The percent difference between the domestic intermodal contract rate per mile (including fuel surcharges) and the truckload contract rate per mile (also including fuel surcharges) on the same lane (i.e., same origin-destination pair). The Intermodal Savings Index tickers are derived from the SONAR intermodal contract rate data (IMCR/IMCRPM) and dry van contract rate data (VCRPM).
The Intermodal Savings Index is reported in SONAR on a national level (IMCSI.USA) and is broken down by lane and by two regional groupings, as described below:
Shippers, carriers, intermodal marketing companies and analysts
The intermodal contract indices show the average percent difference between intermodal contract rates and truckload rates on the same lane, including fuel surcharges for both modes, which is a component of that savings. The indices, therefore, show the percent savings that shippers might expect to receive on a freight contract for using domestic intermodal rather than truckload. The savings associated with intermodal relative to truckload, which is typically around 10%-15%, is intended to compensate shippers for the typically lower service level (slower and also less time-definite) associated with intermodal.
