Domestic Container Activity Improves in Fourth Quarter

The intermodal market saw some modest improvement in the fourth quarter, with domestic container volume up 9 percent from the year-ago quarter.

In December, volumes rose 16.9 percent above the year-ago level, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.

Recent data released by IANA indicates that all but two regions recorded domestic container volume gains. However, total volumes, including trailers, domestic containers, all domestic equipment and ISO containers, were down 6.4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008.

IANA reported that international volumes slipped 12.3 percent during the fourth quarter compared to the year-ago period, but volume improved from the previous three quarters, which posted losses greater than 20 percent.

For 2009, domestic container volumes gained 2.9 percent over 2008, but volumes were down year-over-year in all other categories. In total, intermodal volumes fell 14.6 percent from 2008 levels.