Trailers experience biggest decline

Calverton, MD – Total intermodal volumes dropped 3.7 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2019, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report. International shipments nudged down 0.8 percent from 2018, while domestic containers and trailers fell 4.9 percent [corrected] and 17.6 percent, respectively.

“Looser trucking capacity, continuing uncertainty about Chinese tariffs, and tough comparisons to 2018 volumes are the primary factors driving intermodal traffic,” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “The rest of the year is projected to be flat, but a turnaround is anticipated by Q2 of next year.”

The seven highest-density trade corridors, which collectively handled 62.8 percent of total volume, were down 3.1 percent. The Southeast-Southwest corridor topped Q3 growth at 3.3 percent followed by the Intra-Southeast and Trans-Canada, which came in at 1.8 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively. Four corridors recorded decreases: the Midwest-Northwest at 2.1 percent; the Southwest-Midwest, 4.1 percent; the South Central-Southwest, 6.6 percent; and the Northeast-Midwest, 7.3 percent.

Total IMC volume fell 7.6 percent year-over-year in Q3. Both intermodal and highway loads were down for only the third time since the Great Recession.