Source: IANA, TTX, Port authorities, PIERS. Note: IPI = Inland Point Intermodal, the movements of ISO containers by rail directly to an inland location. Rail share = IPI + transload.
Containers bound to a large continental market such as North America are facing three options.
- Inland Point Intermodal (IPI). ISO containers are moved directly to an inland destination, such as an inland port, mostly through an on-dock intermodal rail facility.
- Transload. The contents of ISO containers are transloaded into domestic containers and then placed on intermodal rail (or trucks) for the inland destinations.
- Truck. The ISO containers are placed on trucks for local (mainly) or long-distance deliveries.
Of the 31.3 million TEUs of import containers handled by the major North American container ports in 2024, 24.2% were directly brought by intermodal rail (IPI) to their inland destinations. 16.1% were transloaded into domestic containers and then brought by intermodal rail. The majority of ISO containers, 59.6%, are delivered by trucks, mainly to a local or regional destination.
There are significant regional differences in the mode used for inland distribution. The share of rail is much higher on the West Coast as containers are carried inland over long distances. For instance, it stands between 60 and 70% for the coast ranging from Prince Rupert to Los Angeles. It is much lower for Pacific Coast Mexican ports (Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas) as most of their cargo is bound to the Mexico City metropolitan area.
The rail share is much lower on the US East Coast (25 to 30%), as most inland markets are reached over shorter distances and have higher economic density. For the Gulf Coast, the share of rail is very low, which underlines the east-west orientation of the intermodal rail network.