For release February 7, 2007
Contact: RIP WATSON
Director of Communications & Public Relations
voice (301) 982-3400, ext. 329
fax (301) 982-4815

Intermodal Fourth Quarter Volume Rises 0.6 Percent

CALVERTON, MD, February 7, 2007—Intermodal volume, fueled by continued import growth, rose 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter, wrapping up the fifth consecutive year of record traffic. The fourth-quarter results, including a 4.3 percent increase in international traffic, showed that volume reached 3.58 million shipments, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s Market Trends & Statistics report. The fourth-quarter total was the third-highest ever for any quarter, exceeded only by the second and third quarters of 2006. For the full year, volume rose 4.3 percent to 14.2 million shipments. The last time that annual volume declined from year to year was in 2001.

The quarterly report, which contains detailed, exclusive market information, included increases in four of the nine IANA regions, including the Midwest and Southwest, which together accounted for 51 percent of total volume. Traffic also rose in Western Canada and the South Central regions.

Fourth Quarter 2005/2006 Intermodal Volume Comparisons

Equipment Types Q4 2005 Q4 2006 Change
Trailers 710,831 605,222 -14.9%
Domestic Containers 818,295 858,004 +4.9%
All Domestic Equipment 1,529,126 1,463,226 -4.3%
ISO Containers 2,029,245 2,117,349 +4.3%
Total 3,558,371 3,580,575 +0.6%

Domestic container traffic increased 4.9 percent in the quarter, reflecting the continuing trend of growth in that equipment type. Trailer business fell 15 percent, in part because railroads converted freight to containers that can be double-stacked.

Fourth-quarter volume growth was the slowest in 2006, following increases of 4.9 percent, 5.9 percent and 6.3 percent in the previous three quarters. Demand leveled off during the latter portion of the year. Traffic in October, 2006 trailed August, which was the busiest month ever for intermodal traffic with 1.3 million units moved. Until last year, October was the busiest single month in every year since 1996.

For the full year, domestic volume rose to 5.73 million. International volume increased 7.5 percent to 8.51 million loads, and now represents 60 percent of total intermodal volume. The percentage of intermodal freight that is international was 58 percent last year, and 53 percent in 2002.

Accredited journalists may obtain a sample copy of the Q4 2005 issue of Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics by contacting Rip Watson by e-mail at rip.watson@intemodal.org or phone at (301) 982-3400, ext. 329. Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics is produced quarterly by IANA and is available on a subscription and individual copy basis. For subscription information, please contact Tara Mullen at ext. 366 or tara.mullen@intermodal.org.

IANA is North America's leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. IANA's membership includes railroads, water carriers and stacktrain operators; port authorities; intermodal truckers and over-the-road highway carriers; intermodal marketing and logistics companies; and suppliers to the industry such as equipment manufacturers, intermodal leasing companies and consulting firms. IANA's associate members include shippers, academic institutions, government entities and non-profit associations.

Intermodal Association of North America, Suite 1100, 11785 Beltsville Drive, Calverton, MD 20705 http://www.intermodal.org/