Intermodal Traffic Falls 16.4% in 3Q

Intermodal traffic volume fell 16.4% in the third quarter, an improvement over the second quarter’s decline of 18.7%, the Intermodal Association of North American said Thursday.

Domestic container volume increased in every U.S. region during the quarter, gaining 1.3% overall. The increase was due entirely to growth in 53-foot equipment traffic, which rose 5.5%.

International volume fell for the ninth straight quarter, falling 20%, IANA said.

Trailers plunged 25.1% in the third quarter to 395,308, from 527,840 last year. Domestic containers increased 1.3% to 1,028,989, from 1,015,326, IANA said.