Containers up/trailers down

May 14, 2009
The Intermodal Assn. of North America (IANA) has released its Q1 numbers for container and trailer volumes

The Intermodal Assn. of North America (IANA) has released its Q1 numbers for container and trailer volumes. Domestic container volumes were the bright spot in the report, showing a gain of .1% in Q1 of 2009 as compared to Q1 of 2008—marking an increase IANA called “impressive,” given the current economic climate.

Ffity-three ft containers continued to show even stronger gains, posting a 4.6% increase in the same period. According to IANA, some of the strength in the 53-ft container sector may be due to a shift toward “transloading” of international freight-- where freight must be transferred from one mode of transportation to another during shipment.

Domestic trailer volume, on the other hand, continued to slide, showing a 20.6% drop in Q1 as compared to Q1 of 2008. International volume also declined overall, plunging 22.7% during the first quarter – with declines reported in every IANA region. The Western Canada region saw the smallest international decline of 11.2%, while the Northwest region saw a substantial 32.9% drop in volume – the largest during the quarter.

While the small increase in domestic container volume during the quarter was encouraging, noted IANA, it could not compensate for plummeting international and trailer volumes. The end-result for Q1 was a total intermodal volume decline of 16.3%, the largest quarterly drop recorded by the association.

About the Author

Wendy Leavitt

Wendy Leavitt is a former FleetOwner editor who wrote for the publication from 1998 to 2021. 

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Downtime is expensive. This guide shows you how to keep your eet running, reduce repair surprises, and protect your margins—because when your trucks aren’t moving, you’re not...
Learn how fast oil changes can optimize vehicle downtime for fleet owners. Improve revenue and employee productivity while ensuring customer satisfaction with efficient maintenance...
Unlock proven strategies to streamline operations, lead your team, and keep your eet moving forward – all in one guide.
Commercial fleets bear a heavy burden from economic uncertainty, operational costs, and litigation risks. In-cabin video technology offers opportunities to reduce fleet expenses...