Intermodal volumes head up in September, reports IANA

September intermodal volumes saw annual gains, according to data provided to LM by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).

Total September volume, at 1,550,599 units, rose 2.4% annually, ahead of the 1.6% annual gain seen in August and below July’s 4.4% annual gain, which saw higher volumes due to the pulling-forward of goods being imported during the previous pause on the White House’s reciprocal tariffs.

Trailers, at 37,757, fell 19.7% annually, and domestic containers, at 745,507, posted a 5.8% annual increase.  All domestic equipment, which is comprised of trailers and domestic containers, saw a 4.2% annual gain, to 783,264. ISO, or international containers, at 767,335, rose 0.6% annually.

Through the first nine months of 2025, IANA reported that total volume, at 13,891,972, increased 3.8% compared to the same period a year ago. Trailers were down 20.8%, to 342,926, and domestic containers, at 6,446,935, increased 3.5% annually. All domestic equipment posted a 2.0% annual gain, to 6,789,861. ISO containers, at 7,102,111, posted a 5.5% annual increase.

In its recently released “Intermodal Quarterly,” IANA reported that total second quarter volume, at 4,579,798 units, increased 2.4% annually, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of annual growth, following eight straight quarters of annual declines. First quarter intermodal volume, at 4,554,850 units, rose 6.3% annually.

In the report, IANA observed that while tariffs and trade policy-driven uncertainty remained intact in the second quarter, there were some encouraging economic data points, which are beneficial for intermodal, including: retail trade sales up 3.7% annually, for a record high; the manufacturing subcomponent of the Federal Reserve’s industrial production index reaching its highest quarterly average, at 100.8, going back to late 2018; and the advanced GDP estimate at 3.0%.

“The strong first half of the year has been backed by a rush to move as much freight as possible before tariffs go into effect,” said IANA. “This ‘frontloading’ created opportunities for both domestic and international intermodal.”

While international intermodal fared well in the second quarter, due to consumer spending, as well as ongoing front-loading efforts by shippers to get ahead of tariffs, IANA President & CEO Anne Reinke told LM that, amid the ongoing tariff activity, especially the White House’s reciprocal tariffs that took effect today, the outlook for the third quarter and beyond is unclear.  

Addressing the 2025 Peak Season, Reinke explained that the trend in recent years has been what she called a “flatter” Peak Season, with the expectation that will be the case again this year, due to the ongoing frontloading efforts by shippers.

“Peak season also came late in 2024 and 2023, and we may see that again this year,” she said.

When asked about the current state of intermodal service, Reinke said IANA cannot comment on rail service, but did note that the latest STB data indicates that the intermodal network is operating smoothly.

Regarding intermodal service, Larry Gross, President of Gross Transportation Consulting, recently told LM that service levels are very strong, with the system running very well.

“The most significant sort of reading is that one of the things that the STB tracks is how many intermodal trains are being held in the terminal, for lack of crews or power or other reasons,” he said. “That number is running at historically low levels. So, what that is an indicator of is that there are adequate resources available to handle the volume. You've had these really sort of fairly sharp surges and drops associated with the tariffs, and the system has taken them in stride, as have the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which had very high-volume months in July. The main reason there are no service issues is because if you look all the way downstream, there is no congestion. The volume is flowing through the system like it should.”