Intermodal Traffic Decreases for Week
U.S. intermodal rail traffic fell 3.1% in the week ended Saturday compared with the same week last year, while freight rail traffic reached its highest level of the year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume declined to 213,382 units, from 220,314 last year, AAR said in its weekly report.
Containers fell 3.4% to 178,256 units, while trailer volume plunged 26.8% to 35,126 units.
Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic fell 6.8% to 287,087 carloads, AAR said. Though a year-over-year decrease, freight rail volume reached its highest level of 2009, 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.
