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North American rail freight volumes, led by intermodal, climbed out of the recession at a brisk pace in 2010, posting an  11% year-over-year growth rate that was the fastest pace in at least 50 years.

Less-than-truckload carrier Southeastern Freight Lines, Lexington, S.C., opened a new logistics division Jan. 4 to provide shippers with services in dry van, refrigerated and flatbed truckload, expedited delivery, intermodal drayage, brokerage, air freight and distribution.

Steven Rubin, president of TRAC Intermodal, has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the Intermodal Association of North America.

Intermodal freight volume climbed back late in 2010 to pre-recession levels, driven by cost considerations of both shippers who moved more international import goods and truckers who shifted more freight onto the rails.

Intermodal traffic jumped 25.1% last week compared with the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.

Fueled by growth in dry vans, net trailer orders in the United States reached a two-year high in November of 21,314 units, ACT Research reported.

Consumer confidence rose to a six-month high this month, according to the final monthly Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index released Thursday.