The Intermodal transportation market is expected to experience significant growth in 2025, following several years of volatility. According to a recent report by Research and Markets, a large market research aggregator and distributor, intermodal transportation is predicted to reach $94.4 billion in 2034, a significant increase from $28.3 billion in 2025.
Analysts offer varied reasons for the predicted surge in intermodal growth, including the expense of long-haul trucking, the burden of increased truck traffic on aging infrastructure, and strict requirements to reduce greenhouse gases.
While far less visible than trains or trucks, chassis equipment is essential to intermodal transportation, supporting the loading and offloading of containers. Access to chassis capacity can improve the drayage process and contribute to overall efficiency within the intermodal transportation network.
Volatile Market Conditions Affect Chassis Equipment Manufacturers
Like many other service and equipment providers, DCLI experienced a dramatic increase in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to investments in additional capacity. The prolonged freight recession that followed resulted in an imbalance between capacity and demand.
“We invested nearly $1 billion in new domestic chassis to match container investments by our customers,” explained Ryan Houfek, DCLI’s chief commercial officer. “We estimate that as many as 100K new chassis were injected into the marketplace.”
These investments now position DCLI to handle projected increased growth in intermodal transportation. Houfek said, “As demand recovers, those assets will undoubtedly be put to work.”
Another emerging trend in the market is a significant shift in the way customers procure chassis. “Over the last five years, trucking companies and beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) have been increasingly looking to lease or own equipment to ensure dedicated capacity rather than relying on the daily use of chassis pools,” Houfek noted.
DCLI’s strategy to address current and future supply chain dynamics is to leverage technology to improve its products and make it easier for customers to access them, to develop systems to gauge customer satisfaction, and to continue to innovate and tailor products to meet the changing demands of the markets it serves.
Technology Improves Customer Visibility and Drives Operational Efficiency
Keeping pace with constantly changing technology is critical to any business, including intermodal transportation. “Everyone involved in the delivery of intermodal transportation services is looking to leverage technology in new ways, whether through visibility tools, automation options, or more fuel-efficient vehicles and terminal equipment,” said Houfek.
DCLI has launched an initiative to equip its entire domestic chassis fleet with GPS, providing greater visibility for customers and enabling more efficient fleet repositioning.
“We are also using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve our maintenance and repair programs and use data in ways that help us serve our customers more effectively,” said Houfek.
Direct Input From Customers Informs Product Development and Ongoing Support
DCLI uses a combination of technology and communication to enhance customer service. The company has invested in new systems that are designed to make it easier to do business with DCLI, including platforms that make both parties more efficient. To do so, DCLI is committed to providing critical data to customers to help facilitate faster, more efficient decision-making.
DCLI conducts reviews regularly with all major marine and domestic customers, as well as forming a Trucker Advisory Council to get direct feedback from motor carriers regarding ways DCLI could improve its products. The company also conducts “voice of the customer” surveys and other forms of outreach.
To support its commitment to customer success, DCLI has created a Product Manager role within DCLI. According to Houfek, this position is intended to better gauge market changes and lead to product modifications that better meet the needs of customers.
“These new customer-centric technology systems we are building are just a start. As we see additional opportunities to automate and enhance the ways we interact with customers, we will act on this information,” said Houfek.
Innovative and Tailored Products Ensure DCLI Keeps Pace with Market Dynamics
DCLI is committed to creating innovative products tailored to specific needs. “We have a fleet of three hundred thousand chassis, giving us unmatched scale that can help drive progress across the country in both the domestic and marine intermodal segments,” said Houfek.
DCLI offers a leasing product that allows customers to lease a 53-foot domestic chassis with customized configurations. This product complements DCLI’s other chassis solutions, including its DirectChassis Link Pools (DCLP) for daily rentals, and Direct Chassis Reserve for guaranteed capacity.
The company is making it easier for customers to access its products with an improved on-hire process for DCLI’s leasing product, new DCLR locations, and by offering RapidLink Repairs, an entity that leverages the company’s in-house Road Service team to provide roadside assistance and scheduled maintenance services to a much broader base of customers across supply chains.
These products offer more options for truckers and BCOs, whether they prefer dedicated capacity or flexible leasing and equipment rental.
“We’re also seeing an increased interest in our DCLI lease product among the trucker community, while continuing to service our daily rental pool customers as demand warrants,” said Houfek.
The intermodal market is no longer experiencing a pandemic or freight recession, but it is still being affected by external factors. Houfek noted, “Recent uncertainty about tariffs has affected the marketplace and made it more difficult to manage their global supply chains.”
However, DCLI is confident in its ability to adapt to changing economic conditions and customer needs. “As the largest intermodal chassis provider in the US with a fleet of nearly three hundred thousand chassis, we have unmatched scale that can help us drive progress across the country, in both domestic and marine intermodal segments, said Houfek.
Having invested billions of dollars in new and refurbished equipment, technology, and human resources, Houfek said DCLI will continue to prioritize each of these key areas in the future, regardless of potential market dynamics.
The intermodal market is no longer experiencing a pandemic or freight recession, but it is still being affected by external factors. Houfek noted, “Recent uncertainty about tariffs has affected the marketplace and made it more difficult to manage their global supply chains.”
However, DCLI is confident in its ability to adapt to changing economic conditions and customer needs. “As the largest intermodal chassis provider in the US with a fleet of nearly three hundred thousand chassis, we have unmatched scale that can help us drive progress across the country, in both domestic and marine intermodal segments, said Houfek.
Having invested billions of dollars in new and refurbished equipment, technology, and human resources, Houfek said DCLI will continue to prioritize each of these key areas in the future, regardless of potential market dynamics.
