July 29, 2025

How to Manage Complex Risk in the Intermodal Freight Transport Sector

Transportation Intermodal

4 min read

Matthew Oakes, AVP Risk Advisor, Transportation Practice

How to Manage Complex Risks in the Intermodal Freight Transport Sector

Key stakeholders

Intermodal freight demand has declined post-COVID, leaving many organizations with oversized fleets and tighter margins.
Multiple stakeholders in each shipment create complex liability layers, requiring clear coverage and contractual alignment.
Regulatory pressures on owner-operator models are growing, especially in states like California and New Jersey.
Fewer insurance programs and rising costs are forcing many organizations to rethink their risk mitigation strategies.

Intermodal transportation is a complex, specialized segment of the supply chain. With cargo moving across ocean, rail, and road networks and through various owners and handlers, the sector presents unique logistical and liability challenges.

Simultaneously, your intermodal business operates in a shifting economic and regulatory environment. Understanding the evolving risk landscape is key to staying resilient and competitive.

Intermodal freight market changes

The intermodal industry has undergone notable shifts since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the early 2020s, global freight demand surged, driven by a sharp increase in e-commerce and consumer spending. To keep pace, businesses expanded their fleets, added drivers, and pushed capacity to meet unprecedented volume.

As imports and consumer demand normalize, oversized fleets and tighter margins challenge many intermodal operators.

Once a vital source of overflow volume for carriers, the spot market has dwindled significantly. Companies with long-term contracts and steady freight flows hold stronger positions in this environment than those relying on ad hoc shipments.

Geopolitical tensions and tariff shifts

Global trade dynamics remain ever-changing. Tariff shifts and geopolitical tensions create uncertainty around import/export strategies and container movement. In some cases, businesses accelerate shipments when anticipating regulatory changes, while others hold back, waiting to see how trade policy unfolds. This results in unpredictable volumes and planning challenges across the supply chain.

Against this backdrop of shifting demand and trade uncertainty, accountability and liability become even more critical across each link in the chain.

Layers of liability in the intermodal supply chain

The nature of intermodal transport is a layered responsibility structure. Each shipment typically involves multiple parties:

Equipment provider: owns the container
Port authority or government entity: owns the chassis
Motor carrier: operates the tractor and manages the move
Shipper: owns the cargo

In addition, using owner-operators and independent contractors who lease equipment or work under lease-purchase agreements makes the risk profile even more intricate.

Responsibility for cargo, equipment, and safety shifts throughout the journey. Ensuring coverage aligns with these transitions, especially in multi-party, multi-modal moves, requires a clear grasp of contracts, roles, and jurisdictional nuances.

Regulatory and operational pressure points

Beyond shifting market demand, intermodal organizations navigate various regulatory and operational complexities that directly impact risk exposure. From driver classification laws to port logistics, these factors shape how your company structures its operations, maintains compliance, and manages liability. Understanding where these pressure points lie can help you anticipate challenges and plan more effectively:

Reinsurance market tightening affecting intermodal operators

Increased claim severity, particularly from liability lawsuits, and rising capital costs, have led some insurers and reinsurers to exit the market or raise rates. Intermodal businesses are finding fewer insurance program options and greater pricing pressure, especially for specialized transportation classes.

State regulations for owner-operator models

States like California and New Jersey are moving to restrict or redefine independent contractor models, requiring some motor carriers to shift from occupational accident policies to workers’ compensation. Navigating differing requirements across jurisdictions adds compliance complexity for multi-state operators. Stay current on legislative developments regarding worker classification that could impact your workforce model.

Operational risks in container management

To avoid demurrage fees, businesses need to return containers to ports within a defined window (usually five days). This operational constraint reinforces the need for local, high-turnaround fleets, but also introduces risk exposure tied to scheduling, driver availability, and port congestion.

Port security requirements

Drivers accessing ports must typically hold a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential), which includes background checks and federal clearance. Meeting this standard can limit hiring flexibility and requires strict oversight to maintain compliance.

Managing risk in the intermodal transportation sector

Intermodal transportation operates at the intersection of infrastructure, policy, and precision logistics. Adapt your risk management practices to meet the evolving market pressures and compliance obligations.

Staying informed on these developments can help you make proactive coverage, contracts, and compliance decisions. In a specialized industry like intermodal, the details matter, and so does the ability to adapt.

Want to learn more?

Connect with the Risk Strategies Transportation team at transportation@risk‐strategies.com.

About the author

Matthew Oakes serves transportation companies, specializing in those with intermodal operations. He advises on insurance, risk management strategies, and alternative risk financing solutions. Matthew holds a Transportation Risk Specialist (TRS) designation from the Motor Carriers Insurance Education Foundation.

The contents of this article are for general informational purposes only and Risk Strategies Company makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein. Any recommendations contained herein are intended to provide insight based on currently available information for consideration and should be vetted against applicable legal and business needs before application to a specific client.

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How to Manage Complex Risk in the Intermodal Freight Transport Sector

Key stakeholders

Intermodal freight market changes

Geopolitical tensions and tariff shifts

Layers of liability in the intermodal supply chain

Regulatory and operational pressure points

Reinsurance market tightening affecting intermodal operators

State regulations for owner-operator models

Operational risks in container management

Port security requirements

Managing risk in the intermodal transportation sector

Want to learn more?

About the author

Related Posts

How Cybercrime is Hijacking the Supply Chain: Cargo Theft, Fraud, and Insurance Gaps

Commercial Auto Insurance: The Risks of Chasing a Lower Premium

Top 3 Mistakes When Searching for Commercial Auto Insurance

Industries

Solutions

Consulting

News and Insights

Company

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How to Manage Complex Risk in the Intermodal Freight Transport Sector

Key stakeholders

Intermodal freight market changes

Geopolitical tensions and tariff shifts

Layers of liability in the intermodal supply chain

Regulatory and operational pressure points

Reinsurance market tightening affecting intermodal operators

State regulations for owner-operator models

Operational risks in container management

Port security requirements

Managing risk in the intermodal transportation sector

Want to learn more?

About the author

Related Posts