Just curious how intermodal is doing:

According to a friend who owns an intermodal company, its a little down but steady for him..in the southeast.

 

something to keep in mind, all those Werner, Swift, Stevens, Knight, etc. 53' on intermodal trains don't make a dent in the overall intermodal picture, 90% of those trailers are being pulled by a company driver for said company.

 

right now, intermodal is below normal for this time of year. Back Jan., Feb. it sucked balls, a lot of 4 day work weeks barely getting 35 hrs a week. Mid-March through the end of April is was going gang busters, then it died off again. Now, it's starting to pick up, but it's not where it should be for this time of year. We're hearing that if there is a going to be a bright spot, it will be the usual August til Dec. time for Christmas, but the brokers and steamship lines are expecting that to be light again as well.

 

depends on the market, in some areas intermodal companies are flooded with drivers, and volume is down. I've heard some guys on the coasts are flooded with work, same with Chicago area, other areas, it's way down. Once it picks up, it'll be a good place to be. Keep in mind, the more they try and pass tougher regs for things, intermodal may be even more the way to go.

The company I work for, we have 10 drivers and there isn't enough work for all of us. In my area, there are 5 primary intermodal companies, all of the companies, the drivers work rotating days off, most guys are barely getting 40 hrs. With my company, the only reason I get a full 5 day work week is because they are still making payments on my tractor. Until this week, for the last month all of my co-workers were working a 4 day work week, this week one of the guys is on vacation so everyone will work 5 days. Next week, who knows.