Total intermodal traffic grew in the third quarter of 2013 by 4.7 percent, year-over-year, attributable to gains across the board.
Domestic container volume continued to lead intermodal growth, posting a year-over-year increase of 9.4 percent, and combined with a 1.2 percent boost in intermodal trailer volume for the same period, all domestic equipment experienced 7.6 percent year-over-year gains during the third quarter of 2013.
Also contributing to the increase in total intermodal traffic was a slight uptick in international volume which posted a 2013 third-quarter gain of 2 percent over 2012. If jobs, consumer spending and/or the broader economy accelerate, a slow but steady growth trend is likely for the international market.
“For the tenth quarter in a row, domestic container volume flexed its muscles and has outpaced international shipments driving the gains in total intermodal traffic,” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “It is also worth noting that the trailer segment grew in all three months of the quarter, reversing three years of decline and contributed to domestic growth.”
The third quarter marks the first time seasonally adjusted domestic shipments exceeded international shipments. This milestone was achieved after a decade of domestic service improvement and five years of accelerated volume gains. A contributing factor was weak international container trade volumes during the recession followed by an inconsistent rebound.
The Southeast region led intermodal in the third quarter of 2013, boasting an 11.3 percent gain over the same period last year according to IANA’s Market Trends data. Following immediately behind was the Northeast region, which posted an 8.3 percent gain.