Does anyone know the approximate revenue (per mile) for intermodal units?
I know this is a general questions in which there are many factors such as market conditions, backhaul, etc…but the truckload carriers have always had benchmark per mile figures (such as $1.50 per mile, etc) for long haul movements.
For instance, I saw a NS intermodal this morning (I30, which should be an extra Jacksonville, Fl - Chicago) with 135 containers. I asked myself…how much revenue is on that train?
Any ideas?
ed
My suggestion would be to contact one of the carloaders located in Chicago such as Clipper & have them send you their their present rate sheets between whatever cities you maybe interested in. They I guess you can use a common deduction of say 10 or 15% as their profit margain & then you will have a real good idea of the RRs revenue per trailer. [:D]
It really depends a lot on the lane, the volume and trailer vs. container and whether or not you are bringing you own equipment.
About 10 years ago, UPS paid roughly a buck a mile on some lanes on Conrail. Steamship containers less than half that. Everything else was in between.
I just finished reading the rates supplied by the Canton Railroad on a .pdf sheet.
Dont these companies involoved in intermodal advertise rates in .pdf form for anyone considering shipping by train? I have been wondering that myself.
By the way I’d love to see that 1.50 per mile. It costs about 1.05 just to keep the truck rolling with everything considered.
Truckload rates are up quite a bit, but I am out of touch with what the benchmark is now. All I know is my trucking customers are very happy (for a change).
My guess is the rates for intermodal would be somewhere in the $1/mile range, which would have put that 135 container train at $150,000. Discounted somewhat for the steamships…possible revenue around $125,000.
Just a guesss.
ed