TOTAL intermodal volumes fell 2.9 per cent year on year in the third quarter, according to the Intermodal Association of North America's (IANA) Intermodal Quarterly, reported the American Journal of Transportation.

International containers gained a slight 0.9 per cent from 2020 but domestic shipments lost 5.7 per cent; and trailers, 11.2 per cent, said the report.

"Despite supply chain disruptions, the third quarter volume loss was small relative to the size of this year's earlier gains and in comparison to the previous 15 months of continuous gains," said IANA president Joni Casey.

The seven highest-density trade corridors, which collectively handled more than 60 per cent of total volume, showed mixed results in the third quarter. The Southeast-Southwest was up 9.2 per cent, followed by the Midwest-Northwest at 6.8 per cent and the Trans-Canada at 6.7 per cent.

The South Central-Southwest tumbled 8.7 per cent; the Intra-Southeast posted a 4.6 per cent loss; and the Midwest-Southwest dropped 3.1 per cent. The Northeast-Midwest came in at 1.7 per cent to the negative.

Total IMC volume rose 10.6 per cent year on year in Q3, with intermodal down 4.7 per cent and highway loads up 20.8 per cent.