Domestic 3rd quarter intermodal volume up 6.7%

Domestic 3rd quarter intermodal volume up 6.7% Domestic intermodal volumes for railroads grew 6.7 percent in the third quarter, the highest rate since the second quarter of 2004, on the strength of a 10.5 percent gain in domestic containers, the Intermodal Association of North America said Tuesday.
   Domestic trailer volumes grew at a more modest level.
   The trade association said demand for rail service has increased because of high fuel costs for trucking. Demand for 53-foot domestic containers led the way, while growth declined for all other container sizes.
      For the year, domestic intermodal is up 4.7 percent.
   Railroads, however, experienced a 6.1 percent decline in intermodal volumes of international containers in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2007. International volume is down 5.7 percent, year-to-date.