2Q Intermodal Volume Rises 2.4%, IANA Reports

Intermodal container volume rose 2.4% to 3.8 million units in the second quarter from a year ago, the Intermodal Association of North America said.

Domestic container volume jumped 9% to 1.52 million units on strong performance by the big box segment, according to IANA. Trailer volume fell 2.5% to about 397,000 units.

International container volume fell 1.3% to 1.94 million units.

“Despite some segments slowing . . . the market trends and statistics data confirm the industry’s underlying momentum,” IANA President Joni Casey said in a statement.

Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.