• Inland Distribution
  • September 29 - October 1, 2025 | The Westin Chicago River North

Lawrence Gross

Gross Transportation Consulting

President

Larry Gross is a forty-four-year veteran of the freight transportation sector. He is the President and Founder of Gross Transportation Consulting of Durango, CO, an independent consulting practice specializing in the North American intermodal sector.

Larry is an acknowledged expert on intermodal who is quoted often in the press and makes frequent appearances before the transportation community. These appearances include the “Intermodal Analyzed” webinar series for the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), IANA’s Intermodal Expo “Inside Intermodal” general session, as well as annual appearances at the Railtrends conference and the Journal of Commerce Inland Distribution conference. Mr. Gross produces Intermodal in Depth, a monthly deep-dive analytical report on the intermodal sector and counts many key intermodal players, including large integrated intermodal carriers, Class I railroads, intermodal suppliers, ports and ocean carriers among its subscribers. Mr. Gross has also authored a monthly column for the Journal of Commerce for the past ten years. He has played a key role in the creation of educational content for students studying Supply Chain Management as the author of numerous business case studies, many of which have been used over the years in the “IANA Academic Challenge” competition.

In 2024, Larry Gross received IANA’s Silver Kingpin award, which “recognizes an individual or individuals who have had a significant impact on the growth and advancement of the intermodal freight transportation industry.”

Prior to establishing his consulting practice, Mr. Gross held senior marketing positions at trailer manufacturer Wabash National, while also leading its RoadRailer intermodal technology effort for many years. 

Sessions With Lawrence Gross

Tuesday, 1 October

  • 08:30am - 09:30am (CST) / 01/oct/2024 01:30 pm - 01/oct/2024 02:30 pm

    North American Freight and Economic Outlook

    The US economy avoided a much-rumored recession in 2023 and expanded more than expected as inflation subsided. The freight economy took longer to begin to recover than expected after bottoming out last year. The outlook as we draw closer to 2025 remains as uncertain as ever. External events and the presidential election cloud the overall picture. This panel will discuss:

    • The outlook for the US economy and freight demand.

    • Trends in manufacturing and retail markets and inventories.

    • The likely impact on transportation modes, capacity and pricing.

    • Detailed forecasts for trucking and for intermodal rail.