Intermodal volume hits all-time peak

CALVERTON, Md. — Intermodal volume increased 20.3 percent from last year in the third quarter, with international freight seeing a 28.1 percent hike, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.

IANA’s Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics Report states that domestic intermodal volume hit a new all-time peak in the third quarter, increasing 11.7 percent from 2009 to 1.59 million.

While North American container volume increased 13 percent during the quarter to 1.16 million, IANA says some domestic container shipments may have been limited by capacity constraints, which may have compelled some shippers to use trailers.

Intermodal trailer volume advanced 8.5 percent during the quarter compared to last year.

While many domestic container fleet operators have placed orders for new containers, there are still fewer domestic containers available to handle surging demand.

With the resurgence in international intermodal and continued gains in domestic containers, intermodal shipments are on their way to regaining the ground lost during the recession, reports IANA.