This year’s IANA Intermodal EXPO brought together the full spectrum of players shaping landside logistics: shippers, freight forwarders, and 3PLs who initiate freight; the ocean carriers, motor carriers, and railroads that move it; the ports, rail terminals, and industrial storage operators who enable it; and the technology providers who connect it all.
CargoWise Landside showcased the breadth of WiseTech Global’s solutions for the intermodal container sector, from drayage TMSs and complementary technologies, to SecurSpace’s on-demand truck parking and container storage marketplace, to Blume Global’s rail asset management tools. The team also took part in important conversations around security, technology, and the state of the industry, including Robert Strenk’s participation on a cargo theft panel.
Here are three insights and some takeaways from what we heard and learned at the show this year.
1. The drayage market continues to be tested by shifting trade policies and volatility
Elevated tariffs and ongoing trade policy volatility are putting immense pressure on the logistics ecosystem. BCOs adapted by frontloading inventory, with a large percentage of import volumes arriving three to six months ahead of this year’s peak season. While this may provide supply chain continuity for shippers, its ripple effect is impacting small-to-midsized motor carriers, who are facing lower lane volumes and depressed pricing. The mismatch between demand timing and freight availability has placed significant strain on SMB carriers.
The motor carrier landscape continues to contract, particularly among small and midsized providers. Many carriers are caught between unsustainable rates and rising operating costs that pinch margins and shrink profits. In addition, these market headwinds are driving motor carrier and railroad consolidations like the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
Long-term resilience requires cross-modal collaboration rather than siloed strategies. “Shifting market dynamics are hitting ocean carriers, truckers, 3PLs, and rail carriers,” noted Jessica Whitehouse, Senior Product Manager for CargoWise Landside. “Leaders who focus on long-term shifts in demand, capacity, and customer expectations—and not just short-term gains—will be best positioned to navigate this shifting marketplace.”
Another noted outcome of the volatility of international volumes is a renewed focus by Intermodal Marketing Companies (IMCs) and rail carriers on short-haul intermodal domestic freight. Strategic adjustments in inland routing, domestic sourcing, and digital optimization will be critical to mitigate these impacts. As Austin Ung, Business Development Executive – Blume Landside, explains: “The path forward for many IMCs and railways lies in adopting domestic strategies while leveraging new technology solutions to drive efficiency, visibility, and agility across the supply chain.”
2. The growing threat and cost of cargo theft is driving stronger coalitions
Cargo theft remains one of the most pressing issues for intermodal stakeholders, with increasingly sophisticated tactics putting freight and reputations at risk. “For many supply chain companies, protecting freight is both a customer commitment and a bottom-line necessity,” emphasized Jessica Whitehouse. What emerged at IANA EXPO was a clear consensus: mitigating theft requires deeper collaboration within the supply chain and with governmental agencies.
On the public side, regulators and lawmakers are providing greater clarity on the definition and classification of freight thefts that will make it easier for victims to report theft and for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the offenders that break them.
On the private side, the freight industry is turning to next-generation software tools that provide enhanced visibility, route deviation alerts, and carrier vetting to mitigate the risk of theft. These new tools also make it easier for law enforcement to recover freight if it is stolen. While freight is at rest, there are operational and infrastructure minimum requirements that need to be recognized and in place to reduce the risk of criminals accessing the facility.
“Cargo theft continues to grow exponentially as criminal organizations innovate the tactics used to steal freight while in transit,” said Robert Strenk, Senior Director - Marketplace, SecurSpace. “If the industry wants to make a dent, a strong public-private coalition is the only answer.” To learn more about how that coalition is acting, check out Robert’s “Cargo Theft Threats and Coaction” panel recap.
3. Advanced technologies are going from buzzword to business value
Conversations on breaking down data siloes, the increased adoption of IoT, and emergence of AI happened in panel discussions and across the exhibit hall. These technologies are now being applied to intermodal drayage to reduce inefficiencies, improve asset utilization, and strengthen decision-making across the supply chain.
Broader data sources with deeper integration, coupled with IoT-enabled rail assets, are providing shippers and 3PLs drayage operators with an unprecedented level of real-time visibility and intelligence across ports, yards, and terminals. Meanwhile, digital transformation, inter-operability, and centralized platforms are giving drayage operators greater ability to consume, analyze, and action information and more tightly integrate with their customers, trading partners, and vendors. The focus can now shift to generating actionable insights, decisions and workflows that streamline shipments, optimize assets and resources, and enhance customer experiences.
“Innovative and advanced technologies are not just hype – they are shifting from buzzwords to business value,” explained Jessica Whitehouse. “Automation, optimization, integration, and analytics directly solve pain points in documentation, booking, asset tracking, and forecasting.”
The sentiment was echoed by many customers and partners. “With more challenging market conditions, there is more urgency than ever to leverage the latest technologies to reduce cost, improve service and driver relations, and remain compliant,” observed Keith Bowers, General Manager, Operations for CargoWise Landside. “Even smaller companies are now integrating these solutions into their operations.”
CargoWise Landside at the IANA Intermodal EXPO 2025
It was wonderful to catch up with our many customers, partners, and industry peers from across the North American intermodal drayage market. If you missed us at our Long Beach office or our networking event, or on the exhibit hall floor, watch our video wrap-up for more insights and event highlights!