Intermodal Traffic Falls for 4Q, Year

Intermodal traffic volume fell 6.4% in the fourth quarter, an improvement over the third quarter’s decline of 16.4%, the Intermodal Association of North America said.

Domestic container volume increased in all but two U.S. regions during the quarter, gaining 9% overall, IANA said Friday.

International volume fell for the tenth straight quarter, dropping 12.3%, IANA said.

Trailers declined 15.4% in the fourth quarter to 415,455, from 491,128 last year. Domestic containers increased 9% to 1,068,754, while all domestic equipment gained 0.8% IANA said.

For the full year 2009, intermodal volume fell 14.6% to 11,670,350 units, IANA said.

Domestic containters grew 2.9%, while international containers fell 21.2% and international containers dropped 21.2%. All domestic equipment fell 5.8%.