Choosing an intermodal carrier shouldn’t feel like a gamble - but for a lot of shippers, it does.

One carrier promises savings, another promises speed, and a third promises “we do intermodal all the time.” Then something goes wrong, fees start piling up, and suddenly intermodal feels more complicated than it’s worth.

At Instant Trucking, we’ve seen this pattern over and over. And almost every bad intermodal experience can be traced back to one thing:

The wrong carrier choice.

Intermodal isn’t forgiving. The carrier you choose controls drayage, planning, communication, and ultimately whether the move works or falls apart.

This guide walks through how to choose the right intermodal carrier - and the 7 red flags that should make you walk away immediately.

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Why Choosing an Intermodal Carrier Is Different From Choosing a Trucking Company

This is the first mental shift shippers need to make.

An intermodal carrier is not just a trucking company that “also does rail.”

Intermodal requires:

• Rail relationships
• Drayage control
• Ramp-specific knowledge
• Appointment discipline
• Fee prevention processes
  
  

If your carrier can’t explain these clearly, they’re guessing - and guessing gets expensive.

Media suggestion:
Comparison graphic: “OTR carrier vs true intermodal carrier.”

The 7 Red Flags to Avoid When Choosing an Intermodal Carrier

Let’s get straight to it.

🚩 Red Flag #1: “Rail Handles That”

If a carrier deflects responsibility by saying:

“That’s on the rail.”

Run.

A real intermodal carrier understands:

• Rail moves containers
• They manage the process
  
  

When something goes wrong, there should be one accountable partner, not finger-pointing.

Personal anecdote:
We’ve onboarded customers who came to us frustrated because their previous carrier blamed the rail for everything. Once we looked deeper, the issues were drayage and planning — not rail at all.

🚩 Red Flag #2: No Drayage Control

If your carrier doesn’t control drayage, they don’t control cost.

Ask:

• Do you use dedicated drayage partners?
• How do you manage appointments?
• Who monitors dwell time?

If answers are vague, expect:

• Missed pickups
• Ramp delays
• Surprise fees

Media suggestion:
Flowchart showing carrier-controlled vs unmanaged drayage.

🚩 Red Flag #3: Vague Answers About Transit Time

If a carrier says:

“Intermodal usually takes about the same as truckload.”

That’s not experience - that’s avoidance.

A qualified carrier should be able to say:

• Lane-specific transit ranges
• What causes delays
• What to expect realistically
  
  

Transparency matters more than optimism.

🚩 Red Flag #4: Cheapest Quote Wins

The cheapest intermodal quote often costs the most.

Why?

• No fee prevention
• No planning buffer
• No accountability
  
  

Intermodal savings come from execution - not rate shopping.

Personal anecdote:
We’ve seen shippers save $200 on the quote and pay $800 in demurrage later. That’s not savings - it’s deferred cost.

🚩 Red Flag #5: No Ramp-Specific Knowledge

Every rail ramp behaves differently.

If your carrier can’t answer:

• Which ramp is used
• How appointments work there
• Typical congestion patterns

They’re learning on your freight.

🚩 Red Flag #6: “Fees Are Just Part of Intermodal”

No - mistakes are part of bad intermodal.

Fees happen, but they should be:

• Explained in advance
• Minimized by planning
• Treated as exceptions, not norms

A carrier who normalizes fees isn’t managing risk.

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🚩 Red Flag #7: No Single Point of Accountability

If you have to:

• Call one person for drayage
• Another for rail
• Another for billing

You’re setting yourself up for frustration.

Intermodal works best with:

• One contact
• One owner
• One accountable partner
  
  

What a Good Intermodal Carrier Should Do

Let’s flip the script.

A Reliable Intermodal Carrier Will:

• Analyze lanes before quoting
• Control or tightly manage drayage
• Pre-book appointments
• Monitor ramp dwell time
• Communicate proactively
• Warn you before problems happen

Good intermodal feels boring - and that’s a compliment.

Questions You Should Ask Before Booking

Use this checklist.

1. Who controls drayage?
2. How do you prevent demurrage and per diem?
3. What ramps will be used?
4. What is realistic transit time on this lane?
5. Who monitors the move end-to-end?
6. Who do I call when something goes wrong?

If the answers aren’t clear, keep shopping.

Media suggestion:
Checklist graphic: “Questions to Ask an Intermodal Carrier.”

Intermodal Carrier Selection in 2026: What Matters More Than Ever

As volume grows and planning windows tighten:

• Execution matters more than price
• Planning matters more than speed
• Accountability matters more than promises
  
  

The carriers that win in 2026 are the ones who say no to bad lanes and yes to disciplined execution.

Why Many Shippers Leave Intermodal (And Why They Don’t Have To)

Most shippers who abandon intermodal didn’t fail.

They were failed.

By:

• The wrong carrier
• The wrong expectations
• The wrong setup
  
  

With the right partner, intermodal becomes predictable - even boring.

Final Thoughts: Choose the Partner, Not the Quote

Intermodal shipping rewards preparation and punishes shortcuts.

Choosing the right carrier:

• Saves money
• Prevents fees
• Protects your customer relationships
  
  

The wrong one does the opposite.

Looking for a Reliable Intermodal Partner?

At Instant Trucking, we focus on:

• Lane-specific planning
• Controlled drayage networks

Fee prevention, not excuses