The backlog of ocean containers clogging intermodal hubs in the interior US has eased considerably in the past three months thanks to limitations placed on rail volumes flowing inland from major import gateways, but the ports themselves remain congested.

An exodus of drayage drivers to the flatbed and dry van truckload sectors is further limiting already constrained capacity and equipment availability in key inland markets.

Shippers moving goods to and from the Southeast may expect further disruptions in service as fuel shortages linger, pushing more freight to the spot market.

Shippers can save more money than ever before on intermodal, if they could find equipment and draymen to move their cargo to and from rail terminals amid scarce supply of both.