Total intermodal volumes rose 6.3% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025 as U.S. companies rushed to bring inventory into the country before steep new tariffs take effect, but future conditions are unpredictable after that last-minute rush, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
“Tariff deadlines drove intermodal results in the first quarter,” Anne Reinke, president and CEO of IANA, said in a release. “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.”
By the numbers, international containers added 8.5%, domestic containers improved 5.6%, while trailers fell 18.2%. And by geography, all but one of the seven highest-density trade corridors, which collectively handled more than 60% of total volume, were up. The Midwest-Northwest climbed 28.0%, followed by the Midwest-Southwest at 13.4%. The Intra-Southeast came in at 10.7%, and the South Central-Southwest at 10.5%. The Trans-Canada and Southeast-Southwest expanded 8.0% and 5.4%, respectively; The Northeast-Midwest, the one decline, fell 4.5%.
