Despite a lagging economy and a sustained contraction in import volumes, domestic intermodal volume produced admirably during Q2 2008.
Total domestic volume achieved its highest growth rate since the second quarter of 2004, according to an industry report released Wednesday by the Intermodal Association of North America.

During the quarter, total domestic intermodal volume rose a respectable 5.4 percent over 2007 figures, according to Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics, a comprehensive intermodal volume data report published by IANA. It was the 11th straight quarter that domestic container volume has posted year-over-year gains.

Reversing recent trends, the quarter's results showed not only domestic containers, but trailer activity also posting increases in volume growth. Trailer volume increased 1 percent during the quarter - a first in over 3 years - while domestic containers posted an impressive 8.1 percent gain.

Trailer growth was driven by an 11 percent gain in 53-foot trailers and a 5 percent gain in 48-foot trailers. Domestic container increases during the quarter were fueled by an upsurge in 53-foot containers which now account for 91 percent of total domestic container volume, up from 86.5 percent in 2007.

While domestic's performance during the quarter was impressive, it was still not able to counter the continued decline of international volume. Sluggish consumer spending and its affect on ISO container traffic pulled down international container volume 5.9 percent over the same period in 2007. The optimistic news is that total intermodal volume is only down a recoverable 1.9 percent from last year and has half-a-year to retreat from negative territory as current economic woes hopefully dissipate.