# Intermodal and U.S. Ports Freight Market Update | C.H. Robinson

> U.S. intermodal rail volumes remain strong, running about 300,000 units per week in early October, up 12.6% year over year, with a sharp demand increase in late October. Union Pacific is prioritizing contract customers and has limited capacity out of California, Texas, Salt Lake City and Chicago as trucking costs rise.

- Date: 2026-11-05 · published 2026-11-05T18:08:03.475Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/82089-intermodal-and-u-s-ports-freight-market-update-c-h-robinson
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Rising over-the-road costs are pushing freight onto rail, tightening intermodal capacity and raising rates on key lanes. This raises transport costs for feed ingredients moved by rail in the US, though it is a routine freight update rather than a commodity supply shock.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- chrobinson.com: https://www.chrobinson.com/en-us/resources/insights-and-advisories/north-america-freight-insights/nov-2026-freight-market-update/intermodal/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.