IANA: Domestic container volume rises
Domestic and international intermodal volumes increased to 3.53 million units in the second quarter, 6.5 percent more than in the second quarter of 2010, said the Intermodal Association of North America.
IANA reported the growth, by equipment type, as:
' 1.23 million domestic containers moved in the second quarter, 9 percent more than in the second quarter of 2010.
' 1.88 million international “ISO” containers, up 5.4 percent.
' 424,587 trailers, up 4.6 percent.
IANA said the higher growth rate for domestic containers when compared to trailers may reflect the steep rise in diesel prices that likely made it more cost-effective for shippers to shift freight off the highway and onto the rails.
While international container volumes had their lowest rate of growth since late 2009, IANA noted previous quarters benefited from weak comparisons. International shipments also would likely have been higher were it not for the earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan.
IANA said while the rate of intermodal growth slowed from the first quarter to the second quarter, it still remains in line with many industry analyst estimates of 6 percent to 8 percent year-over-year expansion.
