Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 3rd Quarter 2017 - 4

Seasonally Adjusted Intermodal Volume
Seasonal adjustment removes the normal seasonal variations in the data to focus on underlying quarter-to-quarter growth trends.

Seasonally Adjusted Volume Trends
SA INTERNATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

SA DOMESTIC

DOMESTIC

2,500,000

2,400,000
2,300,000
2,200,000
2,100,000

2,000,000
1,900,000
1,800,000
17Q3

17Q2

17Q1

16Q4

16Q3

16Q2

16Q1

15Q4

15Q3

15Q2

15Q1

14Q4

1,700,000
14Q3

Both domestic and international
volumes expanded on a seasonally
adjusted basis in Q3. Seasonally
adjusted international loads rose
3.0% from Q2 to Q3. The comparison
was weak, as the gain comes off of a
2.0% drop between Q1 and Q2. Still,
international volume reached its highest
level since 2015Q2. Domestic intermodal
also had a strong quarter. Although
unadjusted volume had slightly lower
growth than in Q2, the segment shot
up by 1.3% on a seasonally adjusted
basis. This comes after two quarters of
essentially flat gains. Adjusted domestic
volume surpassed its 2017Q2 record to
reach a new high in Q3.

Key Corridor Results
The Corridor Growth graph, based on data in the chart on page 18, shows bi-directional activity for the seven largest volume
corridors. These high density lanes accounted for 62.9% of total volume and were up 5.2% in the quarter. Four lanes exceeded
5.0% growth after registering losses in Q3 of last year, while the only lane to improve in 2016Q3 saw the largest contraction this
year.
y The Eastern-Western Canada corridor had the largest gain. Domestic and international volumes gained 12.0%. In particular,
international expanded by 13.8% year-over-year, more than in any other corridor. Domestic container loads improved by 8.0%
yearly. Trailers were negligible in this lane.
y The South Central-Southwest corridor expanded by 9.2%. Containers gained 8.5% year-over-year, led by international movements. International saw 12.4% improvement, while domestic containers only advanced by 3.7%, pulling container growth
down. Trailers improved by an impressive 30.3%, putting upward pressure
Third Quarter 2016-2017 Corridor Growth
on growth in the lane. Unfortunately,
this comes after an 11.2% yearly
150,000
300,000
450,000
600,000
750,000
900,000
Units 0
contraction in 2016Q3. Intermodal
volume in this lane has not recovered
4.6%
MW-SW
to 2015 levels.
y Traffic in the Southeast-Southwest
has a similar story. After posting 4.4%
losses one year ago, volume is up
7.7% year-over-year in 2017. Unlike
in the South Central-Southwest lane,
however, volumes in 2017Q3 slightly
exceeded traffic in the same time period in 2015. International intermodal
in particular gained 12.5% since last
year. Domestic meanwhile expanded
by a more modest 5.6% yearly. Trailers
shot up 32.4% year-over-year.

NE-MW

5.9%

SC-SW

9.2%

EC-WC

12.0%

MW-NW
SE-SW
SE-SE

-6.1%
7.7%
-0.2%

3Q16

3Q17

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 3rd Quarter 2017