US intermodal up 15.7pc in first quarter on rising demand

US DOMESTIC first quarter container volume increased 15.7 per cent year on year, reports California's Trucking Info.

Intermodal volumes went up 8.4 per cent in North America, including Canada, year on year in the first quarter as consumer demand and restocking increased, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).

IANA reported volumes of up to three million in the first quarter, compared to the 2.8 million increase in the 2009 quarter with the strongest showing in US domestic container movement.

"Compared to 0.1 per cent growth during Q1 '09, this new growth indicates the uptick is not just a rebound from last year's depressed volume levels," IANA said in a statement.

Domestic container volume increased every month during the quarter, with 10 per cent in January and more than 20 per cent growth in March. All American regions showed increases of more than 10 per cent, but Canada was down one per cent.

There was a 7.8 per cent gain in international containers, posting an 18 per cent boost in March.

"With the first quarter off to a strong start, and the emerging economic recovery, continued strong service levels, growing domestic container fleets, and rising fuel prices, intermodal appears poised for a strong rebound in 2010," the IANA said.

(Source: www.schednet.com)