Intermodal volume increased across all segments in the second quarter, contributing to the largest quarterly intermodal growth since 2011, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) most recent “Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics” report.
International container volume increased 9.6 percent, domestic container volume rose 7.6 percent and trailer volume grew 4.3 percent compared with second-quarter 2013. Because of the strong second quarter, intermodal volume grew an average of 5.5 percent in 2014’s first half, just below the 5.8 percent growth recorded in the second half of 2013, according to IANA.
“The second quarter results were indicative of a rebounding economy and higher-than-predicted import shipments,” said IANA President and Chief Executive Officer Joni Casey in a prepared statement. “It is also probable the harsh winter that resulted in constricted first-quarter capacity contributed to the second quarter’s strong growth, by comparison.”