Like the 13 quarters immediately preceding it, third quarter 2005 posted another increase in intermodal volume — this time 5.6% — making intermodal's growth streak 14 straight quarters, according to Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics, a quarterly publication of the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
Overall intermodal growth increased during the quarter as ongoing double-digit international gains were supported by a modest domestic container turnaround.
International volume grew in all nine IANA regions, topped with a substantial 32% gain in the Northwest region. Trailer volume declined for the third straight quarter, with volume off in seven of IANA's nine regions, but the rate of decline has slowed. This, combined with renewed domestic container growth, resulted in a slight overall domestic decline. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita only modestly affected intermodal volumes during the quarter.