intermodal has gained share... since the freight meltdown late last year," says FTR Consultant Lawrence Gross, who expects the trend to continue, "provided that railroads maintain their current high levels of service."