Insights - May/June 2017 - 25

Freight Report
Intermodal freight volume increased in total increased approximately 2 percent in March and April. The March increase
was 3.5 percent, followed by 0.2 percent in April. During both months, international ISO container shipments increased,
including a 5.5 percent improvement in March. Domestic container volume increased in March and declined slightly in May.
The total increases in both March and April represented the fifth and sixth consecutive year-over-year growth in
intermodal volume, a streak which began in November of last year.
For the first four months of 2017, the total year-over-year volume increased 1.5 percent to 5.64 million shipments.
Domestic intermodal rose 0.5 percent in the first four months of 2017. International ISO volume was 2.5 percent higher
over the same period, compared with 2016.
1.6
1.55
1.5
1.45

Millions

1.4
1.35
1.3
1.25
1.2
1.15
1.5

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

2015
over a dozen complex data sets, multiple documents and service
providers," Smith said.
Punzel said Celtic sees an opportunity to add other ways
to communicate with customers, such as APIs, or application
program interfaces, and greater use of GPS.
There was broad agreement that a past problem has been
addressed with the information managed better through TMS
systems.
That problem was a "black hole" for shipment information
caused by freight visibility that at times was spotty at best.

Enhanced Communications Systems
That's changed, Punzel said, particularly because drayage
carriers have enhanced their communications systems, either
with EDI, or more recently with mobile phone apps.
"The cost [advantages] and wide availability have really
made the ability for the draymen to track their own drivers much
better than it ever has been," he explained. "That is a dramatic
improvement."

Jul
2016

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2017

"There are far less 'black holes' than there used to be," Shook
said, as drayage carriers become more technologically savvy.
"Some are very advanced with tablets and smart phones. Others
are a little bit further behind. Compliance is much higher than it
once was."
Drayage carriers used by Robinson meet compliance goals
set by the customer and the 3PL 95 percent of the time.
He noted that the size of a drayage carrier isn't necessarily
linked to its technological sophistication. "Some small companies
are very up-to-date, and some larger ones may move a little
slower."
Smith illustrated how far intermodal has come in another way,
saying XPO's on-time performance now stands above 98 percent,
and 97 percent for deliveries, linking that performance to the TMS.
He also said a substantial portion of the intermodal unit's
freight is auto parts, whose high service standards include tight
delivery windows that may be measured in minutes. "If you miss
the window, you risk a costly plant shutdown," he added.

May/June 2017 | Intermodal Insights

25



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - May/June 2017

President’s Message
IANA News
As Infrastructure Plan Excitement Builds, Payment Questions Are Still Prominent
Full Year 2017 Intermodal Business Volume Growth Is Projected
Maintenance & Repair Committee Focuses on Practical Steps to Aid Safety
Operations Committee Advances Chassis and Terminal Safety Efforts
Progress Achieved in Chassis Safety, More Work Ahead
Highlights from IANA's Operations & Maintenance Business Meeting
3PLs Rely on Transportation Management Systems to Meet Customer, Company Information Requirements
Freight Report
Suppliers’ TMS Offer Flexibility, Visibility to Meet Unique Intermodal Requirements
Independent Contractor Status Could be Strengthened by Recent Developments
Government News
Intermodal Information Services News
International Intermodal News
People News
New Members
Intermodal Calendar
EXPO 2017 Education Sessions Descriptions
Insights - May/June 2017 - Cover1
Insights - May/June 2017 - 2
Insights - May/June 2017 - 3
Insights - May/June 2017 - IANA News
Insights - May/June 2017 - 5
Insights - May/June 2017 - 6
Insights - May/June 2017 - 7
Insights - May/June 2017 - 8
Insights - May/June 2017 - As Infrastructure Plan Excitement Builds, Payment Questions Are Still Prominent
Insights - May/June 2017 - 10
Insights - May/June 2017 - 11
Insights - May/June 2017 - 12
Insights - May/June 2017 - Full Year 2017 Intermodal Business Volume Growth Is Projected
Insights - May/June 2017 - 14
Insights - May/June 2017 - Maintenance & Repair Committee Focuses on Practical Steps to Aid Safety
Insights - May/June 2017 - 16
Insights - May/June 2017 - Operations Committee Advances Chassis and Terminal Safety Efforts
Insights - May/June 2017 - 18
Insights - May/June 2017 - Progress Achieved in Chassis Safety, More Work Ahead
Insights - May/June 2017 - Highlights from IANA's Operations & Maintenance Business Meeting
Insights - May/June 2017 - 21
Insights - May/June 2017 - 22
Insights - May/June 2017 - 3PLs Rely on Transportation Management Systems to Meet Customer, Company Information Requirements
Insights - May/June 2017 - 24
Insights - May/June 2017 - Freight Report
Insights - May/June 2017 - Suppliers’ TMS Offer Flexibility, Visibility to Meet Unique Intermodal Requirements
Insights - May/June 2017 - 27
Insights - May/June 2017 - Independent Contractor Status Could be Strengthened by Recent Developments
Insights - May/June 2017 - 29
Insights - May/June 2017 - 30
Insights - May/June 2017 - Government News
Insights - May/June 2017 - Intermodal Information Services News
Insights - May/June 2017 - 33
Insights - May/June 2017 - International Intermodal News
Insights - May/June 2017 - People News
Insights - May/June 2017 - New Members
Insights - May/June 2017 - 37
Insights - May/June 2017 - 38
Insights - May/June 2017 - Intermodal Calendar
Insights - May/June 2017 - EXPO 2017 Education Sessions Descriptions
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