For release November, 2007
Contact: RIP WATSON
Director of Communications & Public Relations
voice (301) 982-3400, ext. 329
fax (301) 982-4815

Intermodal Holds Its Own in Third Quarter

CALVERTON, MD, November 2, 2007—Intermodal volume in the third quarter was the second-best ever recorded during any three-month period, despite a difficult freight environment that included declining import traffic and sluggish domestic demand.

Total third-quarter volume of 3,618,617 trailed only the third quarter of last year, when 3,699,544 units were moved. Volume fell 2.2 percent from last year’s third quarter and rose 3.5 percent above the second quarter of 2007. The Intermodal Association of North America’s Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report showed that third-quarter domestic container volume rose 10 percent.

“The domestic container gains are especially noteworthy because they were achieved at a time when long-haul truck capacity was abundant, retail sales as well as other economic indicators were weak and key industries such as construction were slumping,” said Thomas Malloy, vice president of member services and business development.

Third Quarter 2006/2007 Intermodal Volume Comparisons

Equipment Types Q3 2006 Q3 2007 Change
Trailers 609,288 526,887 -13.5%
Domestic Containers 835,158 919,085 +10.0%
All Domestic Equipment 1,444,446 1,445,972 +0.1%
ISO Containers 2,255,098 2,172,645 -3.7%
Total 3,699,544 3,618,617 -2.2%

The latest report reflected a change from recent years, when international traffic consistently rose at a rate of 6 percent or more, while domestic business increased at a slower pace. International traffic fell 3.7 percent and domestic traffic rose 0.1 percent in the third quarter.

Total intermodal volume for the year-to-date is 10,557,007, or 0.9 percent below the same period of last year.

Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics is published quarterly by IANA and is available on a subscription and individual copy basis. For subscription information, or if you are an accredited journalist seeking a sample copy of the third quarter 2007 issue of Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics, please contact Rip Watson either by email at rip.watson@intermodal.org or phone at (301) 982-3400, ext. 329.

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/