Your cargo might leave the port on time—but what happens after that?
For many intermodal fleets, the answer is… unclear. Between train yards, truck handoffs, and warehouse delays, the cracks don’t usually show at the start—they show in the transitions.
Missed handoffs. Disconnected systems. Compliance lapses. It’s no wonder nearly 30% of intermodal delays are caused by poor coordination and limited visibility, according to the Journal of Commerce.
The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reports that over 20% of drayage-related delays come from poor dispatch coordination and a lack of real-time communication between yard operators and trucking companies. FreightWaves and Trimble found that 42% of carriers don’t monitor or manage driver device security—leaving a major blind spot in fleet visibility.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
With the right technology in place, you can spot weak links, strengthen your operations, and turn chaotic handoffs into seamless moves. Let’s unpack the six biggest reasons intermodal shipments fall apart—and how smart fleets are solving them before they even start.
Problem #1: No Visibility Between Modes
It’s the classic intermodal mystery: your cargo leaves the port, gets loaded onto a train, hits a truck—and somewhere along the way, it vanishes into a black hole.
You’re left fielding calls with no updates to give and hoping someone, somewhere, knows where the shipment is. Spoiler: they usually don’t.
Why It Happens
Most intermodal setups rely on separate systems that don’t talk to each other. So when your container hops from ship to rail to road, the tracking data often doesn’t follow. Without GPS on the trailer or container itself, you’re flying blind until someone manually checks in.
The Tech Fix
- Solar-powered GPS trackers and Bluetooth-enabled asset tracking give real-time location updates, even for unpowered assets like chassis or containers.
- Geofencing adds another layer—sending alerts when assets enter or exit critical locations like ports, yards, or warehouse zones.
The Impact
Instead of chasing down updates or guessing arrival times, you know exactly where your cargo is and when it’s moving. That means fewer surprises, faster decision-making, and way less explaining to do when customers ask, “Where is it?”
Problem #2: Manual Dispatching Slows Everything Down
In intermodal shipping, timing is everything. So why are dispatchers still stuck creating jobs manually, calling drivers one by one, and crossing their fingers everything goes to plan?
If it feels like your freight is moving at the speed of a sticky keyboard, this might be why.
Why It Happens
Many intermodal operations rely on disconnected systems—or worse, spreadsheets. Without integration between Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and dispatch workflows, job creation slows down, ETAs get fuzzy, and communication turns into chaos.
The Tech Fix
- Automated dispatching tools assign jobs instantly and adjust on the fly.
- TMS integrations (like TruckMate or McLeod) keep everything flowing, so your drivers, freight, and schedules stay aligned from start to finish.
- Real-time ETA sharing keeps everyone in the loop, reducing the need for constant check-ins.
The Impact
No more phone tag. No more double entry. Just faster handoffs, smoother transitions, and a lot less “Sorry, that’s still in progress.” Your dispatch team gets time back, your drivers get where they need to go faster, and your customers get updates they can count on.
Problem #3: Underutilized Trailers and Empty Miles
Running a truck half-full isn’t just inefficient—it’s expensive. And when empty trailers head back with no return load? That’s fuel, time, and opportunity going straight out the window.
It’s one of the most common profit leaks in intermodal shipping—and one of the easiest to overlook.
Why It Happens
When load planners and dispatchers don’t have visibility into trailer volume, they can’t optimize space. Add in a lack of communication between terminals or handoff points, and suddenly you’ve got empty trailers traveling hundreds of miles just to get back in the game.
The Tech Fix
- Xen Cargo Sensors give real-time insights into how full each trailer is, so you can make the most of every trip.
- Backhaul optimization tools help match empty trucks with available loads, turning what would’ve been deadhead miles into revenue-generating routes.
The Impact
Better load planning means fewer trucks moving half-empty, reduced fuel costs, and a leaner, greener operation. You don’t just save money—you make your assets work harder, smarter, and more sustainably.
Problem #4: Missed ELD or Compliance Logging on Road Segments
Regulations are nobody’s favorite part of the job—but ignoring them? That’s a fast track to fines, delays, and serious headaches.
And in intermodal operations, where drivers often tag in and out across short hauls or port runs, it’s easy for compliance tracking to fall through the cracks.
Why It Happens
Short-haul or temp drivers might not log in to the ELD properly. Some don’t know they need to, others assume someone else handled it. Either way, you’re left with incomplete Hours of Service (HOS) records, missing logs, and potential violations you won’t catch until it’s too late.
The Tech Fix
- Certified ELDs with automated log-in prompts and real-time HOS tracking take the guesswork out of compliance.
- AI dash cams monitor driver behavior, flag risky activity, and sync with safety training tools to correct issues before they escalate.
The Impact
No more scrambling to explain log gaps during inspections. You stay compliant without relying on memory, manual entry, or crossed fingers. Drivers get the support they need to stay on track, and your fleet avoids those costly run-ins with DOT.
Problem #5: Equipment Breakdowns Cause Delivery Misses
Everything’s going smoothly—until a truck breaks down mid-route and throws your whole schedule off. Suddenly, you’re rescheduling deliveries, explaining delays, and trying to get a replacement unit in place fast.
Sound familiar?
Why It Happens
Many fleets still rely on drivers to spot and report issues manually, which means smaller problems often get missed—until they turn into big ones. Without real-time insight into vehicle health, you’re left reacting instead of preventing.
The Tech Fix
- Predictive maintenance systems monitor engine diagnostics and performance trends, alerting you to potential issues before they become roadblocks.
- Automated work order tools make it easy to schedule service and track repairs without relying on spreadsheets or sticky notes.
The Impact
Fewer breakdowns. More uptime. Less scrambling. When you fix problems before they sideline your vehicles, deliveries stay on track and your team stays in control. And let’s be honest—happy customers tend to stick around.
Problem #6: No Unified Audit Trail for Stakeholders
When something goes wrong in intermodal shipping, the first question is always the same: “Whose fault is it?”
And without a shared system of truth, that answer is almost impossible to find. Everyone’s got their own version of events—and none of it quite lines up.
Why It Happens
When paper logs and disconnected systems are still in play, data gets siloed. Shippers, carriers, terminals, and dispatchers are all operating off different (and incomplete) records. That makes it hard to prove what happened, when it happened, or who was responsible.
The Tech Fix
- Digital chain-of-custody logs track every touchpoint—by location, time, and status
- Audit-ready reporting tools link documents to specific trip or container IDs, so nothing gets lost in translation
- Shared dashboards offer controlled visibility for every stakeholder involved
The Impact
Instead of blame games and communication breakdowns, you get clarity. Everyone stays on the same page, accountability improves, and customer trust goes way up. And when audits or disputes come around? You’re already ready.
What a Modern Intermodal Telematics Stack Should Include
Let’s be honest—if your current setup can’t keep up with the complexity of intermodal shipping, it’s not just slowing you down, it’s holding you back.
The good news? Upgrading doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It just means knowing what actually works for real-world operations.
Here’s what forward-thinking fleets are using to connect the dots (and the modes):
- Solar-powered GPS trackers and Bluetooth container tracking for always-on asset visibility
- TMS integrations with automated dispatch to eliminate manual job creation
- Certified ELDs with real-time HOS compliance and alerts
- Xen Cargo Sensors to optimize load utilization and reduce empty miles
- Predictive maintenance systems for early issue detection and fewer breakdowns
- Door, shock, and tamper sensors to monitor cargo security in transit
- Role-based dashboards so ops, safety, and finance teams can work from the same system—without stepping on each other’s toes
These tools don’t just fix problems—they create a smoother, more scalable operation that’s ready for anything.
Total Visibility = Total Control
In intermodal shipping, it’s not just about moving freight—it’s about moving freight with certainty.
That means knowing where your cargo is, when it’s arriving, and who’s responsible at every stage. No more blind spots. No more “we’ll check and get back to you.” Just total visibility across every mile, handoff, and team.
The most successful fleets aren’t waiting for problems to show up—they’re using real-time data to prevent them before they happen. And the difference shows up everywhere: faster deliveries, fewer delays, and a whole lot less stress for everyone involved.
At Zenduit, we help intermodal fleets close the gaps that cause confusion, delays, and compliance risks. From GPS tracking to predictive maintenance and end-to-end audit trails, our tools bring everything together so you’re always one step ahead.
Want to see how it works? Book a demo today and discover what total control really looks like.
