Intermodal traffic increased 0.9% for the week ended Saturday from a year ago as volumes climbed for both containers and trailers, the Association of American Railroads said.
Container traffic rose 0.9% to 208,016 units from a year ago, while trailer traffic increased 1% to 34,234 units.
Railroad carloads excluding intermodal fell 1.4%, to 299,914 units, 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.