IANA: Intermodal grew 2.8 percent in Q4

Despite facing network congestion and macro-economic headwinds, the intermodal industry achieved "solid" growth in 2015, the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) announced this week.

Domestic container gains more than offset declines in trailer volumes and marginal international increases to achieve overall 2.8 percent growth in total intermodal volumes, according to IANA's fourth-quarter and year-end "Intermodal Market Trends and Statistics" report.

"All things considered, intermodal performed well for the year," said Joni Casey, IANA president and chief executive officer, in a press release. "Even as fuel prices were dropping, domestic container volumes were picking up. This smoothed variations across segments, especially in the fourth quarter."

In fourth-quarter 2015, the domestic container segment rose 5.2 percent compared with 2014. International shipments, which had been affected by congestion at the beginning of 2015, fell 0.6 percent on high inventories and softer import growth. Fourth-quarter trailer volumes declined 15 percent.

All told, intermodal eked out a 0.3 percent gain for the Q4, IANA officials said.