Intermodal slows decline in second quarter 

Total intermodal volumes fell 4.3 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2022, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s Intermodal Quarterly report. Domestic shipments held positive ground at 4.0 percent growth, while international containers dropped 8.4 percent and trailers, 25.2 percent.

“Despite this quarter’s losses, it was an improved picture relative to the first quarter,” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “Q2 volumes exceeded Q1 by 7.4 percent.”

The seven highest-density trade corridors, which collectively handled more than 60 percent of total volume, were all down in the second quarter. The Midwest-Northwest led the losses with a 20.1 percent decline, followed by the South Central-Southwest at 14.5 percent. The Intra-Southeast, Southeast-Southwest and Midwest-Southwest dropped 7.8, 5.5 and 5.3 percent, respectively. The Northeast-Midwest dipped 3.1 percent, and the Trans-Canada corridor held losses to 2.2 percent.

Total IMC volume rose 1.3 percent year-over-year in Q2, with intermodal traffic down 7.4 percent and highway loads, two-thirds of total IMC volume, up 6.3 percent.