In recent years, intermodal logistics has become an essential strategy for companies aiming to reduce emissions, streamline their supply chains, and ensure reliability. Yet, even as intermodal solutions are widely embraced for their sustainability benefits, many shippers are still struggling with service inconsistencies and operational inflexibility with traditional, asset-based providers. As the intermodal landscape shifts, more shippers are turning to flexible, non-asset-based solutions—prioritizing dependable service, proactive communication, and the attention to detail needed to maintain inventory flow without compromise.

Why Shippers Are Opting for Non-Asset Solutions

Two major shifts are reshaping shipper preferences.:

• Many shippers are seeing declining service quality with current providers, which disrupts their supply chains and drives up costs.
• They’re ready to pay for providers who deliver consistent service and value communication, prioritizing their needs over rigid processes and volume-based allocations.

Here’s how these shifts are driving intermodal logistics forward.

1. Service Is More Than a Delivery—It’s a Promise

Shippers who adopt intermodal strategies often do so with a firm commitment to sustainability and long-term operational efficiency. Our customer—a leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) shipper—is a prime example. Once they converted their key lanes to intermodal, they planned to stay, fully understanding that intermodal offers real carbon savings. They’re not seeking the lowest-cost solution; they want a reliable partner who values their commitment and can deliver without disruption.

Unfortunately, the incumbent providers were consistently falling short of meeting service needs. With on-time rates below 65%, the customer faced a logistical nightmare, often resorting to emergency shipments from other facilities to avoid out-of-stock situations at crucial distribution centers. This need for last-minute adjustments not only undercut their carbon savings but also drove up costs—further proof that reliability matters more than just cost savings in today’s market.

Our team, by contrast, recognizes that service isn’t just about getting products from point A to B. It’s about precision, reliability, and a commitment to consistent performance. We work diligently to secure loads as soon as they’re ready, ensuring they make the rail cutoff times for on-time departures. And when containers arrive, we monitor every stage, promptly pulling containers upon grounding to meet delivery windows. It’s these proactive measures that help us consistently meet our customers’ expectations.

2. Flexibility to Adapt to Demand Spikes and Unique Requirements

Our customer’s needs are dynamic. With inventory levels that fluctuate based on demand, they can’t afford a service model that prioritizes fixed, short-haul routes over longer lanes with variable volume. Traditional, asset-based providers tend to rely heavily on their own drayage capacity and high-volume lanes, which leaves little room for adaptability, particularly during seasonal spikes when demand is anything but predictable.

With asset-based providers, this rigidity often means resources are allocated to short-haul, high-turn routes that maximize efficiency but don’t prioritize the customer’s needs. For instance, when volume spikes, especially during peak seasons, asset-based carriers prioritize their most profitable freight, creating challenges for shippers who need extra capacity on long-haul lanes. Additionally, asset-based carriers are slow to source third-party drayage, often unwilling to take on the additional costs because it wasn’t built into their pricing model.

Our approach differs. As a non-asset provider, we leverage a flexible network of third-party dray providers and assets to ensure our customers are covered, regardless of how demand fluctuates. We’ve developed density along key lanes that lets us adjust seamlessly, delivering a level of flexibility that asset-based carriers can’t match. This adaptability means our customers don’t face service disruptions when demand spikes unexpectedly; they get the capacity they need, when they need it, without the limitations imposed by fixed fleet resources.

3. Communication and Attention to Detail Are Non-Negotiable

In a supply chain, every touchpoint matters. Our customer’s business requires us to navigate unique logistical requirements, including specific rail cutoffs, arrival schedules, and even overnight driving to hit transit times. For many providers, these kinds of tailored needs complicate their operations, and communication can suffer. But for shippers like ours, detailed communication is a non-negotiable aspect of service.

Our team understands the critical importance of ongoing, transparent communication and precise execution at every stage. We don’t just coordinate loads; we remain in close contact with all involved parties to make sure each handoff is seamless and timely. This dedication to communication allows us to prevent delays, address any issues proactively, and ensure that our customers can count on accurate, up-to-date information. 

4. Non-Asset Solutions Drive Sustainability Goals Forward

With intermodal shipping’s environmental benefits, shippers committed to reducing their carbon footprints have a vested interest in staying with intermodal solutions. By choosing a non-asset-based provider with flexible access to rail containers, Trailer on Flat Car (TOFC), and Container on Flat Car (COFC), our customers get the environmental benefits without sacrificing service or adaptability.

Further, our option to offer Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)-powered drayage provides an additional level of carbon reduction, helping our customers enhance their sustainability goals during first- and last-mile transport. It’s a service that aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainability while supporting reliable, consistent transportation.

Building the Future of Intermodal Logistics

In today’s complex intermodal landscape, flexibility, service quality, and a commitment to detailed communication are more important than ever. Shippers like our customer are willing to pay for solutions that prioritize their unique needs, avoid disruptive service lapses, and ensure a sustainable supply chain. By providing a flexible, non-asset-based intermodal model, we offer our customers a responsive, reliable, and environmentally responsible solution that meets the demands of the modern logistics environment.

As the intermodal landscape continues to evolve, non-asset solutions like ours will play an increasingly important role in supporting shippers who seek more than just cost savings. They’re looking for partners who understand the critical importance of reliability, flexibility, and transparency—values that we’re committed to delivering, every mile of the way.

About Jared Stedl

Jared Stedl is the Chief Commercial Officer at PTI, where he is committed to fostering company growth and creating opportunities for employees. Known for his dynamic leadership and focus on collaboration, Jared emphasizes quality service and effective cross-functional teamwork. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, teaching finance and accounting to working professionals in the logistics field.

About PTI

As a Transport Topics Top 100 for-hire truckload carrier and Top 20 IMC, PTI excels in dedicated, one-way OTR, intermodal/drayage, brokerage, and sustainability solutions. With a notable national presence, PTI offers asset and non-asset solutions through strategic partnerships and versatile logistics capabilities across diverse industries.

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