IANA: Intermodal volumes inch up 2.8% in 2015

Although domestic container and ISO container volumes increased compared to 2014, trailer volumes declined, according to data from the Intermodal Association of North America.    Intermodal volumes inched up 2.8 percent in 2015 from the prior year to 16.7 million units, despite network congestion and macro-economic headwinds, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) fourth quarter and year-end Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report.
   The domestic container segment’s volumes rose 5.1 percent year-over-year in 2015 to 6.8 million units, while the ISO container segment’s volumes inched up 2.8 percent year-over-year to 8.4 million units. However, trailer volumes dropped 6 percent from 2014 to 1.6 million units.
   In the fourth quarter alone, intermodal volumes totaled 4.1 million units, a 0.3 percent year-over-year increase.
   Domestic container volumes for the quarter reached 1.8 million units, a 5.2 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2014. ISO container volumes totaled 2 million units for the quarter, while trailer volumes stood at 363,295 units, a year-over-year decline of 0.6 percent and 15 percent, respectively. 
   “All things considered, intermodal performed well for the year,” IANA President and CEO Joni Casey said. “Even as fuel prices were dropping, domestic container volumes were picking up. This smoothed variations across segments, especially in the fourth quarter.” 
   Headquartered in Calverton, Md., IANA consists of over 1,000 corporate members and is the only North American industry trade association that represents the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry.