Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 7

Intermodal Long-Term Trends
This section explains the charts on
page 6 that describe key long-term
trends in intermodal volume. These
charts have been a continuing feature
of Intermodal Market Trends and
Statistics for several years now. With
each report, these trends are updated
by tracking the trailing 12 months -
e.g. the 12 months ending in March of
2017, and so forth.
The first chart shows volumes for key
lane groupings: Transcon Eastbound,
Transcon Westbound, North-South
and East-West. It is also indexed
to the first quarter in the period.
The transcon lanes are defined by
movement between coastal regions
- the Northeast, Southeast and
Eastern Canada on the east coast
and the Northwest, Southwest and
Western Canada on the west coast.
The North-South and East-West lanes
encompass freight in both directions,
excluding the transcon lanes. NorthSouth volume has turned down over
the past year as shorter-haul, more
truck competitive lanes saw declines
as fuel prices dropped and there was a
surplus of truck capacity. Transcon in
both directions turned up slightly over
the past few years. East-West turned
down of late following a fast climb
post-recession.
The second chart highlights length
of haul as estimated from the IANA
Market Trends and Statistics data
using key points in each region -
e.g. Los Angeles in the Southwest,
Atlanta in the Southeast. Domestic
length of haul has turned up over
the past few years as short-haul
lanes faced tougher competition,
while international continues to trend
down as more imports shift to the
East Coast. Total length of haul was
pulled up slightly based on the sharp
upturn in the domestic segment.

First Quarter 2017
IMC Results
Intermodal Marketing Company results reflect volume and revenue data reported by
participating IMCs (page 19). IMC rail traffic
volumes are included in data reported by
the major rail systems.

The highway trend continued for
Intermodal Marketing Companies in Q1
of 2017, with highway loadings soaring
11.6% following a year of strong
gains in 2016. On the other hand, IMC
intermodal loadings finally turned
around early this year, rising 3.6% in
Q1 after a drop of nearly 14% for the
full year 2016. Overall, this resulted in
a healthy gain of 7.5% in total loads

for the IMCs, with highway loads being
the main driver of growth even as
intermodal loads turned back up.
As noted in recent reports, one of the
surveyed IMCs was the main cause of
intermodal volume declining in 2016.
That is no longer the case, so the 3.6%
Q1 gain is a more accurate indicator of
overall IMC trends going forward. For
intermodal, monthly volume growth
was quite strong in January and March,
both months topping 5% year-overyear gains. While February was flat,
that in part was a result of the leap
year in 2016, which skews February
comparisons down by approximately
3%, and 1% for Q1 as a whole.

IMC Loads 2016-2017: 15 mos.
INTERMODAL LOADS
190,000
180,000
170,000
160,000
150,000
140,000
130,000
120,000
110,000
100,000
90,000

HIGHWAY LOADS

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

IMC Market Trends - 1st Qtr. 2017 vs. 2016
1st Quarter 2016

1st Quarter 2017

Pct.
Change

Intermodal Loads

395,011

409,195

3.6%

Highway Loads

376,338

420,144

11.6%

Total Loads

771,349

829,339

7.5%

Intermodal Revenue

$

1,010,940,051 $

1,067,370,211

5.6%

Highway Revenue

$

531,008,387 $

604,276,493

13.8%

Total Revenue

$

1,541,948,437

$

1,671,646,704

8.4%

Average per Intermodal Load

$

2,559

$

2,608

1.9%

Average per Highway Load

$

1,411

$

1,438

1.9%

Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics Report | First Quarter 2017 | © IANA 2017

7



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017

Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017
Key Take-Aways
First Quarter 2017 Rail Volume Results
Seasonally Adjusted Intermodal Volume
Key Corridor Results
Intermodal Outlook
First Quarter 2017 IMC Results
Intermodal Long-Term Trends
Trucking Industry Outlook
U.S., Canada and Mexico Domestic Economies
Equipment Moves by Type, Ownership and Size
Eastern Canada
Mountain Central
Midwest
Mexico
Northeast
Northwest
Southeast
South Central
Southwest
Western Canada
Major Intermodal Corridors
Data Providers
Region Map
Notes to Report
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Key Take-Aways
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - First Quarter 2017 Rail Volume Results
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 3
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Key Corridor Results
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 5
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Intermodal Outlook
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Intermodal Long-Term Trends
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Trucking Industry Outlook
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 9
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - U.S., Canada and Mexico Domestic Economies
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 11
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Equipment Moves by Type, Ownership and Size
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Mountain Central
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Mexico
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Northwest
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - South Central
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Western Canada
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Major Intermodal Corridors
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Region Map
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Notes to Report
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2013q4
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com