Total intermodal volumes advanced 6.2 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2018, after posting 7.2 percent growth in the first quarter, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report. International intermodal volumes increased 4.8 percent, domestic containers 6.1 percent, and trailers led overall growth at 18.1 percent.

"Continued intermodal volume growth was driven by the domestic market during the second quarter. Higher fuel prices, tight over-the-road capacity and a strong economic performance were factors attributed to this advance," said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA.
The seven highest-density trade corridors accounted for 63.2 percent of total volumes and were collectively up 6.6 percent. The Northeast-Midwest again performed the best of the seven with volumes gaining 12.8 percent. The South Central-Southwest, intra-Southeast and Midwest-Northwest lanes had growth of 8.4 percent, 7.1 percent and 6.2 percent respectively, while the trans-Canada and Midwest-Southwest came in at 4.4 percent and 4.2 percent. The Southeast-Southwest eked out 0.8 percent growth.
Intermodal Marketing Companies had another strong quarter, consistent with previous quarters, with total loads rising 10.6 percent, mostly on highway gains. The previous quarter posted 10.8 percent. Revenue grew by 28.6 percent compared to the 27.1 percent growth in Q1.