Intermodal Traffic Declines for Week

U.S. intermodal rail traffic fell 6.4% in the week ended Saturday compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.

Total intermodal volume declined to 165,856 units, from 177,196 last year, AAR said in its weekly report.

Containers fell 0.9% to 139,063 units, while trailer volume plunged 27.2% to 26,793 units.

Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic fell, 3.9% to 246,133 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.