Intermodal Traffic Sets Record in 3Q; Domestic Volume Declines

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ntermodal volume set a new record of 3.7 million loads in the third quarter, increasing by 4.9% and topping the previous record set in the second quarter, the Intermodal Association of North America said Monday.

Domestic container traffic increased 3.1% in the quarter, but trailer traffic fell by 5%, reflecting a continuing shift of domestic freight to containers, IANA said. Overall domestic volume fell 0.5%, hurt by a decline in manufacturing.

The overall increase — led by an 8.6% rise in international traffic spurred by higher imports — marked the 18th consecutive quarter of growth and included an all-time monthly high of 1.3 million shipments in August, IANA said.

The previous record for any quarter was 3.58 million shipments. The previous monthly record of 1.24 million loads was set in June of this year.

Combined international and domestic traffic rose in seven of the nine regions, with the Southwest leading the growth at 12%, IANA said.