Transportation Trends Defining 2026

Now Trending in Transportation – Part 2 of 3 – Intermodal, Sustainability, and Resilience

In part 1 of this series we covered trends affect carrier capacity and cost. Here we will cover:

• Legacy transportation modes, rail and intermodal, fulfill new purpose in today’s environment
• Sustainability regulations may be cooling but the issue is still hot for buyers
• Today’s uncertainty and unrelenting disruptions require a resilience strategy

Intermodal Growth and Rail Resurgence

Intermodal and rail transportation continue to gain attention as retailers and manufacturers seek cost-effective, fuel-efficient alternatives to long-haul truckload. Globally the intermodal freight transportation market is forecast to grow from $ 136.7 billion in 2025 to $147.2 billion in 2026, stated Fortune Business Insights.

As shippers prioritize cost-efficiency and favor sustainable options, interest in rail is rising. According to the Association of American Railroads, railroads are 3-4 times more fuel-efficient than trucks. In addition to cost savings, there’s a 75% average reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when freight is moved by rail.

Congestion at ports and constricted over-the-road capacity during peaks has also pushed companies toward intermodal and rail to diversify inland transport options.

Additionally, digitalization, automated terminals, IoT-enabled tracking, and infrastructure investments are making intermodal networks faster, more predictable, and more integrated, further accelerating growth. Union Pacific found that through GPS and other digital means, the majority of railroads today offer the ability to trace shipments in real-time, according to Union Pacific.

Recent investments, strategic alliances, and mergers by railroads are making intermodal a more viable option across a broader range of lanes. As a result, industries like fashion and food that traditionally haven’t used rail are leveraging the reliability and cost advantages in greater numbers. 

The shipper upshot is that many shippers are reassessing what freight requires over-the-road service and where rail can play a larger role. Cost and GHG savings are compelling motivators. Experienced freight brokers play a crucial role in helping shippers navigate the complexities of intermodal and rail shipping. Relationships with railroads, expert planning, and access to resources like drayage and on-rail warehousing support reliability.

Your best move in getting onboard with rail is finetuning forecasting and order management so that you can provide the long lead times required for rail.  Dwell management at ramps becomes critical to maintaining timelines. Visibility and exception handling can be more complex across rail networks. A freight broker that manages the whole process is valuable. One that has technology that provides visibility and integrates with your systems is key. 

Sustainability requirements becoming voluntary (and still important)

Recent statements and regulatory moves made by the Trump administration have caused confusion on the sustainability front. In 2025, the ACT Rule enacted by California Air Resources Board (CARB) and similar rules regarding zero-emission vehicles in other states came into question. Furthermore, the repeal of the GHG Phase 3 rule removed the requirements to electrify. Without clear mandatory guidelines, fleets and shippers are in a state of flux.

Regardless, companies remain committed to reducing emissions. Sustainability is shifting from policy-driven requirements to voluntary initiatives.

In 2025, a new survey released by global management consultancy Bain & Company revealed that 50% of companies are currently spending more with sustainable suppliers than they did in 2024. Half of respondents also said they plan to drop suppliers that don’t meet sustainability criteria over the next three years.

Federal and state requirements related to emissions, equipment standards, and reporting are in flux, but companies have gotten into the habit of requesting emissions data over the years. 75% of companies request emissions data from their suppliers, according to Breeze’s 2024 State of Carbon Accounting Report.

The pressure on retailers and manufacturers remains to document transportation emissions, evaluate carrier compliance, and demonstrate progress toward sustainability goals. The fact that buyers demand it is influencing procurement decisions, network design, and last-mile strategies.

The demand for sustainability remains a significant trend. So does companies’ difficulty gathering accurate data. Breeze’s report found that 53% of companies face challenges gathering accurate emissions data their customers require. The sustaining trend for emissions reporting reveals an industrywide pitfall. EcoVadis says that 86% of companies are still recording emissions manually using spreadsheets.  

The shipper upshot is that mode selection, carrier partnerships, and routing strategies still require a sustainability lens. Buyers want to work with suppliers who are operating sustainably and that can provide reporting that proves it. That means you need to work with transportation partners who operate responsibly and offer reporting to support their sustainability.

Your best move is to adopt sustainable programs with strong carbon reporting and emissions tracking or work with transportation providers who do. Switching over-the-road freight to intermodal is a prime opportunity to lower emissions. So are optimizations that consolidate loads and reduce miles driven. Use of battery electric trucks, especially in urban and final mile deliveries are GHG-eliminating solutions being proven out at scale by companies like Frito-Lay.

Risk Management and Resilience as Core Transportation Priorities

Uncertainty is the new reality in transportation today. As a result, risk mitigation needs to become a core part of transportation planning.

Shippers need to assume the pattern of disruptions will continue from port strikes, tariff announcements, canal closures, weather events and geopolitical disturbances. The potential for more disruptions of this magnitude needs to influence transportation strategies in every industry.

Retailers and manufacturers that lack resilience in their transportation program are exposed to the risk of service failures and out-of-control costs. Scenario planning and agile resources enable costs to be contained and prevent compromises from being made in a panic.

Preparing for extraordinary risks management should be standard procedure. Effective risk management includes developing alternate lanes and backup carriers for critical routes that may be shut down in an ice storm for instance.

Building cross-regional distribution networks to reduce single-point failures allows shippers to deliver from alternate DCs when another DC is impacted by a storm.

Conducting scenario planning enables shippers to work through real responses to fictitious threats to work out solutions like port or mode shifts and weigh their impact. Scenarios could include a tariff that forces a sourcing shift or a social media-fueled demand shock.

Shippers also need to pay careful attention to cargo insurance coverage to ensure adequate protection. It’s important to scrutinize carriers’ insurance as well to ensure coverage is in place and that it provides sufficient coverage.

The shipper upshot is that by assuming disruption is inevitable, shippers can have systems and contingencies in place to quickly and positively respond. Customers expect sellers to have backups in place that facilitate a continuation of service without interruption.

Your best move is to explore scenarios now and not wait until the next big weather event or other disruption hit. Have relationships in place that enable alternate modes, carriers, and ports. Invest in technology that leverages automation and AI to bring quick load matching, real-time pricing and scalability. Make speed, expertise and agility your antidotes to uncertainty.

Make sure you’re trending up in 2026

Taking advantage of opportunities like intermodal and sustainability reporting and creating a resilience strategy are crucial tactics for shippers in 2026. Each comes with its challenges though. Technology and specific expertise are the price of entry. Most shippers lack the tools and talent in-house that are needed for success.

Freight brokers are uniquely positioned to address shippers’ new needs and today’s top trends. Read our next post to learn about the seventh and final trend: “the changing expectations of freight brokers” as well as more tactical tips for what retailers and manufacturers should do now to get ahead of today’s top trends.

If you’re ready to talk tactics now, reach out to our team to discuss transportation strategies for your specific challenges.