Boxes up as North American trucking quarterly volumes fall

NORTH American intermodal volumes during the second quarter of 2009 amounted to 2.8 million, a decrease of 18.7 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier, according to figures compiled by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).

Intermodal volumes were said to be lower in every area but one during the period under review - the lone exception being domestic containers, which rose slightly by 0.9 per cent, reports Today's Trucking.com of Toronto.

Trailer volumes amounted to about 387,000, which the report said marks the first time quarter volume has slipped below 400,000 loads since IANA started reporting in 1996. This represents a decrease of 26.9 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier. In the first quarter trailer volume fell 20.6 per cent year-on-year. The IANA blames the steeper second quarter decline to more domestic freight switching to containers.

International intermodal traffic was said to have declined for the ninth straight quarter, with volumes sliding 26 per cent.

On the other hand, domestic containers rose by 0.9 per cent in the second quarter, which the report said was "most likely due to advances in 53-foot equipment, which increased five per cent and represents 95 per cent of all domestic container loads."

Source: Schednet