Intermodal traffic jumped 19.4% last week compared from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported.
Traffic increased to 234,308 units for the week ended Saturday, AAR said in its weekly report. Trailers rose 8.5% to 34,567units, while containers jumped 21.5% to 199,714 units.
Railroad carloads excluding intermodal showed a 5.7% gain to 305,905 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.