New to Intermodal? How to Get It Right the First Time

New to Intermodal? How to Get It Right the First Time

Intermodal transportation continues to make inroads into companies looking to reduce shipping costs, improve sustainability, and diversify their transportation networks. Yet despite its clear advantages, intermodal remains an underutilized mode in many logistics strategies. The infrastructure and network capabilities in place today have ample capacity, but many shippers still hesitate to take the leap. Often, this hesitation stems from concerns about complexity, service reliability, or simply a lack of familiarity with how intermodal works.

Over the last 20 years our business has been focused on helping shippers of all sizes make a successful transition to intermodal. We understand the common pitfalls, and more importantly, we know how to avoid them. Our deep industry experience and proven onboarding process allow us to address shippers' hesitations head-on, delivering real results from day one. So much so that intermodal now makes up 95% of our total business. We’ve built our operations around helping companies master this mode of transport because it delivers unmatched value when executed properly.

Our success in intermodal logistics was so significant that in January 2025, we rebranded InTek to emphasize our leadership in this space. We made intermodal front and center across our website and service offerings because it’s not just what we do—it’s what we do best. Whether you're a small regional manufacturer or a Fortune 500 shipper, we tailor our approach to meet your needs and help you unlock the full potential of intermodal.

In this article, I’ll walk through best practices that can help businesses smoothly transition to intermodal shipping. You’ll gain insights on how to evaluate your freight, select the right partners, and implement smart operational changes that keep your supply chain efficient and responsive.


Is Your Freight Right for Intermodal?

Not all freight is created equal when it comes to intermodal. The first step in a successful transition is understanding whether your shipping profile aligns with the strengths of this transportation mode. Intermodal shipping tends to work best for freight that:

  • Travels over 500 miles
  • Is non-perishable or has longer shelf lives
  • Moves along consistent and predictable shipping lanes
  • Doesn't require tight, just-in-time delivery windows

Checklist: Is Intermodal a Good Fit?

If you find yourself checking several of these boxes, intermodal could be a strategic win. Shifting even a portion of your freight to rail can drive cost reductions, free up OTR capacity, and improve supply chain resilience. It’s about aligning the right freight with the right mode—and setting up your operation for long-term success.

That said, it’s important to clarify that intermodal isn’t only for dry goods or flexible timelines. Intermodal can work extremely well for temperature-controlled freight and even time-specific deliveries. But for shippers new to intermodal, it's best to start with the simplest, most ideal freight. Begin with lanes that are predictable, cost-intensive, and operationally smooth—then expand deeper into your routing guide once the foundation is set. The goal here is to build confidence internally by showing intermodal at its best before exploring more complex scenarios.


Common Challenges in Transitioning to Intermodal

From the shipper’s perspective, one of the biggest misconceptions about intermodal shipping is the belief that it requires them to manage multiple moving pieces—like coordinating rail and drayage services separately. In reality, this level of complexity is absorbed by the Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC) you choose to work with. A good IMC acts as a single point of contact and handles all the coordination on your behalf.

That said, there are still a few key challenges shippers may face when shifting to intermodal:

  • Concerns about longer transit times or reliability — Intermodal may have slightly longer transit times compared to OTR in some cases, but it often delivers greater consistency and predictability, especially when factoring in truckload capacity constraints.
  • Limited internal familiarity with intermodal shipping — For teams accustomed to full truckload, the processes and timing expectations of intermodal may feel unfamiliar at first.
  • Visibility and tracking expectations — Shippers used to real-time GPS updates may worry about losing sight of their freight. However, modern IMCs offer robust visibility tools that make it easy to stay informed throughout the shipment lifecycle.

Ultimately, most of these challenges are more about perception than reality. Today’s intermodal ecosystem is built for integration and ease-of-use. With the right IMC partner managing the behind-the-scenes complexity, shippers are free to focus on outcomes—like cost savings, reliability, and sustainability—rather than operational logistics.


Step-by-Step Transition Guide

1. Evaluate Your Current Network

Start by taking a close look at your existing transportation network. Identify:

  • Where your freight originates and delivers
  • Your average shipment volumes and frequency
  • High-cost or underperforming lanes

This network audit will reveal which lanes are prime candidates for intermodal. Look especially at long-haul routes over 500 miles where costs are rising or truck capacity is tightening. These lanes offer the greatest opportunity to achieve savings without sacrificing service.

2. Partner with the Right Intermodal Provider

Your transition will only be as successful as the partner you choose. The right intermodal provider will serve not just as a vendor, but as a strategic extension of your logistics team. Look for:

  • Strong relationships with Class I railroads
  • Integrated first-mile and final-mile (drayage) capabilities
  • End-to-end shipment visibility
  • A structured onboarding process and proactive support

When evaluating potential partners, ask how they manage exceptions, what technology they utilize, and how they've supported businesses like yours through similar transitions. The right provider will reduce friction and help you scale more efficiently.

While I’m admittedly biased toward InTek Logistics—given our track record of successfully guiding new shippers into intermodal—I also recognize that larger players like JB Hunt are industry leaders with strong name recognition and have an amazing intermodal service to offer shippers. That said, InTek’s smaller size and broad range of flexible options as a non-asset IMC enables us to offer a more personalized, white-glove experience, helping shippers navigate intermodal with confidence and clarity. 

3. Integrate Visibility & Tracking Tools

Modern intermodal shipping is highly trackable, provided your provider offers the right tools. Real-time visibility lets you stay on top of your freight and respond quickly when things go off track. Ensure your partner supports:

  • Real-time tracking
  • Status updates via EDI or API
  • Exception alerts and performance dashboards

Visibility builds confidence, especially in the early stages of your transition. It helps operations teams stay informed and keeps customer service running smoothly.

4. Start with Pilot Lanes

Rather than overhauling your transportation network overnight, begin with a pilot program. Select a few high-potential lanes that meet intermodal criteria. Focus on:

  • Stable lanes with high volumes
  • Long-haul routes that are cost-intensive
  • Shipments near origin/destination ramps

Run the pilot for a set period and closely monitor performance metrics such as on-time delivery, cost savings, and service issues. Intermodal is a great fit for a wide variety of commodities and lane profiles, but your pilot program shouldn’t start with your most complex or challenging freight. Instead, focus on your very best intermodal candidates—where the greatest cost and service gains can be clearly demonstrated with minimal risk.

This approach allows your team to build comfort and identify improvements before scaling up. More importantly, it helps build early confidence across your organization. Starting with straightforward, high-performing lanes and strong customers showcases intermodal advantages without introducing avoidable headaches. It’s a strategic move to ensure stakeholders see intermodal as a value-add—not a risk—helping the freight mode gain traction internally and paving the way for broader adoption.

5. Train Your Logistics Team

Adoption depends heavily on people. Make sure your internal logistics and customer-facing teams understand the nuances of intermodal. Training should cover:

  • Booking and scheduling processes
  • Communication flows with providers
  • Tracking and reporting protocols

Well-trained teams are more confident and effective when handling a new transportation mode. This will ensure a consistent customer experience throughout your transition.

6. Prepare Your Warehousing & Distribution Teams

We like to say intermodal is truckload-like, not exactly like truckload. Because of this, intermodal containers often require different loading procedures than traditional trailers. Unlike truckload shipments, intermodal containers must endure rail movement, which can include lateral and vertical shifting through harmonic vibration. To reduce damage and maximize space:

Updating your warehouse SOPs to account for these differences will ensure that freight moves safely and efficiently through the intermodal network. A small change at the dock can make a big impact on service performance and cost savings.

Updating your warehouse SOPs to reflect the differences in intermodal vs truckload helps ensure freight moves safely and efficiently through the intermodal network. Small adjustments at the dock can lead to big improvements in service performance and cost savings.

Additionally, the right intermodal marketing company (IMC) will support you with load diagrams and guidance to make sure your cargo moves safely and securely from origin to destination.


Optimizing for Ongoing Success

Transitioning to intermodal is not a one-time event—it’s a long-term strategy that should evolve with your business. After launching your initial lanes, schedule regular reviews to:

  • Evaluate performance metrics and adjust SOPs
  • Identify new lanes for intermodal expansion
  • Address recurring issues or bottlenecks

Consider intermodal as one part of a diversified transportation strategy. It excels when used strategically alongside OTR, LTL, and dedicated services, helping you balance cost, speed, and flexibility.


InTek’s Proven Process for Intermodal Transitions

At InTek, we specialize in helping companies unlock the value of intermodal transportation. Our consultative approach combines deep industry experience with advanced technology to guide you through every step of the transition. Here’s what we offer:

  • Detailed lane analysis to identify intermodal opportunities
  • A clear onboarding plan with minimal disruption
  • Real-time tracking and shipment transparency
  • Access to a trusted drayage and rail network

We bring the playbook, people, and partnerships to ensure your intermodal shift delivers results.


Ready to Explore Intermodal?

Making the leap to intermodal can feel complex, but it doesn’t have to be. With careful planning and the right support, you can realize major savings, boost supply chain sustainability, and strengthen your transportation network.

If you’re ready to explore what intermodal could do for your business, we’re here to help.

Let’s Talk. Schedule a free intermodal feasibility consultation today, and let’s uncover the lanes where you can save big—without sacrificing service.

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