Intermodal managed 4.7 per cent growth in three months through September, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
International intermodal volumes reportedly increased 4.4 per cent, domestic containers 3.9 per cent and trailers lead overall at 12.1 per cent.
“We saw some trail off in growth during the third quarter, relative to the first half of the year, but intermodal’s market expansion was still respectable,” said IANA President and CEO, Joni Casey. “Trailers again performed especially well at the margins. The industry is in a strong position going into the fourth quarter.”
The seven highest-density trade corridors accounted for 62.4 per cent of total volumes and were collectively up 3.9 percent, according to IANA. The intra-Southeast performed the best of the seven with volumes gaining 12 percent. The Midwest-Northwest, Northeast-Midwest, and South Central-Southwest lanes had growth of 8.4 per cent, 7.7 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively. The trans-Canada and Southeast-Southwest recorded losses on international performance of 1.1 percent and 3.7 percent, and the Midwest-Southwest eked out 0.2 percent growth.
IMC growth slowed in Q3 compared to the first half of 2018. Total loads rose 4.6 per cent after climbing over 10 per cent in the second quarter. Combined highway-intermodal revenue remained in the double digits, however, growing 22.9 per cent after posting 28.6 percent in Q2.