A strong showing of international growth bolstered declines in domestic figures to boost first-quarter intermodal volume up 6.7%, according to Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics, a quarterly publication of the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
This growth signifies 12 continuous quarterly gains in overall intermodal volume – another new IANA record. All nine regions that IANA tracks saw improved international volume, with seven regions posting dramatic double-digit gains.
While international growth was strong (the third best international growth quarter ever posted), domestic results were down amid reports of slowing factory output and improved truckload capacity. This was domestic’s first negative quarter since late 2003, and the largest decline since the 2001 recession.