IANA: Strong growth in Q3 intermodal volumes

Total intermodal volumes rose 6.3 percent in third-quarter 2017 compared with the same period a year ago, marking the strongest growth rate in three years, the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reported today.
 
During the quarter, international volume climbed 8.2 percent, the domestic container market increased 3.8 percent and trailer loads posted the strongest growth number at 8.4 percent compared with third-quarter 2016, according to IANA's "Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics" report.

"This quarter's results show a continued recovery for all three intermodal segments, marking three consecutive quarters of growth, a first in six years," said IANA President and Chief Executive Officer Joni Casey.

The seven highest-density trade corridors accounted for 62.9 percent of total volume and were up collectively 5.2 percent in the quarter. The Eastern-Western Canada corridor, up 12 percent, showed the largest gain.

Three other lanes exceeded 5 percent growth after incurring losses in third-quarter 2016: the South Central-Southwest, up 9.2 percent; Southeast-Southwest, up 7.7 percent; and the Northeast-Midwest, up 5.9 percent.

Two lanes registered a drop in traffic: The Intra-Southeast corridor fell 0.2 percent, while the Midwest-Northwest corridor dropped 6.1 percent.

Traffic for intermodal marketing companies (IMC) increased 4.1 percent, compared with a 0.6 percent increase in the second quarter. For the first time in 2017, IMCs recorded gains in both highway and intermodal loadings. Total IMC revenue soared 11.2 percent over last year, almost twice the 6.6 percent gain in the second quarter.