May 01, 2025

Intermodal Starts 2025 Strong

Trade Uncertainty Drives Container Traffic

CALVERTON, MD, May 1, 2025 – Total intermodal volumes rose 6.3 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Intermodal Association of North America. International containers added 8.5 percent, domestic containers improved 5.6 percent, while trailers fell 18.2 percent.

"Tariff deadlines drove intermodal results in the first quarter,” said Anne Reinke, president and CEO of IANA. "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 percent of total volume, were up. The Midwest-Northwest climbed 28.0 percent, followed by the Midwest-Southwest at 13.4 percent. The Intra-Southeast came in at 10.7 percent, and the South Central-Southwest at 10.5 percent. The Trans-Canada and Southeast-Southwest expanded 8.0 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively; The Northeast-Midwest, the one decline, fell 4.5 percent.

Total IMC volume dropped 6.0 percent year-over-year in Q1, with highway traffic down 15.2 percent and intermodal loads in positive territory by 0.7 percent.

Members of the press may request the 2025 First Quarter Intermodal Quarterly report from Hope Kabik at hkabik@intermodal.org.