Total intermodal volumes rose 6.3% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Intermodal Association of North America. International containers added 8.5%, domestic containers improved 5.6%, while trailers fell 18.2%.
“Tariff deadlines drove intermodal results in the first quarter,” said Anne Reinke, president and CEO of IANA, in a statement. "Growth is far less certain going forward, however, as the effects of trade policies, including higher costs, lower sales, and reduced competitiveness, start to be felt.”
All but one of the seven highest-density trade corridors, which collectively handled more than 60% of total volume, were up.
The regional numbers are as follows:
- Midwest-Northwest climbed 28%.
- Midwest-Southwest was up 13.4%.
- Intra-Southeast increased 10.7%.
- South Central-Southwest increased 10.5%.
- Trans-Canada was up 8%%.
- Southwest expanded 5.4%.
- Northeast-Midwest, the one decline, fell 4.5%.
Total IMC volume dropped 6% year-over-year in Q1, with highway traffic down 15.2% and intermodal loads in positive territory by 0.7%.
