IANA: ‘Volume Loss is Relative’
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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Third-quarter 2021 total intermodal volumes fell 2.9% year-over-year, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s Intermodal Quarterly report. International containers gained a slight 0.9% from 2020, but domestic shipments feel 5.7%, with trailers registering the steepest decline, 11.2%.
The seven highest-density trade corridors, which collectively handled more than 60% of total volume, showed mixed results in the third quarter, according to IANA. The Southeast-Southwest was up 9.2%, followed by the Midwest-Northwest at 6.8% and the Trans-Canada at 6.7%. The South Central-Southwest tumbled 8.7%; the Intra-Southeast posted a 4.6% loss; and the Midwest-Southwest dropped 3.1%. The Northeast-Midwest fell 1.7%.
Total IMC (intermodal marketing company) volume rose 10.6% year-over-year in 3Q21, with intermodal down 4.7% and highway loads up 20.8%.
“Despite the various headlines on supply chain disruptions, the third quarter volume loss was small relative to the size of this year’s earlier gains, and in comparison to the previous 15 months of continuous gains,” said IANA President and CEO Joni Casey.
