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% from last year's third quarter and rose 3.5% 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%.
'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
The latest report reflected a change from recent years, when international traffic consistently rose at a rate of six% or more, while domestic business increased at a slower pace. International traffic fell 3.7%and domestic traffic rose 0.1% in the third quarter.
Total intermodal volume for the year-to-date is 10,557,007, or 0.9% below the same period of last year.
