Intermodal volume is mixed in February, reports IANA

February intermodal volumes were mixed, according to data provided to LM by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).

Total February volume—at 1,347,137—was essentially flat, down 0.1% annually. Trailers—at 84,533—fell 8.3% compared top February 2021, and domestic containers—at 639,057—headed up 13.7%. All domestic equipment, which is comprised of trailers and domestic containers, was up 10.6%, to 723,590 units. ISO, or international, containers—at 623,547—dropped 9.8%  

Through the first two months of 2022, total intermodal volume—at 2,732,750—is down 7.2% annually. Domestic containers—at 1,293,786—are up 4.8%, and trailers—at 175,668—are down 11.2%. All domestic equipment—at 1,469,454—is up 2.6%. ISO containers are down 16.5%, to 1,263,296.

Total calendar year 2021 volume, at 18,435,249 units, was up 3.6% compared to 2020. Trailers rose 2.2%, to 1,212,748, and domestic containers increased 2.3%, to 8,021,252. All domestic equipment, at 9,234,000, was also up 2.3%. ISO containers rose 5.0%, to 9,201,249.

IANA observed that the 3.6% annual gain snapped a two-year stretch of declines, with 2021 being a year of two distinctly different halves, with volumes up 15.4% in the first half of the year and down 6.4% over the second half of the year. And it pointed out that while container imports were higher over the second half of the year, a combination of terminal congestion, severe weather, and labor shortages hindered overall throughput.

For 2022, IANA is forecasting total North American volumes to increase 2.9% annually, with domestic containers pegged at a 4.8% growth rate, and for trailer and ISO volumes to be down 5.0% and up 2.3%, respectively.

IANA President and CEO Joni Casey noted in a previous interview that IANA expects issues experienced during Q3 and Q4 of 2021—terminal capacity and congestion, driver and labor shortages, equipment misalignment, and adverse weather in some intermodal regions—to continue, to some extent, through the first half of 2022, with the 2.9% expected increase in volume to come to fruition, barring any additional stresses to the freight supply chain.

When asked about how much of a strain has the worker shortage and staffing issues have had on the intermodal sector, Casey said that it has played a role in all sectors of the economy and intermodal is no different as the effects of the pandemic caused widespread disruption in the supply chain workplace at intermodal facilities, at trucking companies and warehouses.

“As the business cycle hopefully settles into a new rhythm, the expectations are that staffing will return to an equilibrium as well,” she said.

As for how long the ongoing supply chain and global logistics challenges will remain intact, she cited the aforementioned congestion and capacity issues most likely continuing through mid-year as ongoing remedial initiatives are rolled out.