Skip to content

Talking Headways Podcast: More Than Just a Box

This week I'm joined by Matthew Heins, author of The Globalization of American Infrastructure: The Shipping Container and Freight Transportation. Matthew talks about how the American highway and rail systems created a global standard for shipping containers, containerization’s effects on labor and relevance to an automated trucking future, and the massive intermodal freight terminals in cities like Chicago.

This week I’m joined by Matthew Heins, author of The Globalization of American Infrastructure: The Shipping Container and Freight Transportation. Matthew talks about how the American highway and rail systems created a global standard for shipping containers, containerization’s effects on labor and relevance to an automated trucking future, and the massive intermodal freight terminals in cities like Chicago.

Photo of Jeff Wood
Jeff Wood is the creator of the Talking Headways podcast and editor of the newsletter The Overhead Wire.

Read More:

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog USA

How Phoneix’s ‘Invisible’ Parking Lots Are Making Its Heat Problems Worse

May 26, 2026

The Forgotten History of ‘Bloody 66’ And How Public Memory Helps Perpetuate Traffic Violence

May 25, 2026

Friday’s Headlines Are in Decline

May 22, 2026

Spirit’s Shutdown Exposes America’s Fragile Affordable Travel System

May 22, 2026

Talking Headways Podcast: Greensboro’s Downtown Greenway

May 21, 2026
See all posts