Intermodal traffic rose 6.5% last week from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.
Traffic increased to 216,828 units for the week ended Saturday, AAR said in its weekly report. Trailers rose 8.2% to 33,925 units, while containers gained 6.2% to 182,903 units.
Railroad carloads showed a 1.3% gain to 292,164 carloads, AAR said.
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.