While intermodal, especially on the domestic side, enjoyed a strong 2010, there is some sentiment that volumes may not see the same type of growth in 2011.
A research report by Stifel Nicolaus analyst John Larkin stated that future volume growth for intermodal marketing companies could be constrained by a general lack of domestic container capacity in the market.
Talk of intermodal container shortages during the first half of 2010, in particular, was not uncommon, as many ocean carriers were employing so-called “slow steaming” practices to save on fuel, coupled with slow demand coming off of a very weak 2009.