Intermodal growth volume remains intact in March, reports IANA

While not coming in at the same rate as February, March intermodal volumes remained solid in March, according to data provided to LM by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).

Total March volume, at 1,464,782 units, increased 6.7% annually, below February’s 14.6% annual increase, while topping November, December, and January, which saw gains of 3.8%, 6.4%, and 5.5%, respectively.   

Domestic containers, at 685,199, fell 0.6% annually, and trailers were down 25.4%, to 48,720. All domestic equipment, which is comprised of domestic containers and trailers, fell 2.7%, to 733,919 units, and ISO, or international, containers, came in at 730,863 for an 18.1% annual increase.

On a year-to-date basis through March, IANA reported that total intermodal volume is up 8.8% annually, to 4,286,600 units. Domestic containers are up 3.4% annually, to 1,993,687, and trailers were down 24.8%, to 144,342. All domestic equipment, at 2,138,029, is up 0.9%. ISO containers, at 2,148,571, rose 18.0%.

Looking back at 2023, IANA recently reported that total fourth quarter intermodal volume, at 4,367,940 units, rose 3.1% annually, marking the first time there has been annual growth in the past nine quarters. Domestic containers, at 2,108,322, saw a 6.0% annual increase, and trailers, at 168,814, fell 21.6%, and was the lone intermodal segment to see an annual decline. All domestic equipment, which is comprised of trailers and domestic containers, came in at 2,277,136, for a 3.3% annual increase. And ISO, or international, containers, at 2,090,804, rose 2.9%.

IANA said that total fourth quarter volume represented the highest quarterly total for all of 2023 and represented the best quarterly performance going back to the third quarter 2022.

Full-year 2023 intermodal volume was down across the board, with total volume, at 16,669,980, off 5.9% annually. Trailers, at 704,970, decreased 23.7% annually, and domestic containers, at 8,048,460, were off 1.2% annually. All domestic equipment, at 8,753,430, saw a 3.5% decrease, and ISO containers dropped 8.4%, to 7,916,550.