Intermodal Traffic Increases for Week
U.S. intermodal rail traffic rose 0.5% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume rose to 192,354 units, from 191,410 last year, AAR said in its weekly report.
Containers rose 3.2% to 162,729 units, while trailers fell 12% to 29,625 units.
Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, dropped 8.1% to 257,823 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.