IANA: Intermodal growth continues in Q3 2017

Total intermodal volumes increased 6.3 percent during the third quarter of 2017 with the seven high-density trade corridors tracked by IANA collectively up 5.2 percent, according to recent statistics from the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).    The North American intermodal industry grew 6.3 percent in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period a year prior, marking the strongest growth rate in over three years, according to the latest Intermodal Market Trends and Statistics report from the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
   International intermodal volume increased by 8.2 percent while the domestic container market grew by 3.8 percent. Trailer loads saw the largest increase at 8.4 percent, according to the data.
   “This quarter’s results show a continued recovery for all three intermodal segments, marking three consecutive quarters of growth, a first in six years,” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA.
   The seven highest-density trade corridors accounted for 62.9 percent of total volume and together were up 5.2 percent for the third quarter. The Eastern-Western Canada corridor exhibited the largest increase at 12 percent, while three other lanes exceeded 5 percent growth after incurring losses in the third quarter of 2016: the South Central-Southwest rose 9.2 percent, Southeast-Southwest was up 7.7 percent, and the Northeast-Midwest increased 5.9 percent. The Intra-Southeast corridor fell 0.2 percent and the Midwest-Northwest corridor dropped 6.1 percent – the only two corridors to register a loss.
   Traffic for Intermodal Marketing Companies (IMCs) grew 4.1 percent, compared to a 0.6 percent increase in the second quarter and, for the first time in 2017, IMCs recorded gains in both highway and intermodal loadings, the report said. Total IMC revenue rose 11.2 percent compared to last year, nearly twice the 6.6 percent gain in the second quarter.