For release August 8, 2006
Contact: TOM MALLOY
Vice President, Member Services & Business Development
voice (301) 982-3400, ext. 328
fax (301) 982-4815

Intermodal Tops Last Year’s Peak in Second Quarter

International Dominates Q2 Growth

CALVERTON, MD, August 8, 2006 —Intermodal volume topped last year’s peak season levels in the second quarter, and grew 5.9% compared to the second quarter of 2005, according to Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics, a quarterly publication of the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). The 3.58 million second quarter intermodal loads topped last year’s fourth quarter peak of 3.56 million. On a monthly basis, June volume of 1.24 million loads topped last year’s October peak of 1.23 million. This was the first time since IANA started reporting loadings in 1996 that the prior year’s quarterly and monthly peaks were exceeded in the first half of the following year.

Second Quarter 2005/2006 Intermodal Volume Comparisons

Equipment Types Q2 2005 Q2 2006 Change
Trailers 622,118 610,237 -1.9%
Domestic Containers 788,257 814,659 +3.3%
All Domestic Equipment 1,410,375 1,424,896 +1.0%
ISO Containers 1,973,762 2,158,404 +9.4%
Total 3,384,137 3,583,300 +5.9%

International containers dominated growth, adding more than 9% and accounting for over 90% of the second quarter’s gain. The increase resulted from continued strength in container imports from Asia, particularly at Pacific Southwest ports. The international gain accelerated from a 7.6% increase in the first quarter. Domestic intermodal growth also extended into the second quarter, though at a slower pace than the first quarter’s 4.4% gain. The industry’s shift to larger domestic boxes continued, with 53-foot domestic containers adding 24% following the first quarter’s 31% increase.

Accredited journalists may obtain a sample copy of the Q2 2006 issue of Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics by contacting Rip Watson by e-mail at rip.watson@intemodal.org or phone at (301) 982-3400, ext. 329. Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics is produced quarterly by IANA and is available on a subscription and individual copy basis. For subscription information, please contact Tara Mullen at ext. 366 or tara.mullen@intermodal.org.

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.

Intermodal Association of North America, Suite 1100, 11785 Beltsville Drive, Calverton, MD 20705 http://www.intermodal.org/