Logistics Management

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes saw annual gains, for the week ending July 4, according to data recently issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Rail carloads, at 212,691, posted a 3.7% annual gain, with volumes coming in lower than previous weeks, due to the timing of the July 4 holiday, and trailed the weeks ending June 27 and June 20, at 232,408, and 233,259, respectively.

Following May, which saw ongoing spot truckload rate gains while volumes headed down, June represented more of the same, with tighter truck capacity leading to profits, as opposed to freight demand, according to the new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index, which was released this week by DAT Freight and Analytics.

United States second quarter rail carload and intermodal volumes saw solid annual gains, according to the new edition of “Rail Time Indicators,” which was issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Rail carloads, at 3.00 million, posted a 2.3%, or 67,894 carloads, annual increase, with total weekly average carloads, at 230,577, marking the highest quarterly tally going back to the fourth quarter 2019.

Earlier this week, the United States Department of Transportation said it has made nearly $2 billion in infrastructure investments across the country, as well as territories and the District of Columbia. The investment—totaling $1.73 billion—is going towards 127 projects, on various fronts, including critical roadway, transit, rail, maritime, and aviation infrastructure improvements for American families and businesses, according to DOT.

Preliminary June Class 8 truck net orders again posted strong annual gains, according to recent data respectively issued by FTR and ACT Research. FTR reported that preliminary June Class 8 preliminary net orders, at 30,500, were up 16% over May and up 241% annually compared to what it called a very weak comparison, adding that over the past five months, annual comparisons have topped the 100% mark.

Recording Date/Time Thursday, July 9, 2026 8:49AM Podcast Duraton 30:59 hrs/min/sec Topics covered in this podcast included: the current state of the intermodal market, in terms of volumes, service, and rates; the impact of the Iran conflict on intermodal; the intersection of key economic indicators and intermodal; the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger; trade and tariffs, and modal shifts, among others.

Just weeks before the expiration of the temporary 10% Section 122 tariffs on July 24, coupled with the expectation of new and higher tariffs related to forced labor, the key thesis of the new edition of the Global Port Tracker report, which was issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates, said it expects July import volume to come in at a new all-time high.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will begin routing one of their jointly operated container services through the Suez Canal, marking their first return to the waterway since attacks in the Red Sea forced most major carriers to divert ships around southern Africa. The companies said the change applies to a single service in their Gemini Cooperation network and shows the improving security conditions in the region.

Just a few weeks after the long-awaited spin-off of FedEx Freight, the less-than-truckload (LTL) subsidiary of Memphis-based global freight transportation and logistics services provider FedEx, into a separately-traded public company was made official, John Smith, FedEx Freight CEO, provided an update on the company’s status and future direction, at the SMC3 Connections conference, which was held in Palm Beach, Fla. last week.

Just weeks before the expiration of the temporary 10% Section 122 tariffs on July 24, coupled with the expectation of new and higher tariffs related to forced labor, the key thesis of the new edition of the Global Port Tracker report, which was issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates, said it expects July import volume to come in at a new all-time high.