Intermodal Rail Traffic in US Rises to Highest Level This Year

Maersk

AAR

U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 8.1% in the week ended April 18 compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Railroads moved 280,016 intermodal trailers and containers, the highest level this year, AAR announced April 22 in its weekly report. The rise follows a 2.3% increase the prior week.

Rail carload volume, which excludes intermodal units, increased 1.2% year-over-year to 276,416 carloads.

Six of the 10 commodity groups that AAR tracks improved over last year. Motor vehicles and parts had the highest increase with a 7.2% rise, followed by miscellaneous carloads at 6.3%.

Intermodal volume for 13 reporting North American railroads increased 8% to 353,319 trailers and containers.

Canadian railroads moved 62,356 intermodal units, a 5.6% rise. Mexican rail moved 10,947 units, a 23.1% rise from the same time last year.

Year-to-date, U.S. intermodal volume increased 1% to 3.84 million units.