Intermodal, Rail Traffic Fall for Week
Intermodal rail traffic fell 21% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume fell to 181,662 units, from 229,969. Container volume fell 16.4%, while trailer volume plunged 37.9%, the group said.
Overall freight rail traffic fell 25.2% for the week, to 249,576 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.