Intermodal, Rail Traffic Fall for Week

Intermodal rail traffic fell 18.3% for the week ended Saturday, compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.

Total intermodal volume fell to 183,141 units, from 224,112. Container volume fell 12.9%, while trailer volume plunged 37.7%, the group said.

Overall freight rail traffic fell 24.3% for the week, to 255,269 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.