Full-year results the strongest in five year

CALVERTON, MD - Intermodal freight volumes posted a fourth quarter growth rate of 4.2 percent year-over-year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's Q4 and year-end Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics report. Quarterly international intermodal volume increased by 5.5 percent; domestic containers grew by 3.4 percent; while trailer loads fell 0.1 percent, the first time since 2016.

"All intermodal markets recorded an increase of at least 4.9 percent, and all regions saw traffic climb during 2018," said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. "While we did see some year-end tapering, total volumes increased 5.6 percent for the year."

The seven highest-density trade corridors accounted for 62.6 percent of total volume and were up collectively 5.1 percent for the fourth quarter. Growth ranged from 13.1 percent in Midwest-Northwest corridor to 0.9 percent in the Trans-Canada. The South Central-Southwest lane advanced 9.7 percent, while the Intra-Southeast was close behind with 9.4 percent. The Southeast-Southwest lane booked a 7.0 percent gain, and the Northeast-Midwest corridor saw a 5.7 percent increase. The Southwest-Midwest managed 1.0 percent.

Following rising growth in the first half of 2018 and then in Q3, IMC volumes fell for the first time since Q1 of 2017. Solid 4.5 percent growth in intermodal loads largely offset the 6.3 percent drop in highway loads.

Source: IANA