3Q Intermodal Volume Rises 3.2%
Third-quarter intermodal traffic volume was 3.2% higher than a year ago, led by an 11.3% jump in domestic containers, the Intermodal Association of North America said.
Domestic container volume rose to 1.41 million units, while trailer volume declined 10.7% to about 380,000 units. Total volume rose to 3.77 million units, IANA said.
International container volume edged up 0.9% to 1.98 million units, while total domestic equipment volume rose 5.8% to 1.8 million units.
“The largest overall cause of modest international intermodal volume increases continues to be weak port volume, as many shippers have been unwilling to bring in substantial inventories,” IANA said.
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.
