For release May 13, 2010
Contact: matt mlynarczyk
voice 703-623-2929

Intermodal Volume Climbs 8.4% Year-Over-Year in First Quarter

CALVERTON, MD, May 13, 2010 – The U.S. economy emerged from its recession during the first quarter of 2010 as increased consumer demand and inventory acquisition prompted a significant rise in total inter¬modal volume. Domestic container volume posted the strongest growth, rising 15.7% year-over-year. Compared to 0.1% growth during Q1 09, this new growth indicates the up-tick is not just a rebound from last year’s depressed volume levels. Domestic con¬tainer increases expanded monthly during the quarter, ranging from 10% in Janu¬ary to more than 20% during March. All U.S. regions recorded increases in domestic container volume greater than 10% year-over-year while Cana¬dian domestic container shipments were down 1.0%, hindering the overall growth rate.

First Quarter 2010 Intermodal Volume Comparisons

Equipment Types 2009 2010 Change
Trailers 407,206 383,364 -5.9 %
Domestic Containers 893,506 1,034,036 +15.7 %
All Domestic Equipment 1,300,712 1,417,400 +9.0 %
ISO Containers 1,485,753 1,601,910 +7.8 %
Total 2,786,465 3,019,310 +8.4 %

Strong port volumes supported a 7.8% gain in international containers during the quarter. Like domestic container growth, interna¬tional growth accelerated throughout the quarter. While international containers grew by only 1.0% in January and 3.0% in Febru¬ary, they strongly advanced 18.0% in March. Gains in inter¬national container shipments were broad-based across all regions except the Southwest, which dropped 2.8% during the quarter.

The rise in domestic and interna¬tional intermodal shipments translated into an 8.4% intermodal volume gain year-over-year. Although total intermodal vol¬ume was flat in January compared to 2009, by March total intermodal volume was 16.7% higher than during last year. All regions recorded total intermodal volume growth greater than 6.0% during the quarter, except the Southwest region, which experienced only a 2.8% uptick. With the first quarter off to a strong start, and the emerging economic recovery, contin¬ued strong service levels, growing domestic container fleets, and rising fuel prices, intermodal appears poised for a strong rebound in 2010.

Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics is published quarterly by IANA and is available on a subscription and individual copy basis. Members of the working press may request a sample copy of the Q1 2010 Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics from Matt Mlynarczyk at matt@intermodal.org or 703-623-2929. The report features detailed analyses and reproducible graphical representations of Q1 2010 results.

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