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Record Domestic Volume Drives
Best Gains Since 1996
Trailer Volume Increases 11% During the First Quarter
Greenbelt, MD, May 7, 2004 – Powered by surging domestic trailer volume, the growth streak of intermodal volume now stands at eight continuous quarters according to Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics, a quarterly publication of the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). As the U.S. economy has improved, and concerns over new hours-of-service rules have potentially moved trailers from roads to rails, domestic intermodal volume has set the pace for intermodal growth with an 8.7% increase in Q1. This joint strength of trailer and domestic container growth has provided the best total domestic gains since IANA began reporting these statistics in 1996.
While trailer volume increased 11% during Q1 - the strongest growth ever reported by IANA for trailers - gains in domestic container volume were down only in comparison to trailers. Their 7% escalation was their second best growth figure in a year, and only slightly below Q4's 7.6% gain. Transloaded international freight did not drive gains and the greatest expansion came from the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions. While international volume also grew in Q1, it improved more slowly than in recent years. Volume increased in all key corridors that IANA monitors, with the three corridors showing the most significant bi-directional activity being Northeast - Midwest (+16.7%); Southeast - Southwest (+11%); and, Midwest - Southwest (+9.4%).
IANA is North America's leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. IANA's membership includes railroads, water carriers and stacktrain operators; port authorities; intermodal truckers and over-the-road highway carriers; intermodal marketing and logistics companies; and suppliers to the industry such as equipment manufacturers, intermodal leasing companies and consulting firms. IANA's associate members include shippers, academic institutions, government entities and non-profit associations.
