Intermodal volume hits record levels for two consecutive weeks

The volume of intermodal containers and trailers on U.S. railroads rose 3.8% to 39,482 units in September, from the same month in 2016, according to the Association of American Railroads. Intermodal volume set records for two consecutive weeks in September.

“The last two weeks of September were the top two intermodal weeks in history for U.S. and Canadian railroads,” said John Gray, senior vice president for the Association of American Railroads. “We’re confident that the tremendous efforts railroads have been expending in recent years to improve service and enhance capacity will translate into continued intermodal gains.”

Through the first nine months of 2017, intermodal volume on U.S. railroads increased 3.5% to 348,784 containers and trailers, from the same period in 2016.

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported 67% of its operating income in the second quarter was attributed to its intermodal segment, and a transportation analyst recently said it had deployed all of its 86,000 intermodal containers as some shippers were using them for temporary warehouses because of a lack of warehouse capacity.

“As our economy and population grow, consumer spending will grow too, and intermodal will continue to be the best way to get many goods to consumers,” Gray said.

In September, West Memphis started construction on a $10.95 million project to improve access between rail and waterborne cargo at the International Rail Port Logistics Park, according to the Memphis Business Journal. In 2012, the city received a $10.95 million grant for the multimodal project.