North American box traffic up 2.9pc, but off 14.6pc overall in 2009

NORTH American intermodal equipment rail haulage fell 14.6 per cent in 2009 to 11,670,350, according to statistics released by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).

The decline was attributed to falling seafreight traffic, yet domestic rail-truck business managed to grow despite the global economic downturn, reports Newark's Journal of Commerce. IANA said international box moves fell 21.2 per cent to 6,105,315 units, declining 1,644,454.

"Regaining international volumes will continue to present a challenge in 2010," said IANA vice president Thomas Malloy.

But continental container traffic grew 2.9 per cent last year to 3,960,480 units due to a larger number of shippers accepting the local truck-tailored 53-footers as well as a robust demand for North American goods.

Schneider National made a major commitment to the 53-footer, switching thousands of its intermodal units, which can ride double-stacked for long hauls on trains, from truck trailers that have their chassis attached and must sit one to a railcar.

"Although total volume is dramatically off from prior years' activities we are encouraged that domestic volumes, driven by 53-foot containers, have risen close to three per cent. We expect domestic container activity to increase throughout 2010," said Mr Malloy.

But he also said international trade had improved in recent months, so much that "late 2009 import and export volume declines moderated to just slightly below 2008" levels.

Source: www.schednet.com