The recession dragged intermodal shipping volume down 16.3 percent in the first quarter, the largest drop ever recorded by the Intermodal Association of North America.
Total intermodal shipments included 2,786,465 containers or trailers from January through March, compared with 3,327,745 units in the first quarter of 2008. Lackluster intermodal performance was widespread across all regions and lanes, according to a report from IANA. Lanes that did experience gains generally carried low volumes; the total volume carried on these lanes represented less than 1 percent of the quarter’s total volume.
Although a small increase in domestic container volume could not offset the plunge in international and trailer volume, it was encouraging to see any improvement. A strong 4.6 percent increase in 53-foot containers led a 0.1 percent gain for all domestic containers from 892,417 units last year to 893,506 units in this year’s first quarter. A shift to transloading of international business may be responsible for some of that strength, IANA said.
Burdened by sinking consumer spending and overstocked inventories, international volume plunged 22.7 percent with declines reported in every region. The Western Canada region saw the smallest international decline of 11.2 percent, while the Northwest region saw a substantial 32.9 percent drop in volume – the largest during the quarter.
Total intermodal shipments included 2,786,465 containers or trailers from January through March, compared with 3,327,745 units in the first quarter of 2008. Lackluster intermodal performance was widespread across all regions and lanes, according to a report from IANA. Lanes that did experience gains generally carried low volumes; the total volume carried on these lanes represented less than 1 percent of the quarter’s total volume.
Although a small increase in domestic container volume could not offset the plunge in international and trailer volume, it was encouraging to see any improvement. A strong 4.6 percent increase in 53-foot containers led a 0.1 percent gain for all domestic containers from 892,417 units last year to 893,506 units in this year’s first quarter. A shift to transloading of international business may be responsible for some of that strength, IANA said.
Burdened by sinking consumer spending and overstocked inventories, international volume plunged 22.7 percent with declines reported in every region. The Western Canada region saw the smallest international decline of 11.2 percent, while the Northwest region saw a substantial 32.9 percent drop in volume – the largest during the quarter.