In 2002, North American rail intermodal volume of 10.9 million units increased 5.8 percent compared with 2001 despite the fourth-quarter West Coast port lockout and year-long sluggish economy, according to Intermodal Association of North America's (IANA) recently released Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics Report.
In the fourth quarter, rail intermodal volume rose 5.7 percent mainly because railroads moved 9.7 percent more domestic and 5.6 percent more international containers compared with fourth-quarter 2001.
Quarterly Trans-Canada corridor traffic increased 20.8 percent (helped by the port lockout and stronger Canadian economy) and Midwest/Northwest corridor traffic rose 17.9 percent (driven by a growing number of eastbound international containers) compared with the same 2001 period.
Intermodal marketing companies also made quarterly gains: Total transportation revenue was up 9 percent; intermodal revenue, 6.4 percent; and total loads, 4.9 percent, compared with fourth-quarter 2001.
However when compared with third-quarter 2002, IMC's total loads dipped 0.2 percent and intermodal loads dropped 4.2 percent, IANA says.
In 2002, the companies' intermodal loads decreased 2.3 percent while truck loads increased 4.8 percent compared with 2001.
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News
