Intermodal, Rail Traffic Continue to Fall
Intermodal rail traffic fell 19.1% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume fell to 188,885 units, from 233,549. Container volume fell 14.2%, while trailer volume plunged 37.2%, the group said.
Overall freight rail traffic fell 21.5% for the week, to 259,264 carloads, AAR said in its weekly report.
Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.