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otal rail volume dipped for the week ended May 14, though intermodal volume rose compared with last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Total rail volume dropped 1.7% to 341,509 car loads, the rail trade group said in its weekly industry report. AAR estimated total revenue ton-miles at 31.8 billion.

ntermodal volume gained 6.3%, although trailers dipped 1.4% to 55,232 units. Containers rose 9.1%, to 168,349.

ailroad 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.