Total intermodal volume rose 2.4% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, according to the Intermodal Quarterly report from the Intermodal Association of North America.
International containers added 3.9%, domestic containers improved 2.6%, while trailers fell 25.4%.
"Imports and solid consumer spending continued to buoy intermodal in the second quarter,” said Anne Reinke, president and CEO of IANA, in a statement. "While domestic U.S. manufacturing is providing additional support, the longer-term impact of tariffs and trade policy on overall volume remains to be seen.”
Five of the seven highest-density trade corridors, which collectively handled more than 60% of total volume, were up in the second quarter. The findings are as follows:
- Trans-Canada was up 18.3%
- Intra-Southeast gained 6.8%
- South Central-Southwest was up 4.6%
- Midwest-Southwest was up 3%
- Northeast-Midwest was up 2.9%
- Midwest-Northwest fell 7.6%
- Southeast-Southwest declined 8.7%
Total IMC volume fell 9.7% year-over-year in Q2, with intermodal traffic down 8.2% and highway loads were 11.9% to the negative.
