February 02, 2018

Intermodal Finishes the Fourth Quarter, and the Year, Strong

CALVERTON, MD, February 1, 2018 – Intermodal freight volumes posted a fourth quarter growth rate of 5.8 percent year-over-year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s fourth quarter and year-end Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report. International volume increased by 7.7 percent; domestic containers grew by a modest 2.5 percent; while trailer loads increased by 12.2 percent.

“Intermodal delivered in 2017, thanks in large part to growth on the international side,” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “The imbalance between imports and international volumes during 2016 has reversed resulting in a strong 4.7 percent volume gain for the year.”

In this fourth quarter, the seven highest-density trade corridors accounted for 62.0 percent of total volume and were up collectively 3.7 percent. The Eastern-Western Canada corridor expanded by 12.7 percent, exceeding all other lanes by a wide margin. Two other lanes, the Northeast-Midwest and the South Central-Southwest, reached 5.0 percent growth. The Midwest-Southwest, intra-Southeast and Southeast-Southwest lanes recorded growth of 2.4 percent, 2.2 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively. The Midwest-Northwest corridor volume shrank 5.2%, the only lane reflecting a decrease in volume.

IMC traffic increased 16.8 percent year-over-year in Q4, with almost all of that gain taking place in the highway segment. This is the second consecutive quarter when both intermodal and highway loadings increased, For the full year, IMC volumes were up 5.4 percent, with highway moves growing at about twice the pace of intermodal loadings.

Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics is published quarterly by IANA for its members and is available on a subscription and individual copy basis for non-members. Members of the press may request a sample copy of the fourth quarter Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report from Art Cleaver at acleaver@intermodal.org. The report features detailed analyses and reproducible graphical representations of Q4 2017 results.

As North America’s only industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry, IANA connects its members with the resources and opportunities they need to stay informed, aligned and on the path to success.

IANA’s roster of more than 1,000 corporate members includes railroads, ocean carriers, ports, intermodal truckers and over-the-road highway carriers, intermodal marketing and logistic companies, and suppliers to the industry. This roster gives IANA a unique position within the intermodal community, one which is authoritative, holistic and able to affect change that benefits everyone. For more information, visit www.intermodal.org.