Surface Transportation

Rail customers frustrated with H2 2024 performance : survey

By Ari Ashe

marketing companies ( IMCs ). Respondents rated their intermodal partners on key performance indicators using a five-point scale , with five as the highest score . They also provided written reviews on Amazon , Google or Yelp .

“ The surge of international traffic exposed the vulnerable underbelly of US rail infrastructure .”

Satisfaction with North American freight railroads took a hit in the second half of last year among domestic intermodal carriers and brokers as the rails struggled with heavy peak season import volumes , the latest Journal of Commerce Intermodal Service Scorecard ( ISS ) showed .

The survey , which covers the last six months of 2024 , shows 77.5 % of participating intermodal providers were satisfied with the performance of Class I railroads , down from 91.2 % in the first half of the year .

The survey polled 183 intermodal shippers and 72 asset-based , asset-light and non-asset intermodal

“ The surge of international traffic exposed the vulnerable underbelly of US rail infrastructure ,” one IMC respondent wrote . “[ The railroads ] all want volume but are ill-equipped to handle it unless it ’ s on their terms .”

The survey also highlighted how asset and non-asset IMCs shielded shippers from rail congestion in the first half caused by high cargo volumes in Southern California and severe weather in the Southeast . Some 91 % of shippers said they were satisfied with their carriers and brokers , up slightly from 90.1 % in the first half .

“ Every shipment I book with them , they pick it up

JIT Freight Door to Door Service Truckload & Dedicated

Multiple Cross Border Options Transportation Brokerage 3PL

Team & Expedited Service OTR & Regional Lanes Daily South Texas Border Milk Runs Warehousing / Cross Dock Northbound & Southbound Consolidation

www . tri-nat . com

( 800 ) 870-0560 www . joc . com March 3 , 2025 | Journal of Commerce 63