Episode Details

Thanks largely to shippers recognizing its value proposition due to truckload tightness, intermodal volume has surged in recent months. And it's with increased attention on the mode that IANA's Intermodal EXPO 2026 is set to take place. IANA President & CEO Anne Reinke joins The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss how EXPO brings the intermodal ecosystem together, while tackling major logistics issues of the day during what she calls "intermodal's moment."

Anne tells us how the event is evolving in her second year in charge responding to member sentiment and reviews of the 2025 event - with a notable change leading off the program: Union Pacific and BNSF CEOs Jim Vena and Katie Farmer taking the stage offering direct railroad connections to the crowd. She discusses how this year's programming is designed to keep attendees together at the convention center rather than splintering into off-site meetings - allowing business to get done while also cultivating the community.

Anne and InTek Logistics President (and IANA board member) Shelli Austin go further on the idea of intermodal's moment - touching on the importance of IMCs to the shipper experience and getting those potential new shippers to understand what intermodal providers do. At EXPO, that very topic will be a focus of discussion, with results of an IANA shipper survey presented. And Anne points out those beneficial cargo owners are getting their own special programming this year to help them learn more about what makes intermodal tick.

Shelli and Anne also touch on the Academic Challenge and the Future Leaders of Intermodal Program (FLIP), both designed to cultivate the next generation of intermodal expertise.

Intermodal EXPO 2026 runs September 14-16 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. Find more information and register at www.intermodal.org/EXPO.

And for the second consecutive year, our podcast will be there - so look forward to episodes coming straight from the EXPO floor! For now, please do comment, like, subscribe, follow, rate and/or review The Intermodal Logistics Podcast - however you get our episodes. We appreciate your support! 

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