Total intermodal volumes fell 1.5 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2019, after posting strong growth in 2018, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report. International intermodal volumes increased 1.2 percent, but domestic containers and trailers dropped 4.1 percent and 5.4 percent respectively.
"A variety of factors across North America played into first quarter results, including the reduction of tariff-driven imports. Tough year-over-year comparisons also had an impact which will play a role in the coming quarters," said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA.
The seven highest-density trade corridors, which accounted for 63.7 percent of total volume, were down 0.2 percent for the quarter. Results varied widely across lanes. The intra-Southeast corridor was the best performer, rising 8.7 percent, and the Midwest-Northwest corridor came in a strong second at 5.7 percent. They were followed by the Southwest-South Central lane at 1.0 percent and the trans-Canada lane at 0.8 percent. The Northeast-Midwest corridor declined by 0.5 percent, the Southwest-Southeast corridor by 3.2 percent, and the Midwest-Southwest by 5.1 percent.
Following a modest drop in Q4 of 2018, Intermodal Marketing Companies' volumes fell 7.1 percent in Q1. This was the first time since the last recession that both intermodal and highway loads declined during the same quarter.
