Third-Quarter Intermodal Volume Rises 5.1%, IANA Says

Truck/rail freight volume rose 5.1% to 4.21 million shipments in the third quarter, the Intermodal Association of North America reported, with renewed strength in the domestic container segment of the intermodal market.

Total domestic intermodal volumes improved 5.5% to 2.08 million shipments, while international intermodal gained 4.7% over last year’s third quarter to reach 2.14 million shipments. The domestic container portion of the U.S. intermodal market rose 7%.

The results reversed the second-quarter 2014 trend, when international cargo rose faster than domestic intermodal freight. IANA’s totals are not seasonally adjusted. However, the group also calculates seasonally adjusted performance, which for the first time showed that domestic intermodal freight exceeded international.

“Both domestic and international intermodal volumes remain strong through the midpoint of this seasonal shipping peak,” IANA President Joni Casey said. “Domestic container movements have posted gains every quarter since the third quarter of 2005, and this trend is expected to continue as highway capacity tightens.”