Intermodal Association of North America

Total fourth quarter intermodal volume movements, at 4,799,714, posted a 4.2% annual gain, which was in line with the third quarter’s 4.7% annual increase but down compared to 7.2% and 6.2% annual gains in the first and second quarters, respectively. For all of 2019, total intermodal volume increased 5.6% annually to 18,931,323. ISO again led the way, rising 5.4% to 9,558,448 for a new all-time record, and domestic containers, at 7,928,304, were up 4.9%. Despite the dip in the fourth quarter, trailers increased 10.6% to 1,444,571.

Total third quarter intermodal volume movements, at 4,843,308, headed up 4.7% annually.

Trailers saw the most significant growth, rising 6.8% to 116,653, with domestic containers seeing a 1.7% annual gain to 650,848. Total domestic equipment was up 2.4% annually to 767,501. ISO, or international containers, had the highest-volume month of all IANA metrics, rising 2.3% to 779,605.

Intermodal volume headed up for the third straight quarter, which was immediately preceded by annual declines during the second and third quarters of 2016 and 25 consecutive quarters of growth prior to that.

Carloads headed up 12.4 percent annually at 260,897, and intermodal containers and trailers saw an 11.6 percent annual increase to 265,574.

In October, Schneider said it began providing service in the form of Mexico cross-border intermodal loads through Jackson, Miss.-based steel wheel interchange, with its intermodal Mexico Direct loads moving between Chicago and Jackson on the Canadian National Railway and then between Jackson and Mexico on the Kansas City Southern Railway.

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reported this week in its Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report that total second quarter intermodal container and trailer movements showed annual growth, albeit not at the levels seen in the first quarter, with total movements—at 3,885,581 trailers and containers—up 2.4 percent annually.

Carload volume—at 280,624—were up 0.5 percent annually, and intermodal—at 228,806 containers and trailers—was up 0.7 percent.

Speaking specifically to IANA’s reported container growth in the fourth quarter, an intermodal expert explained that while a headline in regards to a record number of domestic containers—as a data point—is true, there are also other things to keep in mind.

Carload volume—at 276,136—was down 2 percent annually, and intermodal volumes—at 239,031 trailers and containers—were up 3 percent annually.

Carload volume—at 273,584—was up 1.1 percent annually, but behind the week ending May 28 at 288,049 and the weeks ending May 21 and May 14 at 295,148 and 294,271l, respectively. It was also behind the week ending April 2, which hit 305,905 carloads, marking the highest weekly carload tally since the end of 2008.

First quarter intermodal loadings—3,292,291—were up 9.0 percent annually, as were the four major intermodal equipment categories tracked by IANA.