IANA: Intermodal growth 'strong' in Q2

Total intermodal volume rose 6.2 percent to 4.7 million units in the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago, the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reported yesterday.

The second-quarter growth follows a 7.2 percent increase in volume during the first quarter, IANA officials said in a press release.

Also in Q2 2018 compared with a year ago, international intermodal volumes rose 4.8 percent to 2.38 million units; domestic containers climbed 6.1 percent to 2 million units; and trailers were up 18.1 percent to 357,011 units.

"Continued intermodal volume growth was driven by the domestic market during the second quarter. Higher fuel prices, tight over-the-road capacity and a strong economic performance were factors attributed to this advance," said IANA Chief Executive Officer Joni Casey.

The seven highest-density trade corridors accounted for 63.2 percent of total volumes and were up 6.6 percent, collectively, compared with the year-ago period, according to IANA.

The Northeast-Midwest again performed the best of the seven lanes, with volumes gaining 12.8 percent. The South Central-Southwest, intra-Southeast and Midwest-Northwest lanes had growth of 8.4 percent, 7.1 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively, while the trans-Canada and Midwest-Southwest came in at 4.4 percent and 4.2 percent. The Southeast-Southwest eked out 0.8 percent growth.

Intermodal marketing companies also posted strong growth in Q2, with total loads rising 10.6 percent — mostly on highway gains — compared with the same quarter in 2017.